Sports: UCF move will delay talk of USF series

UCF move will delay talk of USF series

By JAMAL THALJI

Just because Central Florida joined the Mid-American Conference doesn't mean the Golden Knights have forgotten about trying to schedule a series with South Florida.

But it does mean UCF may have to table plans for a USF game for several years, perhaps as many as five, according to UCF athletic director Steve Sloan. That's because UCF has to add conference foes to its schedule, starting in 2002. It also has had to drop games -- with LSU and Tulane, for example -- to make room for its conference schedule.

But as soon as it can, UCF said it will pursue starting a series with USF.

"We would be willing to, but it's going to be tough," Sloan said. "(The schedule) looks pretty full for five years."

Of course, as always, much will depend on whether USF wants to schedule a series.

CLIPPED: That's what happened to Bethune-Cookman's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title hopes in Saturday's 16-14 loss to North Carolina A&T.

With five minutes left and the Wildcats down by two points, All-American Rashean Mathis struck, returning a punt 76 yards for what would have been the go-ahead score.

Except B-CC was flagged for a clipping penalty, negating the touchdown and sealing the win for N.C. A&T.

The Aggies had plenty of help as the Wildcats were called for five delays-of-game, gave up three turnovers -- two interceptions, one fumbled punt return -- and allowed 232 rushing yards.

Worst of all, after the nullified punt return for a touchdown, B-CC got the ball to A&T's 28-yard line with 4:54 to play. But the Wildcats went backward, as a botched third-down end-around play and a fourth-down sack at midfield took B-CC out of field-goal range.

THE SECRET'S OUT: Florida A&M coach Billy Joe said teams have learned how to confound the Rattlers offense.

After FAMU fell 55-23 to North Carolina A&T, Hampton used the same defensive principles to attack the Rattlers offense. That is why FAMU had to come from behind to win Saturday 47-35. Despite 165 yards in penalties and five interceptions by quarterback Quinn Gray, FAMU managed to get its offense rolling after the half with 115 second-half rushing yards to complete the comeback.

So what are teams doing to FAMU's oft-troubled Gulf Coast Offense? "What's beginning to transpire is that everyone is developing the concept that North Carolina A&T used to deter our offense from moving up and down the field," Joe told the Tallahassee Democrat. "Teams are playing what you call a 30 front (three defensive linemen, two linebackers and six defensive backs). Everybody thinks that's what you have to do to stop us.

"You have to say it's working because A&T has beaten us three consecutive times and Hampton had us in disarray for a while."

So how do you defeat that?

"Go right at it," Joe added. "In that formation you have a lot of smaller defensive players in the game trying to shoot gaps and blitz from an array of angles. The best way to beat it is to go at it with your power running game. Make those little defensive backs make tackles."

FAMU did just that, rushing for 179 yards and garnering 11 first downs on the ground. But Hampton also took another page out of A&T's playbook, rushing for 225 yards against FAMU.

HELP WANTED: With wins over Florida A&M and B-CC, it is North Carolina A&T that controls the MEAC race. The first-place Aggies (6-1, 4-1 in the MEAC) hold the tiebreaker over the Wildcats (5-2, 4-1) and the Rattlers (6-2, 6-1).

-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.