JUCO transfer leads FAMU to its only score in a lopsided loss to USF.
By SHARON GINN, Times Staff Writer
Published September 11, 2005
TAMPA - Now that Florida A&M has a coach in place, it's time for the next step: Find a quarterback.
None of first-year coach Rubin Carter's three choices so far has provided him with much to work with for FAMU's return to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference after a two-year hiatus. Then again, in his seven weeks with the Rattlers, Carter has tried to instill an offense using a freshman, an inexperienced sophomore, and a senior who hardly has had a chance to practice since last season.
That senior got most of the snaps in Saturday's 37-3 loss to USF. Josh Driscoll, who saw his first action of the season after coming in for freshman Chris Owens in the first quarter, completed 5 of 12 passes for 23 yards.
While he didn't even lead the Rattlers to a first down until 8 minutes, 11 seconds remained in the third quarter, he was able to drive them downfield later in the quarter, leading to a 21-yard field goal by former Riverview standout Wesley Taylor. Granted, the drive was far from mistake-free, and the Rattlers benefited from ill-timed USF penalties - including one on a 37-yard field goal attempt missed by Taylor - but the score came mostly against the first-team defense.
Most of the time, Driscoll tried to avoid USF's pass rush and handed off to running backs Roosevelt Kiser and Rashard Pompey, who together accounted for 44 of FAMU's 85 yards of offense.
"We've got to find where we are as an offense," Driscoll said. "We've got to find our character. I don't think we've gotten there yet."
Driscoll has waited patiently for his chance, transferring from Arkansas State in 2003, only to have to sit out that season after the Rattlers announced their ill-fated intention to move to I-A. Last year as a backup to longtime starter Ben Dougherty, he played in eight games, completing 54 of 85 passes for 518 yards.
But Driscoll sat out most of spring drills with a shoulder injury, and in the preseason struggled with health problems, the nature of which have not been fully disclosed. He missed at least 10 practices and didn't play in FAMU's opener against Delaware State, as sophomore Albert Chester Jr. and Owens split time in the Rattlers' 21-17 loss.
Owens did a better job moving the offense in that game, though he was sacked seven times and completed 12 of 33 passes for 223 yards and three interceptions. He got the nod to start against USF, but completed just 1 of 3 passes for zero yards before Carter pulled him and replaced him with Driscoll. Chester Jr., who started against Delaware State, was banged up and did not play.
