DATE: Thursday, September 11, 1997          TAG: 9709110455

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE:    - PAUL WHITE

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

MEAC ROUNDUP

Howard's kicker

tried, tried, tried

and tried again

Placekicker Charles Card endured a nightmarish introduction to college football Saturday during Howard's 35-33 season-opening loss to Jackson State.

Card, a true freshman, was so shaky in missing his first two extra-point attempts the Bison tried - and failed - on two-point conversions after their next two touchdowns. Then with 3:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, Card missed a 27-yard field goal. A Jackson State penalty gave Card another chance from 22 yards out, but Card missed again.

After the game, Bison coach Steve Wilson's first move was to put his arm around Card and give the freshman a vote of confidence.

``I just told him I'm sorry he missed them, but that he'll have many more opportunities to win games for us at Howard University,'' Wilson said.

Forget the game, Florida

A&M's band comes to play

The leader of the Florida A&M squad promises multiple formations and a lot of variety Saturday. Says he hasn't seen Norfolk State on film, but respects their history and reputation. Gameplan tidbits? ``We don't give out that kind of information.''

Dr. William P. Foster sure does take his band seriously. Which is why Norfolk State's Marching Spartan Legion, typically the most precise, disciplined and elaborate band on any field it plays, better be at its spit-shined best Saturday when it shares Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee with Florida A&M's Marching 100, a unit generally regarded as one of the best in the country.

Foster, who is nicknamed the director of the FAMU unit since 1946 and is nicknamed ``The Father of the Black Band,'' said he expects to see the Spartans on top of their music-playing, hip-shaking game.

``They all do that when they come in here,'' Foster said. ``We have about four other bands coming in here this year to do the same thing. We're used to it. To us, it's just another game, and we'll put on another dynamite show.''

The Spartans football team will have its hands full as well. Florida A&M is ranked 16th in the latest Division I-AA poll, the highest of any MEAC team.

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