FAMU Soccer Team on Preparing for Season SWAC Ignores During Training Camp: ‘We’re Not Two.’

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Despite winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Black College Football National Championship in 2023, the SWAC voted Florida A&M to finish second in the SWAC East. That’s what motivates the Rattlers.

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The second week of Florida A&M’s training camp has begun.

Two is a number the Rattlers have been wrestling with as they practice pre-season ahead of their season opener against Norfolk State on August 24 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta.

Despite winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship and the Celebration Bowl last December, SWAC voters at the league’s media day two weeks ago predicted the Rattlers would finish second in the East Division behind the Alabama State Hornets.

FAMU football’s preseason standings could be a byproduct of the Rattlers having a new head coach in James Colzie III, who replaces Willie Simmons after six years. Additionally, FAMU’s 2024 roster features nearly 50 new players.

Even under a new regime, the Rattlers hope to dispel any doubters by winning the Black College Football National Championship again this season.

“It’s definitely a motivating factor,” FAMU offensive lineman Jalen Goss said after Tuesday’s fifth practice. “Everybody thinks we’re rebuilding just because coach is gone. We’re still the same guys we were last year.”

If FAMU doesn’t win the SWAC East, FAMU won’t qualify for the SWAC Championship game on Dec. 7. And if the Rattlers don’t win the SWAC like they did last year, they won’t be able to represent the league at the Celebration Bowl on Dec. 14, where the Black College Football National Champion is determined.

Despite being projected to be the No. 2 seed in the SWAC East, the Rattlers are ranked atop the HBCUs in the Boxtorow and Lindy’s Sports rankings.

“Well, I got us voted third. So I think the guys think we’re going to be a little bit better than we think,” Colzie said with a laugh. “But of course, it’s preseason. There’s nothing to motivate our guys. They’re going to come in, work hard and understand what’s at stake.

“As far as FAMU goes, we’re going to make sure we take care of what FAMU needs to do. Hopefully we’re not in second or third place when we finish the season. We want to be in first place.”

‘We are not two’: FAMU football wants to prove SWAC voters wrong

Over the past two seasons, the Rattlers have delivered some respectable performances against top talent.

In 2022, FAMU traveled to North Carolina with nearly 30 players and challenged the Tar Heels, but lost 56-24. In 2023, the Rattlers visited the South Florida Bulls and narrowly lost 38-25.

FAMU defenseman James Ash believes that representing the SWAC well in those games is a calling card that can only contribute to the respect of the league’s reigning champions.

“We’re the best two and not the best two,” Ash said.

“We’ve always been the ones who are ready to compete and never back down from competition – from UNC to USF – from whoever. We’ve done our best. We’re ready to do it whenever we want, with whatever group we’re in.”

Seven FAMU players earned Preseason All-SWAC honors, four of which were first-team and three second-team.

However, the Rattlers believe that a number of players have been stripped of their honor.

“There were a couple of guys that I thought should have been in the first team of the pre-season team,” Colzie said.

Goss, a 2022 HBCU All-America selection, didn’t make the Preseason All-SWAC team. And neither did Goss’ fellow offensive lineman TJ Lee, who has been starting as a hybrid center and guard for the Rattlers since the 2021 season when he was a true freshman.

Goss, who returns in 2023 from an injury that sidelined him for the season, is ready to prove he’s the same player who earned All-American and All-SWAC honors in 2022.

“It’s up to me to show the people who vote that I’m back,” Goss said. “I fought with my injury last year. This is my comeback season. I have to show everyone that I can do it twice and be consistent.”

FAMU’s ‘Dark Cloud Defense’ will see Ash as one of the anchors in 2024.

HERO Sports named Ash the SWAC’s top returning interior defensive lineman and No. 19 overall in the nation. Ash finished 2023 with 32 tackles, six tackles for loss and an interception in 2023.

Yet he did not receive a Preseason All-SWAC nomination.

“How does that work? I don’t know,” Ash shrugged. “It’s fuel for my fire. I’m ready. I’m excited.”

FAMU will continue its fall football training on Wednesday.

It’s the sixth of 25 practices for the Rattlers in preparation for the 2024 season.

Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule

  • Aug 24 vs. Norfolk State in MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Atlanta* at 7:30 PM, ABC
  • Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
  • September 7 in Miami, 6pm, ACC Network
  • September 21 in Troy, 7:00 PM Eastern Time, ESPN+
  • September 28 vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+
  • Oct. 5 at Alabama State, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
  • Oct. 19 at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN Network
  • Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network
  • Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (HOMECOMING), 4 p.m., ESPN+
  • November 9 at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+
  • Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m., HBCU GO
  • November 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network
  • November 30: FCS Playoffs begin
  • Dec 7: SWAC Championship, VENUE/TEAMS TBA, ESPN2
  • Dec. 14: Celebration Bowl, Atlanta*, TEAMS TBA, noon, ABC

VET = SWAC

* = Neutral site

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or through the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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