Special to FAMU Athletics
In his first season at the helm of the FAMU baseball
program, Jamey Shouppe has been named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)
Coach of the Year.
The MEAC Coach of the Year honor is the first for FAMU since
former Head Coach Joe Durant was recognized as Coach of the Year in 2003.
"This is definitely a team award, from the coaching
staff to the players buying in to what we were trying to accomplish this
year," Shouppe said. "It’s not
directed just to one person. This (award) is a tribute to this coaching staff
and these players and is the ultimate team award.”
FAMU also finished the regular season on a season-high
five-game winning streak and have won 11 straight games decided by one run. The
24 wins on the year are the most wins since the Rattlers also won 24 in 2009. FAMU
won a record 14 games in MEAC play and finished in a tie for first place in the
Southern Division with Bethune-Cookman. The 14 conference wins is just the
third time in program history with double digit MEAC wins.
"To start the season 3-10 and finish 24-24 is quite an
accomplishment," Shouppe added. "Especially to finish out the year on
a five game winning streak to take second place, which really positions
ourselves better for the tournament. We’re not just a baseball team anymore,
we’re now a program. We’re going to do the things the way that successful
programs do things and the guys bought into that and have got better and
better. We’re playing well going into the postseason and that’s what you want
from a coaching standpoint"
FAMU has been in almost every game this season as 30 games
have been decided by three runs or less. The Rattlers are 18-12 in those games.
One of the big highlights of the year was a 4-3 win over
then No. 6 Florida in Gainesville, arguably the biggest win for the MEAC this
season. The win was the first over the Gators in the history of the Florida
A&M baseball program. FAMU also ended long losing streaks over Jacksonville
(20), North Florida (13) and Bethune-Cookman (13) during the season.