Florida A&M seniors have an opportunity to pull off one of their greatest football accomplishments this Saturday.
On Saturday, the Rattlers will face their arch nemesis, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, in the annual Florida Classic, a rivalry game FAMU has won since 2021.
A fourth consecutive win for the Rattlers would mean the graduating seniors from the 2021 recruiting cycle will ride off into the sunset, never losing to the Wildcats. The last time FAMU won four consecutive Florida Classic’s of Bethune-Cookman was amidst a seven-year run from 1995-2001.
Before 2021, FAMU had lost to Bethune-Cookman nine straight times in the Florida Classic.
“We were good luck. [Bethune-Cookman was] on a nine-year run before we got here,” said FAMU offensive lineman TJ Lee, who joined the Rattlers out of Gadsden County High School. “We brought those guys in here, that ’21 class. We never lost to them. We’re never going to lose to them.”
FAMU (5-5, 3-3 in SWAC) and Bethune-Cookman (2-9, 2-5 in SWAC) will meet at 3:30 p.m. for the annual rivalry game at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. ESPNU will broadcast the Week 13 Southwestern Athletic Conference game.
The Rattlers’ streak over the Wildcats hits home for players like Kendall Bohler. The All-American cornerback is from Orlando and is familiar with the FAMU versus Bethune-Cookman rivalry.
To move things further, Bohler’s older brother, BJ, won the Florida Classic’s 2021 Most Valuable Player for his defensive masterclass in FAMU’s 46-21 victory over Bethune-Cookman to end nine years of misery for the Rattlers.
“I’m trying to get a sweep,” said Kendall Bohler, who transferred to FAMU from Mercer with his brother in 2021. “Bethune versus FAMU ― a big Florida game. Everybody’s excited to come out and watch us, so I’m very excited to go out there and play.”
FAMU football vs Bethune-Cookman, Florida Classic: The most important game of the year
Despite the past championship seasons FAMU has had, the Florida Classic holds the most significance to the Rattlers.
It’s a no-no for the Rattlers to lose to the Wildcats.
Since the first-ever 1978 Florida Classic, FAMU leads Bethune-Cookman 24-19. All-time, the Rattlers are 53-24-1 against the Wildcats, dating back to their first matchup in 1925.
“Ever since I’ve gotten here, win, lose, or draw, undefeated, or lose every game, the most important game for us as Rattlers is the Classic,” said FAMU tight end Jeremiah Pruitte, who joined the Rattlers from Colorado State in 2021.
“This is my last Classic ever. What you do in this game is how you’ll be remembered forever,” Pruitte added.
A year after winning the SWAC and Celebration Bowl titles to claim FAMU’s 16th Black College Football National Championship, the Rattlers haven’t the season they hoped for under first-year head coach James Colzie III, holding a 5-5 record entering the Florida Classic.
FAMU football’s underperforming season has led to disgruntled Rattlers fans and coaching personnel changes entering the year’s most anticipated game.
However, the Rattlers know they can quiet all the outside talk by beating Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.
“Despite what happened all season, if we win the Classic, nobody cares about the five other losses we had,” Lee said.
A FAMU football win over Bethune-Cookman would build momentum moving forward
The Rattlers lost their last two games versus Prairie View A&M (31-12) on Nov. 9 and then Mississippi Valley State (24-21) last Saturday in upsetting fashion.
FAMU seniors don’t want those shortfalls to be the final memories of playing football for the Rattlers. Winning the Florida Classic will be the start to turning things around as FAMU aims for a 7-5 record at the season’s end.
After Saturday, FAMU will have Senior Day versus Alabama A&M on Nov. 29.
“It’ll keep the momentum and keep going strong,” Bohler said. “The Classic is a big game; next week, we have Senior Day. We have to finish strong.”
Though Pruitte’s college football career will end soon, he looks at a good Florida Classic performance and victory with foresight for the Rattlers.
He says winning the Florida Classic will boost FAMU football and its fans’ morale for the 2025 season and beyond.
“Winning The Classic would give our fans a little hope in us, let them know we haven’t completely let them down, and know that there’s still hope for the future,” Pruitte said.
“Everything we do is for this fanbase and Rattler Nation. So winning that game will ensure them that we can flip this thing around heading into next season.”
FAMU, under Colzie, has already won one must-win game ― homecoming.
But Colzie has reiterated that Rattler Nation told him there’s a yearly expectation of beating Bethune-Cookman, too.
Colzie wants to win Saturday to satisfy FAMU football fans and also be the guide of his seniors sweeping in-state rivals Bethune-Cookman.
“It’s extremely important for our guys to leave as winners. And leaving as winners includes beating Bethune on Saturday,” Colzie said.
Florida A&M vs Bethune-Cookman ― Florida Classic: Week 13, SWAC
When: Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Camping World Stadium; Orlando, Florida
Broadcast: ESPNU
Tickets: Purchase Here
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time 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 via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football seniors 1 win from perfect record vs rivals Bethune-Cookman
