Rattlers release 2011 football schedule

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Jan. 6) - The Florida A&M University Department of Athletics released its 2011 football schedule which features four home games, a September match up with a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent and two Classic events.

Last season the Rattlers finished with a record of 8-3 and 7-1 in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, by winning their last six of seven games and handing, Bethune-Cookman their only regular season lost in the Annual Florida Classic.

FAMU will open its 2011 campaign Sept. 3 with a non-conference home contest against Fort Valley (Ga.) State in Bragg Memorial Stadium.

After the season opener, the Rattlers will hit the road for three weeks, travelling to Armstrong Stadium for their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener Sept. 10 against Hampton University at Hampton, Virginia.

The Rattlers will then travel to Tampa, Fla., to take on the University of South Florida at Raymond James Stadium on Sept. 17, then will conclude their three-game road swing on Sept. 24 in the annual Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic at the Georgia Dome.

FAMU returns home, resuming MEAC play against Delaware State on Oct. 1 and Howard University on Oct. 8, before making their first-ever trip to Savannah, Ga., on Oct. 15, to take on MEAC provisional member Savannah State at Ted A. Wright Stadium.

The following week, the Rattlers will trek to Orangeburg, S.C. for a critical MEAC matchup against South Carolina State on Oct. 22 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, then have an open date (Oct. 29) before returning home for a conference match up against North Carolina A&T on Nov. 5.

In November, FAMU will have two road trips, taking on MEAC provisional member North Carolina Central for the first time in 38 years on Nov. 12 at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium in Durham, N.C., before closing out the year in the 32nd Florida Classic against arch rival Bethune-Cookman University on Nov. 19 at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

Start times for all games will be announced at a later date.

With conference expansion in effect, the new league scheduling format has the Rattlers not facing longtime foes Norfolk (Va.) State or Morgan (Md.) State this season.

2011 FAMU RATTLER FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
09-03 Fort Valley State (TBA) HOME/Bragg Memorial Stadium
09-10 @Hampton University (TBA)* Hampton, VA/Armstrong Stadium
09-17 @University of South Florida (TBA) Tampa, FL/Raymond James Stadium
09-24 Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic Atlanta, GA/Georgia Dome
10-01 Delaware State (TBA)* HOME/Bragg Memorial Stadium
10-08 Howard University (TBA)* HOME/Bragg Memorial Stadium
10-15 @Savannah State (TBA)* Savannah, GA/Ted Wright Stadium
10-22 @South Carolina State (TBA)* Orangeburg, SC/Dawson-Bulldog Stadium
11-05 North Carolina A&T (TBA)* HOME/Bragg Stadium
11-12 @North Carolina Central (TBA)* Durham, NC/O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium
11-19 Bethune-Cookman (TBA)* Orlando, FL/Florida Citrus Bowl##
(*)-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games; (##)-Florida Classic

Coach Joe Taylor’s team will return seven starters on each side of the ball and a full compliment on special teams.

Redshirt sophomore Austin Trainor returns to lead the Rattler offense at quarterback, while juniors Eddie Rocker and Lavantae Paige will battle for the starting spot at running back. T.J. Lawrence and Kevin Elliot will anchor the receiving corps, while veterans Brandon Curry and Franklin Carter return to anchor the offensive line.

On defense, the linebackers should anchor the defense, with the return of Alvis Graham and Willie Ferrell. Padraig Scott and Joshua Newkirk will anchor the defensive front, with veterans John Ojo, Anthony Shutt and Jarral Stewart holding down the secondary.

The special teams remain intact from 2010, headed by redshirt junior placekicker Trevor Scott, along with All-MEAC punter Brandon Holdren, and senior long snapper Jay Culpepper returning as well. Jarral Stewart and T.J. Lawrence will serve as kick and punt returners respectively.



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