Ratlers Bite Tigers in Atlanta

One of the more unknown but fiercest rivalries in all of College Football took place in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta last Saturday as the Ratlers of Florida A&M University defeated the Tigers of Tennessee St. 31-12 in the 21st annual Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic.

Much of the national hoopla surrounding FAMU is on All-American Sr. Defensive End and Punt Returner LeRoy Vann, who got the attention of ESPN and Sports Illustrated with his four punt returns for touchdowns in the past two weeks. In Saturday's game, however, FAMU Red Shirt Sr. QB Curtis Pulley was the man of the hour. Pulley led the Ratlers to the 31-12 as he completed 24 of 34 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns, earning Pulley the Classic MVP for the second year in a row.

The Ratlers are now 4-0 and broke into the FCS (formerly Div. 1-AA) top 25. After their bye week this Saturday, the Ratlers will face Jacory Harris and the Miami Hurricanes October 10 before returning to MEAC play the following week against S. Carolina St. in Orangeburg, SC.

The game between FAMU and TSU is one of a few rivalry games between predominately African-American universities. One of the other huge annual rivalries is between two Louisiana schools: Grambling St. and Southern University, who play in the annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans in early December.

LeRoy Vann has surely caught the eyes of NFL scouts as has Pulley, a transfer from Kentucky and backup to former All-SEC performer Andre Woodson, who is now in the NFL.

While they probably don't have enough athletes to hang with the Canes, the Ratlers are playing well enough to make a run for the MEAC Title and an FCS playoff berth. As for Tenessee St., they drop to 1-3 and begin OVC play as they host SE Missouri St. this Saturday. More information on this article can be found by going to www.famu.edu/athletics and www.tsutigers.com.