TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida A&M University Rattlers are coming off their best season yet, finishing 12-1 and winning the Celebration Bowl, securing their 16th HBCU national championship.
"Coach Simmons was the head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback coach, so we knew we had our hands full trying to replace him," said James Colzie III, the new head coach. "Do I have a few wrinkles that I might be doing differently than Coach Simmons? Yes. But overall, the structure is there; Coach Simmons provided the blueprint. I'm just happy to be the one to lead this ship right now with a bunch of great players."
Not only did the Rattlers lose the 2023 Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, but they also have to replace the SWAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
"We're motivated just to prove that we've still got it," said Kelvin Dean, the team's running back. "We lost a lot of guys, but everybody feels like the replacements we got match up to that. So, we just want to show everybody that we are still here and that there is no drop-off. There are a lot of predictions that have us finishing later than first, so we have a lot to prove."
To fill the gaps, the Rattlers signed 32 transfers this offseason, 28 of whom came from FBS programs, including new starting quarterback Daniel Richardson.
"It's good for us as a team because we know these guys know what it takes to win, especially with them being transfers and older guys," Dean added. "You don't necessarily have to teach them how to work hard; you just have to show them the culture that we have built, and hopefully, they can follow along."
As the defending HBCU national champions, Coach Colzie knows that every team they face will bring its A-game, and the FAMU faithful won't be shy about voicing their expectations.
"I often wonder how the new guys that have come to the program will react—they don't necessarily know the passion that our fans have for Florida A&M football," Colzie said. "I'm anxious to see what our fans are going to do and what they're going to show our newer players about what FAMU football is all about."
The Rattlers started off their new era under new guidance with a bang, taking down Norfolk State 24 to 23 in the season opener.
They will look to move to 2-0 as they host South Carolina State for their home-opener on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Bragg Memorial Stadium.