Part 2 of the 12 part 2014 Miami Hurricane Opponent Video Series - FAMU 9/6 (Home Opener)

2014 FAMU Football Preview

In Part 2 of the 2014 12 part opponent video series. I’m going to talk a little about the FAMU Rattlers, our opponent in the Home Opener on Sept 6^th at Sun Life Stadium.

Lets first look at their Talent:

FAMU coach Earl Holmes has some strong players, including quarterbacks Damien Fleming and Carson Royal back in 2014. Fleming was the starter much of last season before a foot injury sidelined him for the final two games of the 2013 season and spring practice. Royal has improved while filling in for Fleming. They will get help coming back with some pretty good players returning with four FAMU players being on the preseason All-MEAC second team ― sophomore guard Keonte Cash, senior defensive back Devontae “Terry” Johnson, redshirt sophomore Patrick Aiken and senior kicker Chase Varnadore. They have a Freshman RB out of Dwyer High School in Gerald Hearns coming in. He’s 5’9” 205 lbs and might start right away with the regular starter Demont Bruce still recovering from an injury.

Next, I want to talk about the Coaching:

When you read what Holmes says, you’ll think it’s the usual coach speak you hear all the time, however, that’s how he is when he chooses to talk about how this season is a make or break season or not. Keep this in mind though, in 2013, the Rattlers finished his first season as a head coach at 3-9. That put Holmes, just in his second season as a head coach, under the gun.

But he seems to understand why even some of the diehards seem a little impatient. To hear Holmes tell it: "As far as redeeming, I feel it's time for us to make a statement," We’ll see on that one.

Now, to their 2014 Schedule:

Off a 3-9 record in 2013, 2014 will be no easier for the Rattlers. Let’s break it down.
In their opener, they go to Jackson State in a renewal of the Orange Blossom Classic. Many predict them to finish 3^rd in the SWAC Eastern Division. Coming off an 8-4 season, it won’t be easy for FAMU to win out in Jackson. They have a new coach there in Harold Jackson, and they are on a mission this year to win the SWAC title. No way the Rattlers win this one. Jackson cruises here.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Rattlers as a week; they get us (CANES) in our home opener. This is a game, while it’s a short week for the CANES, this is a game UM should win and win easily.
After a BYE in week 3, they get Coastal Carolina in their Home opener in Tallahassee. That team is loaded. They have two First team all FCS players back in OL Chad Hamilton, and LB Quinn Backus.

They are ranked 7^th nationally in the FCS pre-season poll and went 12-3 last year, lost in the Quarterfinals to the eventual champion North Dakota State. Not good for the Rattlers there in their home opener. Look for a 0-3 start after this one.

In week 4, the trip to Nashville will be brutal, as they take on #15 in the Preseason FCS poll in Tennessee State Tigers out of the Ohio Valley Conference. Many project the Tigers to go the FCS Post-Season. They came off a 10-4 season, losing to Eastern Illinois in the 2^nd round. The Tigers are loaded and having key personnel back in Nashville, look for a 0-4 record for the Rattlers after this one.

In week 5 they are back in Tallahassee to take on Morgan State. Many writers in the MEAC predict them to finish last in the league. They have two guys on their roster that our 1^st team all-MEAC pre-season in OL Darren Pinnock, and P Lawrence Forbes. If FAMU is going to get their 1^st win of the year, look for it to be here.

In Week 6, they will host Savannah State, who like the Rattlers is banned from NCAA post-season play. Last year, they went 1-11, so if there’s a shot at a 2^nd win of the season for the Rattlers, this would be it right here.  They do get back starting QB Leon Prunty from 2013, but they have an exciting JC transfer from Eastern Arizona in Ker-Sean Wilson, who according to quite a few people that were at their Spring game, had a great performance. He is a dual threat QB who passed for 115 yards and ran for 62 yards with the snaps he was given. Folks in Savannah are very excited about Sophomore RB Alex Simmons. He could develop into a productive force and maybe take some pressure off of the QB, which could give the Rattlers some issues. On D, they get back their leaders in both LBs in Marquis Smith and Justin Dixon. After them, the rest of their D is awful, even though they get a bunch of JC transfers coming in that could be playmakers, but FAMU needs to pay close attention to trying and neutralize Smith and Dixon because they will be the major pieces for the Tigers. This is a FAMU win in the end.

In Week 7, the Rattlers make the trip up to our Nation’s Capital with a date with the Howard Bison. The MEAC writers are picking the Bison to finish 4^th in the conference. This was a .500 team last year at 6-6 and 4-4 in the league. They get back the Co-Player of the year in the league in Dual Threat QB Greg McGhee, who had an average of 272.9 yards last year, and rushed for almost 900 yards and had a completion rate of 59%. Howard also has back RB Anthony Philyaw OT Toree Boyd, and S Cameron Alston. This team is decent and is only going to get better, which in this game will not be good for the Rattlers. Look for them to be 2-5 after this one. Howard wins here.

In Week 8, the Rattlers are back on the road again, this time vs. NC A & T, whom the writers who cover the league predict will finish 3^rd in the conference. They have 4 players on the 1^st team Pre-season all-MEAC team (3 on O and 1 on D). This is a team that has experience and coming off a 7-4 season last year, they also return the conference’s Rookie of the year in RB Tarik Cohen. In the end, look for the Rattlers to be 2-6 after this one. A & T wins here.

In Week 9, they are back in Tallahassee to take on Norfolk State. The writers predict them to finish 6^th in the league. They do have coming an All-American LB in Lynden Trail and he was a first team all-FCS player in 2013 and on their 1^st team preseason team this year. They have another All-American back in CB Darrin Marrow. In the end here, look for FAMU to drop to 2-7. Norfolk comes to Tallahassee and wins.

In Week 10, they host South Carolina State, who many writers predict to finish 2^nd in the league behind Bethune. They made the post-season last year, losing in the 1^st round to Furman 30-20. They finished 9-4 in 2013, and they have back 4 players on the 1^st team all MEAC Pre-season team (2 on O and 2 on D). Look for the Rattlers here to drop to 2-8 after this one. SC State wins here in FAMU home finale.

In Week 11, the Rattlers will make the trip North to Dover to take on the Delaware State Hornets, The Hornets are projected to finish 5^th in the league. In 2013, they finished 5-6, and they beat the Rattlers in Tallahassee 29-21. The way FAMU projects to look this year, I predict a Delaware State victory here at home over the Rattlers to drop FAMU to 2-9.

In the season finale in Orlando, they will play the Florida Classic vs. Bethune, whom many predict to win the conference again this year. This classic could get very ugly very quickly, and I predict it will be ugly for the Rattlers. Look for the Wildcats to cruise in this one to end FAMU’s 2014 season at 2-10

My prediction on the Game vs. CANES:

A short week, and off a signature win at Louisville, there will be no letups in this one. I like us to win this game easily. The only thing that would concern me is if someone got hurt a la Morris last year vs. Savannah State.

In Part 3 of the 2014 series, I will talk about the Arkansas State Red Wolves, our opponent on September 13^th at Sun Life Stadium.