FAMU Quick Facts:

Location: Tallahassee, Florida 32307

Founded: 1887

Enrollment: 13,300

Nickname: Rattlers, FAMU (FAM-You)

Colors: Orange and Green

Stadium: Bragg Memorial Stadium

Capacity / Surface: 25,500 / Natural Grass

Affiliation: NCAA , Football Championship Series (Division I-AA)

Conference: Mid-EasternAthleticConference

Director of Athletics: Derek Horne

Athletic Phone: (850) 599-3868 / 3878

Athletic Website: www.FAMUAthletics.com

Head Coach: Joseph "Joe" Taylor

Alma Mater: Western Illinois, 1972

Record at FAMU: 27-11-0, 3 Year

Career Record: 226-88-4/29 Years

Interim Sports Information: Vaughn Wilson

Office Phone: (850) 599-3849

Email: Vaughn.Wilson@FAMU.edu

Assistant Sports Information Director Football Contact : Ronnie Johnson

Office Phone: (850) 599-3736

Email: Ronnie.Johnson@FAMU.edu; Ronjon_2001@yahoo.com

Fax Phone: (850) 599-3206

This week's games in the MEAC

Oct. 20

Bethune-Cookman at Norfolk State, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 22

North Carolina A&T at Howard, 1 p.m. North Carolina Central at Hampton,

 2 p.m. Florida A&M at South Carolina State, 1:30 p.m.

THE MATCHUP: The Florida A&M University Rattlers (4-3, 2-2 MEAC) will take on the South Carolina State Bulldogs (4-3, 3-1 MEAC).

THE LOGISTICS: Kickoff will be 1:30 p.m. EST for the contest, which will be held at Oliver Dawson Bulldog Stadium in Orangeburg, S.C., broadcasted on ESPNU in a 10:30 p.m. tape delay.

ON THE AIR: FAMU will air the game via the Rattler Sports Network (WXBX 96.1 FM - Tallahassee. Fla.) with founder and FAMU Sports Hall of Famer, Keith Miles anchoring the broadcast.... Mike Thomas will be the color analyst, with Victor Duncan providing timely sideline updates and Jerome Swain engineering the broadcast.

SCSU will air the game via the Bulldog Radio Network (WOIC 1230 AM (Columbia); WQKI 102.9 FM (Orangeburg, Bamberg, Calhoun, Clarendon); WJVM 800AM (Greenville); WAAW 94.7 FM (Augusta, N. Augusta, Aiken, Barnwell, Saluda, Edgefield)

Highlights of the game will be seen on the Joe Taylor Show on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. on WTXL 27 (Channel 7) in Tallahassee and on Sun Sports (Cable 28 in Tallahassee) state wide Wednesdays at 3 p.m.            Rattler Prime Time, airing on FAMU TV 20 (Comcast Cable 20), will also feature full game replays several times each week following every game.

LAST TIME OUT:            FAMU returned to the win column with a 47-7 win over the MEAC's newest member Savannah State, at Theodore A. Wright Stadium in Savannah, Ga.  South Carolina State pick up a 23-13 non- conference win over FCS Independent Georgia State, at Oliver Dawson Bulldog Stadium in Orangeburg, S.C.

WHAT'S AT STAKE: For both clubs a win would give either club another conference win in their race to catch league leading Norfolk State.

• For the Rattlers, a win would give FAMU their first win over South Carolina State, since 2001, where the Rattler defeated the Bulldogs, 33-27 at Altell Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
• For the Bulldogs, a win would give SCSU their ninth consecutive win against FAMU

THE SERIES HISTORICAL: FAMU vs. South Carolina State

This will be the 52nd meeting between the Rattlers and the Bulldogs with FAMU leading the series 30-19-2.            SCSU defeated FAMU in their first ever meeting in 1930, and the Bulldogs have won the last eight meetings.  FAMU posted seven consecutive wins against SCSU from 1995-2001. The Bulldogs' eight-game win streak is the longest that either team has enjoyed.  The last time FAMU defeated SCSU in Orangeburg, S.C. was during the 1997 season with the Rattlers pulling out a 22-20 win over the Bulldogs.

The most points that a FAMU team has scored against SCSU was 80 as the Rattlers blanked the Bulldogs 80-0 in 1960. 39 years later, FAMU would bolster a 76-17 win over SCSU in the 1999 season at Altell Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.  The most points that a SCSU team scored against FAMU was 49 as the Bulldogs defeated the Rattlers, 49-3 in 2007 at Bulldog Stadium in Orangeburg, S.C.

