Florida A&M (FAMU) has a unique forum for its athletic coaches. Since 2009 alumni, fans, and friends of FAMU have gathered weekly at an unofficial support organization called the Eddie Jackson 220 Quarterback Club. The group was renamed with the name of the founder after he passed in the Summer of 2024.
The group hosts a weekly luncheon where it has access to FAMU coaches, players, the athletic director, and even university staff. It is not uncommon for the university’s president to be a guest at the luncheon. The Eddie Jackson 220 Quarterback Club has been a vital part of the success of the athletic programs at the institution. Over its existence, it has pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into FAMU Athletics.
Since Patrick Crarey arrived at Florida A&M, he has been working diligently to revive the once championship-caliber program to winning status. It has been quite some time since the Rattlers have had a winning season. Crarey was brought in by former Vice President and Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes to lead the program.
He was a guest at the EJ 220 Club on Wednesday, and he did not disappoint. He was definitive, thankful, and quickly endeared himself to the Rattler culture. For the first time, he publicly talked about being the FAMU head coach.
Crarey welcomes the opportunity to turn the program around
“Every day I go into the office my assistant coach Fred Lymas, he started with me when I was 26 years old and he was 22 when we first got to Washington at Venice. Fred looks at me every day no matter what the circumstances is and no matter how I’m looking, good practice, bad practice, or annoyed. He’s like we came from Washington at Venice, it’s a great day today,” Crarey said.
While at Washington at Venice Crarey and staff turned around a program much like FAMU. That team hadn’t won 10 games in over 14 years. He would guide the team to its first .500 season in over 22 years.
“We ended up winning a national championship, had five 20-win seasons and beating two Division-I institutions,” Crarey said. “My operating budget was $31,000 including scholarships. So don’t talk to me about resources.” That statement drew thunderous laughter from the audience.
FAMUs men’s basketball team has underperformed for over a decade
FAMU has been in a similar tumble in men’s basketball. The Rattlers have not had a winning season since the departure of coach Mike Gillespie in 2007. Gillespie had a career that will see him inducted into the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame this year. He won two MEAC championships and made two appearances in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Gillespie’s last season was FAMU’s last 20-win season.
Crarey’s path initially is eerily similar. He came to FAMU after a long down time and with the absence of 20-win seasons. He will be asked to rebuild the Rattlers from the ground up.
“We have 16 players currently, 15 that will be on the active roster this year. One player that is a red shirt. He’s our lone freshman on the team of those 15 players. Six players were previously on the basketball team. They have nine new recruits that came in to play this year. Our team is built on skill,” Crarey said.
Crarey was asked what type of defense he would employ and he quickly gave a humorous answer. “Now I’m not gonna give the strategical information to the people that are watching,” Crarey said.