Sources: Florida A&M Fires Coach; AD Resigns

Tuesday, November 20th 2007, 12:40 pm

By: News On 6

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Florida A&M has fired head coach Rubin Carter after the Rattlers posted a 3-8 record this season, including a 34-7 loss to rival Bethune-Cookman in their finale, two school administrators said Tuesday.

Athletic Director Nelson Townsend has also submitted his resignation, said sources who asked for anonymity in deference to President James Ammon's scheduled Tuesday afternoon news conference.

Messages left on Carter's office and cell phones were not immediately returned by the coach, who is 16-17 in three seasons at the school. He has two years remaining on his original contract.

Carter, 54, took over in July 2005 amid a school-wide funding crisis and an NCAA investigation into hundreds of rules violations throughout the athletics program. He had been an assistant coach at Temple when he took the FAMU job.

A Fort Lauderdale native who starred at the University of Miami and then Denver in the NFL. Carter appeared in two Super Bowls with the Broncos, where he was a member of its famed ``Orange Crush'' defense.

His son, Andre Carter, is a defensive end with the Washington Redskins.

Carter replaced College Football Hall of Fame coach Billy Joe, who was fired despite an 86-46 record in 11 seasons.

In August, the school fired its basketball coach, Mike Gillespie, who had entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor stalking charge.