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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 9, 2001
Central Florida is making Conference USA look foolish -- on and off the field.
C-USA's constant rejection of UCF to join the conference was on the mind of nearly every Golden Knights coach and player in Saturday's 24-7 victory over Alabama-Birmingham.
"Conference USA doesn't want us, and now we know why," UCF free safety Ricot Joseph told the Orlando Sentinel. "Because we keep beating their teams."
UCF (2-3) treated its win over UAB (2-3) as though it had beaten Alabama again, dousing coach Mike Kruczek in Gatorade. UAB, one of the preseason favorites to win the C-USA title, was humbled at the Citrus Bowl. UAB's "Steel Shield" defense -- ranked seventh nationally before the game -- gave up 328 yards (290 passing) and 17 consecutive points until 4:43 left in the third quarter.
That's when UAB's Kendall Gibson avoided the shutout with a 1-yard touchdown run.
UCF held UAB to 111 yards, racking up three sacks and recovering two fumbles, one in the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
UCF is 2-0 this season against C-USA teams (beating Tulane 36-29 on Sept. 22) and still wonders what it will take to get an invitation. UCF needs a conference affiliation and the scheduling and financial stability that brings to secure the program's future.
UCF's relationship with C-USA always has been rocky. Three times UAB tried to get out of Saturday's game. South Florida has not responded to UCF's overtures to schedule an ongoing series and certainly is not helping UCF get into the conference.
"I don't know if it does any good in helping us get in the league," Kruczek told the Orlando Sentinel of the win. "But it can't hurt."
THE MAIN EVENT: Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T renew their annual rivalry Saturday in Greensboro, and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference again hangs in the balance.
As hard as it is to believe after their shaky start, the Rattlers look like the better team. In a 33-27 come-from-behind win over MEAC foe South Carolina State in Jacksonville, FAMU (4-1, 4-0 in MEAC) saw its passing game come to life. Quarterback Quinn Gray showed the skills of a fifth-year player, tossing two late touchdown passes.
N.C. A&T (3-1, 1-1) gave up a fourth-quarter lead and fell 52-42 to Morgan State in Baltimore, its first conference loss of the season.
FAMU may be hard-pressed to defend its MEAC title against A&T for the same reason the Aggies have dominated the Rattlers 60-25 in the past two meetings: the running game.
A&T is traditionally one of the conference's best rushing teams, and FAMU is traditionally one of the worst rushing defenses. FAMU gave up 191 rushing yards to S.C. State on Saturday. Last season, FAMU gave up 319 yards in a 30-10 loss to North Carolina A&T.
"We've always told our guys that the championship runs through Greensboro," Rattlers coach Billy Joe told the Tallahassee Democrat. "They've handled us convincingly, so if we want to actualize our dreams, goals and aspirations, it starts by proving that we can stand up to the challenge."
SHOTGUN START: Former Tampa Catholic quarterback Allen Suber continues to impress at Bethune-Cookman. Slowed by an ankle injury, he could neither run nor take a snap from center before B-CC's 49-24 win Saturday over Delaware State in Philadelphia.
So coach Alvin Wyatt added the shotgun to his "Wyattbone" offense, and Suber did his best imitation of a pocket passer, throwing for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. But unable to scramble, Suber was sacked twice. His main target in the game, Taji Parrish, who caught five passes for 105 yards, took over at quarterback in the second half for B-CC (1-4, 0-3 MEAC).
-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.