FAMU slammed in home opener by rival Tennessee State 27 – 7
FAMU defensive end Frances Mays take aim at TSU quarterback Ronald Butler, but it would not be enough as he passed for 131 yards. The FAMY defense managed to sack his 3 times in the game
By Richard Alexander Moore
The Florida A&M Rattlers lost to rival Tennessee State 27-7 in their home opener. FAMU quarterback Damien Fleming errant pass was picked off during the opening drive and returned 46 yards by David Van Dyke for TSU’s first touchdown.
TSU would later score on a ten yard run by Tim Broughton, and TSU would never relinquish the lead. FAMU would finally get on the scoreboard on a Fleming 36 yard pass to Lenworth Lennon but as fate would have it, the ensuing kickoff was returned 95 yards up the gut for a TSU touchdown by Mart Stevenson to make the score 21-7.
FAMU only managed a mere 22 net yards rushing for the game while TSU amassed 268 yards rushing.
It was learned after the game FAMU had no communication with the coaches in the box but did not complain to officials so that both teams would have none as required by NCAA rule.
Coach Holmes had hoped his communications team would get the head sets working, but that was never to be. The team had requested new communications gear last spring, but never got approval for them and this was the reason there was no spring game sources say.
On a sad note, Offensive Coordinator Quin Gray had been hospitalized since Tuesday from an unknown ailment and spoke to the team via Skype before the game. He may return this week, but Coach Holmes was not sure if he would be back with the team this week against Samford in Tallahassee.