1930 SCSU 21, FAMU 7

1931 FAMU 9, SCSU 0

1932 FAMU 12, SCSU 12-T

1933 SCSU 26, FAMU 0

1934 SCSU 6, FAMU 0

1935 SCSU 13, FAMU 0

1936 FAMU 9, SCSU 0

1937 FAMU 7, SCSU 7 -T

1938 FAMU 41, SCSU 0

1939 FAMU 13, SCSU 0

1940 FAMU 20, SCSU 0

1958 FAMU 28, SCSU 8

1959 FAMU 34, SCSU 12

1960 FAMU 80, SCSU 0

1961 FAMU 60, SCSU 0

1965 FAMU 19, SCSU 12

1966 SCSU 8, FAMU 3

1967 FAMU 25, SCSU 0

1968 FAMU 25, SCSU 3

1969 FAMU 27, SCSU 7

1970 FAMU 28, SCSU 10

1971 FAMU 28, SCSU 7

1973  FAMU 23, SCSU 12 - OBC

1980 SCSU 21, FAMU 19

1981 SCSU 16, FAMU 15- OBC

1982 SCSU 21, FAMU 19

1983  FAMU 17, SCSU 14

1986 FAMU 26, SCSU 3

1987 SCSU 20, FAMU 10

1988 FAMU 23, SCSU 14

1989 SCSU 28, FAMU 26

1990 FAMU 37, SCSU 17

1991 SCSU 21, FAMU 7

1992 FAMU 33, SCSU 20

1993 FAMU 21, SCSU 17

1994 SCSU 27, FAMU 15

1995 FAMU 28, SCSU 21

1996 FAMU 20, SCSU 6

1997 FAMU 22, SCSU 20

1998 FAMU 37, SCSU 14

1999 FAMU 76, SCSU 17

2000 FAMU 64, SCSU 9

2001 FAMU 33, SCSU 27

2002  SCSU 31, FAMU 13

2003  SCSU 27, FAMU 15 

2005 SCSU 49, FAMU 3 

2006 SCSU 28, FAMU 21

2007 SCSU 49, FAMU 14

2008 SCSU 28, FAMU 21

2009 SCSU 35, FAMU 20

2010 SCSU 19, FAMU 0

Rattler versus the Bulldogs on the Tube

SCSU holds a 6-2 lead over FAMU on the tube. In their last four meetings, the Rattlers and Bulldogs have met on ESPNU. The Bulldogs holds a 4-1 edge over the Rattlers on an ESPN Network affiliate (4-0 ESPNU; 0-1 ESPN 2).

2010            South Carolina State 19, Florida A&M 0 ESPNU/ MEAC

2009            South Carolina State 35, Florida A&M 20 ESPNU / MEAC

2008            South Carolina State 28, Florida A&M 21 ESPNU / MEAC

2007            South Carolina State 49, Florida A&M 14 ESPN / MEAC

1999            Florida A&M 76, S.C. State 17 Sunshine Network

1994            S.C. State 27, Florida A&M 15 ESPN 2 (Cable)

1990            Florida A&M 37, S.C. State 17 BET (Cable)

1982            S.C. State 21, Florida A&M 19 ABC (Regional)

Al-Terek McBurse earns MEAC Offensive Player of the Week Honors.

Al-Terek McBurse the Oveido, Fla., native and Purdue transfer rushed for a game high 218 yards on 14 carries, scoring three TDs with his longest rush being for 60 yards, in FAMU's 47-7 win over Savannah State. He becomes the first FAMU running back to rush for 200 plus yards in against since the 2007 season, when then FAMU running back Philip Sylvester rushed for 222 yards against Howard on Sept. 15 2007 at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Picks just keep coming....

The FAMU Secondary has tallied 18 interceptions on the season.            This is the second most a FAMU Joe Taylor team has garnered in a season. In his inaugural season, the Rattler secondary garnered 16 INTs as FAMU finished the season 9-3 in 2008.            The last time a FAMU secondary posted 20 interceptions in a season was in 2000 with the Rattlers garnering 20 interceptions for 291 yards. In 1999, the FAMU secondary tallied 22 interceptions for 402 yards.            The school record for interceptions in a season is 35, during the 1981 season.            The Rattlers currently lead the MEAC in interceptions.

Interceptions

No.            Year

35            1981

22            1999

20            2000

18            2011

16            2008

The FAMU secondary has had at least one interception in each of their seven games, this season. In addition, FAMU has had two or more interceptions in five of their seven games this season.

THE COACHING MATCHUP:            Florida A&M's Joseph "Joe" Taylor (Western Illinois, '72) is in his 29th season as a collegiate head coach, bringing a career record of 226-88-4 into the eighth week of the season.

