Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
By JAMAL THALJI and Times staff reports
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 8, 2001
MORGAN STATE AT FLORIDA A&M
WHEN/WHERE: 7; Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee.
RECORDS: MSU 0-1, 0-1 MEAC; FAMU 1-0, 1-0.
COACHES: MSU -- Stanley Mitchell (3-20, third season). FAMU -- Billy Joe (64-23, eighth season).
NOTES: Ranked No. 11 in the Sports Network Division I-AA poll and No. 2 in the Sheridan Broadcasting Historically Black College Football poll, the Rattlers as usual have a lot at stake in this Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup. The soft run defense will be tested by Bears running back Ali Culpepper, who rushed for 229 yards against Bethune-Cookman last week. FAMU has dominated this lower-tier MEAC team, going 13-2 and winning six straight in a series that began in 1943.
WHEN/WHERE: Noon; Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
TV/RADIO: Sunshine.
RECORDS: UCF 0-1, SU 0-2.
COACHES: UCF -- Mike Kruczek (20-14, fourth season). SU -- Paul Pasqualoni (81-36-1, 11th season).
LINE: Syracuse by 9. NOTES: Another week, another tough road trip for Central Florida. After consecutive losses against Georgia Tech and Tennessee, Syracuse is hungry for a win. But so is UCF, which saw another upset bid evaporate in last week's 20-13 loss at No. 20 Clemson. If UCF quarterback Ryan Schneider can throw for 297 yards at Death Valley, he can throw anywhere. But if the Golden Knights can't keep Syracuse defensive end Dwight Freeney off Schneider's back, it won't matter.
WHEN/WHERE: 7; Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach.
RECORDS: FAU 0-1, B-CC 1-0.
COACHES: FAU -- Howard Schnellenberger (first season). Alvin Wyatt (29-16, fifth season).
NOTES: What a start for Florida Atlantic's new program. First, seven starters and 13 players in all were ruled ineligible before game time by the NCAA because of complications with their certification. The result: a 40-7 loss to Slippery Rock. It doesn't get easier as FAU takes on the No. 22 team in the Sports Network I-AA poll and No. 5 in the Sheridan poll. Here's a friendly warning to Schnellenberger: Don't throw near free safety Rashean Mathis, who led the nation with 11 interceptions last season.