FAMU Rattlers Soar to SWAC Championship with Seven-Game Winning Streak
|
Posted By: S. Moore on November 06, 2023 Stay locked in. That’s what Florida A&M head football coach Willie Simmons tells his team as the finish line nears. The Football Championship Coaches Poll ninth-ranked Rattlers are riding a seven-game winning streak after beating Southwestern Athletic Conference East opponent Alabama A&M 42-28. The Week 10 win clinched FAMU a berth to host the SWAC Championship on Dec. 2. But the Rattlers (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) aren’t looking ahead to next month They’re focusing on Saturday’s opponent, NCAA Division II Lincoln (CA) Oaklanders (0-11). The Week 11 game will be FAMU’s final regular season home game on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. on Rattlers+. “We have two choices,” Simmons said at Monday’s press conference. “We can look at Lincoln and try to match them. Or we can look at us and try to compete against ourselves. One is the force of greatness. But it’s the other voice that oftentimes speaks a lot louder, telling us that we can relax because we have already clinched. We have to fight hard to drown out that voice of negativity and listen to the voice of promise. “I asked [the team] if we were mature enough to take care of business this week to do what needs to be done to position ourselves in the best possible light Saturday and beyond.” Simmons says the FAMU-Lincoln game got scheduled due to two open dates remaining. The Rattlers considered playing a Football Bowl Subdivision team or setting home-and-home partnerships. However, they decided to schedule the DII Lincoln, which has played against SWAC schools Texas Southern and Southern this season. FAMU’s decision was based on wanting to play a home game before next week’s Florida Classic rivalry game versus Bethune-Cookman and an expectation to compete in the Division I HBCU postseason. It was also an effort to preserve the health of Rattlers players. “We didn’t want to go ten straight weeks, a week off, and then the Classic. So, we planned it to where he had a break right in the middle of the season,” Simmons said. “There weren’t many opponents, but Lincoln University was available and felt it was a nice non-conference game leading into the Classic. After last year’s playoff snub, we put all our eggs in the [HBCU] Celebration Bowl basket. Some may say it hurts the strength of schedule, but that doesn’t matter when you win the division, which is what we wanted to do. “Winning the SWAC and winning the Florida Classic are huge priorities for us.” Saturday’s game versus Lincoln is FAMU’s Senior Day. Simmons says the team is still finalizing how many players will be honored before the game. However, it’s his largest senior class ‘by far.’ Simmons, who’s been coaching the Rattlers since 2018, is most excited for players from his first signing class ― wide receivers David Manigo and Nick Dixon, offensive lineman Cameron Covin, and cornerback Eric Smith — to take their final regular season lap at Bragg. “It’s a special moment for everyone, but more so for those four remaining guys from that first signing class in 2018,” Simmons said. “They’ve been with us the entire time and saw the highest of the highs, the lowest of the lows, and have been one game away three out of the four years they’ve been able to play here. It’s been a lot of ‘almost there’ moments. “We’ve come so far in these six years.” As FAMU plays its penultimate regular season game, Simmons appreciates the adversity that his team is facing ahead of the postseason. Last Saturday, FAMU squandered a 17-0 first-quarter lead to allow Alabama A&M to pull ahead 21-17. But the Rattlers stormed back and outscored the Bulldogs 25-11 in the final 36 minutes. Simmons says obstacles help the Rattlers realize their chase for excellence and perfection. “If we had won the game in a runaway landslide, I don’t know if this team learn as much,” Simmons reflected. “It forced us to look at ourselves and challenge our mindsets to show what type of team we’re capable of. We find ourselves in games where we must dig deep and find a way. And that’s a valuable lesson to learn in life. “It’s frustrating at times that we hit those lulls, but I think Rattler Nation should be proud of this team for how resilient we are. That’s a redeeming quality for any championship football team.” Florida A&M (8-1, 7-0 SWAC) vs. Lincoln (0-11) California Game Information When: Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. Where: Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium How to watch: Rattlers+ If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest News
Popular News
 |
North Carolina HBCU Unity DayShaw University - Elizabeth City State University - Johnson C. Smith University - Fayetteville State University - Livingstone College - North Carolina A&T State University - North Carolina Central Uni ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 104,300 Views • August 8th, 2016 |
