DATE: Saturday, September 13, 1997          TAG: 9709130660

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   49 lines

NSU VISITS A MOTIVATED FLORIDA A&M FOOTBALL TEAM TODAY SPARTANS FACE BIG CHALLENGE IN THEIR FIRST MEAC GAME.

The reason coaches don't utter preseason quotes to remember is opposing coaches won't let them forget.

Back in July, Norfolk State coach Darnell Moore responded to a question about how the Spartans would fare in their initial season in the MEAC by trumpeting the strength of their former league, the CIAA.

``Virginia State,'' Moore said of the 1996 CIAA champion, ``is as good as anybody in the MEAC.''

These comments made their way back to Florida A&M coach Billy Joe, who said his two-time defending conference champion Rattlers are looking forward to Saturday's opportunity to show the Spartans what MEAC football is all about.

``He's saying Virginia State is as good as Howard?'' Joe said. ``Howard waxed Virginia State (31-7) last year. I'm not sure where he's coming from. It's amusing.''

Joe was less amused about receiving the game film of Norfolk State's 26-0 victory over Virginia Union Monday at 10 p.m., which he said was 10 hours later than required by conference rules. The Rattlers coach said the late arrival of the tape forced him to rework Saturday's game plan.

Oh, and don't expect any post-game on-field handshake exchanged between the two coaches, although anger at perceived slights won't be the reason why not. For the past 13 years, Joe has been one of the rare head coaches who works games from the press box.

``On the field, all I can see is legs,'' he said. ``The press box gives me perspective. I can see the whole field.''

One might wonder why Joe is resorting to motivational tactics given the advantages his team appears to have in this game. The Rattlers (1-0) are ranked 16th in Division I-AA and are the first I-AA opponent the Spartans (1-1) have faced this season. They've had two weeks to prepare. And they're playing in Tallahassee, where the heat and humidity sometimes inflicts more damage to opponents than the Rattlers themselves.

In their season opener against Tennessee State on Aug. 30, the Rattlers trailed Tennessee State 28-15 with seven minutes remaining but scored the game's final 28 points as the Tigers wilted. The temperature was 96 degrees at kickoff and approximately 20 fans were treated for dehydration. Four had to be hospitalized.

More mid-90s, high-humidity weather is forecast for Saturday. But Joe said he wouldn't have it any other way, even nixing discussion about moving the start time from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

``It's like the cold in Green Bay,'' he said. ``The climate is our 12th man.''

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