South Carolina State's Oliver "Buddy" Pough (South Carolina State, '75) is in his 10th season as a collegiate head coach bringing a career record of 80-33 into the eighth week of the season.  Pough is currently 6-3 against Taylor as a head coach. The last time a Taylor team defeated a Pough South Carolina State team was in the 2005 season with Taylor's Hampton Pirates defeating South Carolina State 14-10 as Hampton finished the season 11-1 and winning the conference title.

RATTLERS AT A GLANCE:            FAMU enters Saturday's contest with an overall record of 4-3 and 2-2 in conference play.  Al-Terek McBurse has moved ahead Eddie Rocker and Lavante Page as the team's leading rusher. He has rushed for 296 yards on 37 carries with four TDs with his longest run being for 60 yards. Rocker is the team's second leading rusher with 229 yards on 66 carries with three TDs in seven games.

Damien Fleming as the Rattler signal caller has completed 45-of -83 passes for 598 yards with four TDs.  Kevin Elliott is FAMU's top receiver with 422 receiving yards on 25 catches with two TDs. He is currently averaging 60.3 yards per game. Brian Tyms is the Rattlers second leading receiver with 273 yards on 21 catches with one TD.

Demarius Folsom and Brandon Hepburn are both the Rattlers' leading tacklers with 43 total take downs apiece. Folsom, in the seven games that he played in, has recorded 43 tackles with 27 solos, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, four quarterback hurries, one interception and one forced fumble. Hepburn has recorded 43 tackles with 29 solos, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sac and one quarterback hurry on the season.

BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE:            South Carolina State comes into Saturday's contest with an overall record of 4-3 and a conference record of 3-1. The Bulldogs are currently in third place in the MEAC standing as they trail North Carolina A&T (4-2, 3-0 MEAC) by a half game and league leading Norfolk State (6-1, 4-0 MEAC) by a one game.            SCSU currently ranks third in the conference in rushing offense (190.3 yards per game ) and ranks fourth in total offense (364.4 yards per game).

SCSU is coming off back-to-back home victories as they defeated North Carolina Central 49-38 on Oct. 8 and Georgia State 23-13 in a non- conference matchup.  Asheton Jordon is the Bulldogs' top rusher as he has rushed for 441 yards on 77 carries with two TDs. Jalen Simmons is the other top rusher for SCSU at the running back position. He has rushed for 222 yards on 50 carries with two TDs.

Richard Cue has taken over as SCSU signal caller with the injury to starting quarterback Derrick Wiley. Cue comes into Saturday's contest completing 38-of-65 passes for 449 yards and has rushed for 206 yards on 39 carries.

Tyler McDonald is the top target for the Bulldogs as he currently leads the SCSU receivers with 433 yards receiving on 30 catches with three TDs. Behind him is Caleb Davis with 364 yards receiving on 27 catches with two TDs in the seven games, he has played in.

Donovan Richard and Joe Thomas currently lead the Bulldog defense. Richard leads the team with 79 tackles with 44 solos. He has 4.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception, one pass break up and one quarterback hurry. Thomas is SCSU's second leading tackler with 70 tackles with 43 solos. He currently has 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and three interceptions.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR: South Carolina State had a back to rush for the century mark as well a receiver to finish over the century mark as the Bulldogs extended their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference win streak to 20 as they defeated the Florida A&M University, 19-0 here at Bragg Memorial Stadium.

Blake Erickson scored the Bulldogs first nine points as he connected on a pair of 39-yard field goals, the first with 10:35 to go in the first and the second with six seconds to go in the first half, giving SCSU a 6-0 lead in to the break.

Erickson would then score the Bulldogs' first points of the second half on a 41-yard field goal with 6:41 to go in the third quarter, giving SCSU a 9-0 lead.  SCSU (3-1, 1-0 MEAC) would score their only TD of the game as they mounted a 13-play, 78- yard drive, taking 6:25 off of the clock to score on a Malcolm Long one-yard quarter back sneak, making the score 16-0 in favor of the Bulldogs after the Erickson made PAT, with 8:13 to go in the game.

Darius Drummond would set up Blake's final field goal of the game as he intercepted an Eddie Battle pass returning it 38 yards to the FAMU 15-yard line. Blake would then connect on a 42-yard field goal for the 19-0 final with 5:14 to go in the game.

FAMU (2-2, 2-1 MEAC) was led by senior tailback Philip Sylvester as the rushed 19 yards on 20 carries.  Behind him was Martin Ukpai with 13 yards rushing on six carries.

