On November 23 in Camping World Stadium, for 60 minutes the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and Florida A&M (FAMU) Rattlers will square off in their annual rivalry that is one of the most bitter rivalries anywhere, aptly titled, the Florida Blue Florida Classic. When James Colzie III and Raymond Woodie Sr. march their squads onto the turf all gloves are off. It’s a must-win situation as the very psyche of the alumni, friends, and family of each school rests on the outcome of the Florida Blue Florida Classic (FBFC).
This year is no different. While Florida A&M has had quite an interrupted season with three off weeks so far and a game scheduled for after the FBFC and Bethune-Cookman hasn’t had the season they expected, none of that matters when that coin goes up, the ball is placed on the tee, and the pigskin is hurled through the air.
The fans battle, the bands battle, families battle…it’s all-out war for those 60 minutes.
However, right before kickoff and right after kickoff, FAMU and Bethune-Cookman are family. The universities partner for academic success. When former FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson returned to FAMU after serving President Barack Obama on the NOAA staff, they shared parts of the $30 million grant he brought home with B-CU. There is a pipeline to allow B-CU students entry into the FAMU College of Law. There are several collaborations that extend beyond being business partners in the biggest institution-owned HBCU football classic in the world.
The classic is organized by the administration of both schools
B-CU and FAMU administrations combine with Florida Citrus Sports to form the Florida Classic Consortium. That unit makes all of the decisions about the game and all official ancillary events associated with Florida Classic Week. The consortium represents major parts of the universities as although it is a football game that draws the people to Central Florida, there are a week of events that involve students, alumni, friends and fans.
There is a job fair, massive recruiting by both institutions, receptions, breakfasts, conferences and much more arranged by each school to capitalize off the influx of people who have traveled to Orlando.
The marching bands have their own showcase
On Friday, Nov. 22, Dr. Donovan Wells will display his Marching Wildcats and Dr. Shelby Chipman will do the same with his Marching “100.” They square up at the Amway Center for one of the largest battle of the band showcases in the country. High schools from all over the country flock to perform in the structured battle. It’s a critical function for Wells and Chipman as their fight for the best instrumentalists goes as deep as the scuffle for the best football players.
The FBFC halftime show is the one time everyone at the Florida Blue Florida Classic is sitting still. There is banter throughout the game and fraternizing under the stands during the football portion. But, once the first 30 minutes of football are played, all attention is on midfield as the entrance of the drum majors leading two of the best bands in the entire country for a show that never disappoints.
Florida A&M Vice President and Director of Athletics Angela Suggs, far right, and 220 Quarterback Club CEO Dr. Jerrlyne Jackson, left, embrace B-CU head women’s volleyball coach Brittany Williams at a social for the players following their matches on Sunday in Tallahassee at The Lawson Center,
FAMU lends a hand in a time of need
Daytona Beach was flooded last week in the wake of hurricane Milton. Ahead of the storm, the B-CU volleyball team evacuated to Tallahassee as they had a mid-week game against the Rattlers.
With campus still uninhabitable, the Rattlers and Wildcats consulted with the SWAC and decided to host their home games for Oct. 13 and 14 in FAMU’s Lawson Center.
FAMU Vice President and Director of Athletics and her staff organized a dual home hosting for Sunday and Monday. Southern University and Alcorn University would remain in Tallahassee as well, as opposed to their scheduled travel to Daytona Beach.
FAMU pulled out all stops to make it feel like a B-CU home game, besides the obvious orange and green of the Lawson Center arena. The B-CU hype video was played and the team anthem “Let’s Go Wildcats” blared through the Lawson Center speakers as B-CU was introduced. It’s something you would never expect from rivals, but FAMU and B-CU are so intertwined that it was what had to be done.
Again, that attitude will not exist for those 60 minutes on Nov. 23 at Camping World Stadium. The Florida Blue Florida Classic will be decided on the field and not before. Numerous times the team highly-expected to win the game has gone down in defeat. In the words of former NFL coach Herman Edwards “That’s why they play the game.”
For more information on the Florida Blue Florida Classic, got to FloridaClassic.org