Planning a team for your homecoming football game provides wiggle room for scoreboard equipment.
SO, Florida A&M football plans to rain on Alabama State’s homecoming festivities.
THE Rattles (2-2) open their Southwestern Athletic Conference schedule in visit the Hornets (2-2, 1-0 in SWAC) this Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern. ESPN Plus will broadcast the Week 6 SWAC game.
“We take it personally. For (Alabama State) to schedule us back home, it’s crazy,” the FAMU quarterback said. Daniel Richardson. “We plan to go there and come back with the surprise.”
Typically, teams that visit homecoming are considered a beatable team.
FAMU Head Coach James Colzie III hopes his team agrees to enter enemy territory in a high-stakes matchup with ramifications in the SWAC standings.
The SWAC predicted the Rattlers and Hornets to be the top two teams in the East Division, with Alabama State winning the preseason first place.
“Normally you make a team when you come home that you think you can beat. I guess that’s how they feel,” Colzie said.
“It’s important for us to understand the timing,” Colzie added.
State of Alabama Head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. says he respects his team’s opponent, FAMU.
Robinson explained the reason Alabama State chose FAMU as its homecoming opponent was the gap between Alabama State’s Orange Blossom Classic games (Sept. 1 at Miami ), homecoming weekend and Magic City Classic games (Oct. 26 at Alabama A&M). Alabama State will host Mississippi Valley State next Saturday, October 12.
“It’s just the way the schedule falls,” Robinson said during Monday’s SWAC coaches media availability Zoom call.
“It will be a lot of fun. It’s a good match. We know (FAMU is) going to bring a good crowd here and bring the band. This is going to be a great HBCU weekend.
FAMU football hasn’t been a returning opponent in nearly a decade
FAMU is no longer used to witnessing the return of an opponent.
The last time the Rattlers played in another team’s homecoming was in 2017. when Norfolk State beat FAMU 35-28. The Rattlers went 3-8 and were near the bottom of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference that year.
From 2018-2023, FAMU won 45 of its 58 games under former Duke head coach and current running backs coach. Willie Simmons. The Simmons era ended with the Rattlers winning last December’s SWAC and Black College Football National Championships.
“I’ve never had a date at home since I played football,” said TJ Leestarting offensive lineman for four years at FAMU. “Obviously, (Alabama State) scheduled us for a reason. So we’re going to make this our return home.
FAMU returns to Montgomery for the first time since 2022, where the The Rattlers beat the Hornets 21-14 in thrilling fashion.
Rattlers cornerback Kendall Bohler had a defining moment in his football career in this 2022 meeting of FAMU and Alabama State. FAMU blocked Alabama State’s game-winning field goal attempt, then Bohler recovered and scored the ball for a 51-yard touchdown as time expired.
After Bohler’s score, Rattlers players jumped into the crowd with FAMU’s Marching ‘100’ to celebrate the victory.
Bohler plans to emulate similar success this Saturday as top HBCU team FAMU enters Alabama State to play the role of comeback spoiler.
“Out of all the teams in the SWAC, they chose us, the defending national champions,” Bohler said. “So the fact that they chose us kind of made us angry. But everything is fine. We’re going to go out there and do what we need to do.
FAMU as Alabama State returns to generate lively HBCU football experience
Alabama State football games are some of the most attended in the country.
Last year, the Hornets placed fourth among Football Championship Subdivision crowdsattracting 19,960 fans per game.
“Alabama State – nothing but good times,” FAMU defensive backs coach said André Papewho spent 2022 and 2023 as an assistant with the Hornets. “It will be a different environment. They will benefit from it. I’m excited to return to “The Gump.” It should be good.
The stars align for Saturday’s SWAC showdown.
FAMU’s Marching ‘100’ band will also perform at Alabama State’s homecoming. It’s certain that the FAMU band and the Alabama State Mighty Marching Hornets will be joking throughout the game to generate an electric HBCU environment.
On the field, FAMU and Alabama State will decide who deserves the preseason No. 1 ranking in the SWAC East.
“Be there or hear about it,” Lee said.
Florida A&M at Alabama State – Week 6, SWAC
When: Saturday, October 5 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time
Or: ASU Stadium; Montgomery, Alabama
Broadcast:ESPNPlus
Tickets: Buy here
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-award winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him by email at [email protected] or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article was originally published on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football enters Alabama State intent on spoiling SWAC foe’s comeback
