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AC Phoenix, September 1988 Page 7 M E A C FOOTBALL 'The Fabulous Few' The use of the, word "balance" is usually overstated when ath letics are involved. But the past five seasons it has been no less than parity in the MEAC Football seasons. The S.C. State Bulldogs four- year reign ended in 1983; Bethune Cook- man yielded its 1984 crown to Deleware St. College in 1985; The Ftornets (Deleware State) could not hold off Alan Hooker and the N.C. A&T Aggies in 1986, and last season Harvey Reed and the Howard Bison- proved too much for the con ference as they posted a 5-0 conference mark, along with the MEAC crown. The 1988 season promises to be equally as exciting as the past five seasons. The two teams in the MEAC which posted the worst overall records made some coaching changes during the off-season. Morgan's Ed Wyche replaced Jesse Thomas and the Aggies of N.C. A&T tabbed Bill Hayes to replace Mo Forte. The other league coaches include: Larry Little, sixth year at Bethune-Cookman Col lege, William Collick, fourth year at Deleware State, Ken Riley, third year at Florida A&M, Willie Jeffries, fifth year at Howard and Dennis Thomas, third year at S.C. State. The Howard Bison have been chosen by league coaches and Sports Information Di rectors of the MEAC to repeat as MEAC Cham pions. They are fol lowed by Deleware State, FAMU, S.C. State, Bethune Cookman, N.C. A&T and Morgan Slate respectfully. The 1988 MEAC Eootball season Riley Has Rattlers on the Move in '88 By Malcolm A. Pharr The Rattlers of Florida A&M, under the direc tion of third-year Coach Ken Riley go into the 1988 with high expec tations. After coming off a 5-5-1 record of a year ago the Rattlers are poised and experienced with 19 returning starters. The Tallahassee based Rattlers, who run the pro-set offense will rely on senior Andre Williams to lead the FAMU attack. Williams, who led the Rattlers to three gonsecutive was at last seasons end, rushed for 139 yards and five touchdowns . and passed for 283 yards and two tD'd last season. Junior Rod - Jackson, who com pleted 34% of his passes last season, will challenge Williams for his position. Senior runningback Bryan Moore (5-9, 202' is the Rattlers top rusher returning this fall. Moore rushed for 409 yards and scored once a year ago. Junior fullback Sean Gilliam (6- 0, 200) is ihe top can didate for this sjot. Gilliam rushed for 147 First-year Bears Coach Edmond "Ed" Wyche has his hands full as the 1988 MEAC Football season begans. Although- Morgan State returns 16 starters among 55 re turning lettermen the Bears have a difficult task ahead as the MEAC grows more competitive year after year. Last seasons 1 -9 record and the yielding of 30 points per con test indicates a need for concentration on the defensive end of things for Wyche and his staff. The offense was also unimpressive as handle the pass re ceiving duties for the Rattlers this season. Huckaby, a speedster, led the conference in kick-off returns aver aging 30.0 yards per jaunt. Coach Ken Riley uses his tight ends as well as any coach in the con ference and this season he has a pair of sure handed blockers in se nior Curtis Green (6-2, 215) and Troy Alien (6- 4, 230). Last season Green nabbed 12 passes for 127 yards and Allen snatched ten for 147 yards. The Rattlers offensive The Tallahassee based Rattlers, who run the pro-set offense will rely on senior Andre Wiliiams to iead the FAMU attack. ana one TD on 31 car ries last season. Senior Oscar Harris will also be looked upon tp beef up the Rattlers back- field. Ron Vickers and Howard Huckaby will surge will be led by se niors Anthony Jamison (6-1, 240, c), Charles Cordon (6-5, 275, t), John Jordan (6-0, 260, g) and junior Terry Beauford. Senior punter Vaughn Wilson led the confer ence in punting last season with a 39.5 av erage per boot. Sophomore James Ver- tuno proved his kicking accuracy 'oy nailing 15 of 17 extra points and seven of nine field goals. AII-MEaC defensive end Bryan Brewer (6-5, 230) had 13 sacks last season. He will be aided on the wall by end Terrance Lundy and nose tackle Herbert Moore (6-2, 255). Irvin Clark and Sean Brantley add fire to the Rattlers defensive machine. Perhaps FAMU de fensive strength will me from the linebacking position. Seniors Eddie Metca'f Lamar Glover, Dwayne Butler and Darryl Davis. Glover led FAMU in tackles last season with 85, while Metcalf recorded 61. Both recorded three sacks each. Senior safeties Matt Fair and Ken Johnson, both 6-3, 190 will man the middle while juniors Williams Evers and Lowell Crawford will hold down the corners. Obsession’s Hair Care Specializing In Quality Plus Expert Styling Hair Stylist; Katrena E. Jones 767-2866 Lillie P. Holmes 3533 Glenn Avenue Winston-Salem, N.C. 27105 promises to be both exciting and enterning as the conference en ters i ts 18th season. BRAKE WORLD 1318 N. Liberty SI. Winston-Salem. N.C. 27105 (919) 724-0644 WILLIE CROSS Fair and Johnson split all ten FAMU intercep tions and added 74 and 75 tackles respectively. The Rattlers are hun gry for their first title and Coach Ken Riley is ready to bring the championship south. FLORIDA A&M COACH KEN RILEY M EI)[A M ADVERTISING PUBLIC RELATIONS AKKKTINC SPECIAL PROMOT^ONS CHARLES G. BOHANNON Marketing Consultant (919) 767-3679 P.O. Box 17254 Winston-Salem, N.C. 27116 “Advertise or Be Forgotten”
The AC Phoenix News (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Sept. 1, 1988, edition 1
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