Rubin's last stand?

As the Rattler football team heads into the final game of the 2007 campaign, a cloud of uncertainty and discontent swirls around the program.

By now, anyone even remotely paying attention to what has been going on has heard both the cheers and jeers for the Rattlers. As the team limps into its final game with a 3-7 record, the jeers have grown louder and more frequent. A season which began with high hopes has now crushed to the ground. In early October senior quarterback Albert Chester quit the team, then a few weeks later a senior wide receiver Derek Williams quit. Nearly half of FAMU's offensive starters have been injured at one point during the season.

The first losing season in Rubin Carter's three years at FAMU is a foregone conclusion. For Coach Carter the dark clouds are truly on the horizon, and his future with the team is very much in doubt.

"This team isn't a team of losers -- you know, people that don't mind losing," offensive lineman Justin Delancy said as he sat watching practice. "We have a very emotional team. We're all champions, we're all winners. We came out expecting a championship. We're three and whatever, it's a big disappointment."

Delancy was the team's only senior offensive lineman until he broke his fibula on Oct. 18 against Norfolk State.

It's been that kind of year for FAMU football.

"Right now we're down to a lot of positions that were second or third string," senior receiver Willie Hayward said. "It's kind of a surprise, but you've got to keep on trying to win."

At the heart of the football team's collapase has been the coaching ability of Coach Carter. An unproven rookie coach, without any heading coaching experience on either the high school or collegiate level. Carter came to FAMU from Temple University after a successful career in the NFL and coaching stops at the Washington Redskins and Howard University.

Under Carter the Rattlers defense has not improved, which is shocking for someone who was billed as a "defensive guru". Offensive playing calling has been called into question as the one potent Rattler offense has struggled, and the defense's inability to stop the run is now legendary.

It's been a strange season for seniors like Hayward and Delancy. Delancy and his teammates talked about an MEAC championship before the season started. Now the Rattlers are in eighth place in the conference with only North Carolina A&T beneath them.

Will Coach Carter quit after the season? Will he be forced out?

We'll just have to wait and see.