Ukpai finished the game passing for 31 yards as he completed five passes in 11 attempts with one interception. In addition, Battle finished with for 25 yards passing by completing three passes in nine attempts with three interceptions.

LaShad Tookes was the Rattler leading receiver with two catches for 20 yards.

John Ojo led the Rattler defense as he garnered 12 tackles (6 solo, 6 asst) and 1.5 tackles for a loss of three yards. Alvis Graham finished behind Ojo with eight tackles (5 solos, 3 asst).

Chris Massey led the SCSU ground attack as he rushed for 110 yards on 27 carries with his longest scamper for 15 yards. Asheton Jordon also tallied 10 totes for 44 yards with his longest run being for 16 yards.

Malcolm Long led the aerial attack as he completed 21 passes in 33 attempts for 206 yards with an interception.  Lennel Elmore was Long's favorite target as he caught 11 passes for 126 yard with his longest reception being 34 yards.

Joe Taylor's ranks high among FCS (Div- I- AA) Coaches.... FAMU coach Joe Taylor currently ranks third among active FCS coaches in winning percentage (.718) and ranks third among active FCS coaches in victories (226).            Taylor ranks fifth among winningest coaches all-time winning percentage (.718) and is currently ranks ninth among winningest coaches all-time in victories with (226).

Taylor chasing FAMU history

Armed already with 25 wins in his first three seasons at FAMU, a mark which is one win better than College Hall of Fame legends Jake Gaither (1945-47) and Billy Joe (1994-96), who each won 24 games during their first three campaigns, current FAMU coach Joe Taylor is eyeing the four-year standard for coaching success in the Orange and Green.... Billy Joe (1994-97) holds the lead with 33 victories in his first four seasons, followed closely by Jake Gaither (1945-48) and Rudy Hubbard (1974-77) with 32 wins.

Rattlers have three record holders on coaching staff Coach Joe Taylor has four FAMU graduates on his coaching staff, with three of them still in the Rattler Football record books.... Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Earl Holmes (1992-95), is the school's all-time tackles leader (509) and also holds numerous single game and single season records.... New quarterbacks coach Quinn Gray (1998-2001) still reigns as the school's all-time passing leader with 7,378 yards and 57 TDs.... Kicking and special teams coach Juan Vasquez (2000- 03) still holds the record for career field goals (66).

FAMU seeking first playoff trip since 2001

With Vasquez and Gray together again, the Rattlers are hoping to complete their return to prominence in football field by reaching the NCAA playoffs... Gray (1998-2001) and Vasquez (2000-03) played together on the last two FAMU playoff teams (2000, 2001), while Gray was a member of the 1998 and 1999 squads that advanced out of the first round.... Also, both players were key members of two MEAC championship teams in 2000 and 2001.

TALKIN' TO THE RATTLERS: There will be several chances for the media to talk with the FAMU Football Team during the week.            Interviews with the Head Football Coach Joe Taylor can be arranged through Sports Information, as can interviews with keys players by calling (850) 599-3736 or 599- 3849.

The MEAC Coaches Teleconference is on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to Noon, with Coach Taylor set to appear at 11:33 a.m.            Call the MEAC Relations Office at (757) 951-2055 to get access.

MEAC Football Coaches Schedule:

10:00 - MEAC Updates

10:03 - Donald Hill-Eley (Morgan State)

10:13 - Rod Broadway (North Carolina A&T)

10:23 - Henry Frazier (North Carolina Central)

10:33 - Gary Harrell (Howard)

10:43 - Kermit Blount (Delaware State)

10:53 - Buddy Pough (SC State)

11:03 - Donovan Rose (Hampton)

11:13 - Pete Adrian (Norfolk State)

11:23 - Brian Jenkins (Bethune-Cookman)

11:33- JoeTaylor(FloridaA&M)

11:43 - Steve Davenport (Savannah State)

WHO TO CALL FOR INFO:

For the latest information on Rattler Sports contact Ronnie Johnson Assistant Sports Information Director (850) 599-3736; Ronnie.Johnson@FAMU.edu / Ronjon_2001@yahoo.com or Vaughn Wilson, Interim Sports Information Director (850) 599- 3849; Vaughn.Wilson@FAMU.edu. Or visit our website at: http://www.famuathletics.com/

For the Latest on South Carolina State contact William "Bill" Hamilton, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations            (803) 536-7060; e-mail whamilton@SCSU.edu or visit their website at: http:// www.scsuathletics.com/index.aspx

TICKET INFORMATION: Call the FAMU Athletic Ticket Office in Alfred Lawson, Jr., Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium at (850) 599-3141. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.