THE BIGGEST, AND THE REALEST
First some background information.
Officially the nation’s largest college football game between two Historically Black College/University (HBCU) schools, surpassing the Bayou Classic between Grambling and Southern in New Orleans as the top-attended HBCU game in the NCAA, the Florida Classic is the standard. Since its inception in 1978, over two million spectators have attended the game. No matter what season either time has had, FAMU and Bethune Cookman push each other to their breaking point, every season. For the past three years, Classic Weekend in Orlando has held direct implications for what will happen in the Southwestern Athletic Conference post-season, and who will represent the conference in the Celebration Bowl.
Last October, FAMU skated over the Wildcats in Coach Simmons’ final Florida Classic, en route to an HBCU National Championship, dismantling the Wildcats for the third straight time.
THE ‘CATS
Raymond Woodley’s BCU Wildcats are the basement of the conference, toting a winless five-game record.
A program that once garnered excitement, beat the Rattlers eight straight times, and almost landed NFL and Miami Hurricanes legend Ed Reed as their head coach. Since those times, nothing has gone right in Daytona Beach. The Wildcats have hit rock-bottom, and that’s when they have proven to be most dangerous in this rivalry.
THE CHAMPS
James Colzie’s FAMU are on top of the conference, boasting three wins and fair losses to Miami and Troy University.
These Rattlers are on a mission to return to the Celebration Bowl, and that journey lead them to a Montgomery, Alabama, to face down conference rival Alabama State. On the occasion of ASU’s homecoming festivities, the latest version of the Dark Clouds Defense held the Hornets to a sickly sixty-eight yards of passing offense, and thirteen points. The Rattlers improve to (3-2) on the year and undefeated in Southwestern Athletic Conference play, while the once-favored Hornets fall to (2-3, one loss in conference).
FAMU travel to Jackson, Mississippi next week for a reunion with one-time OBC rivals, and former Coach Prime residence, Jackson State University (4-2, undefeated in conference).
When you beat the team that scheduled you for their homecoming🕺🏽😭#FAMU | #Rattlers | #RELOAD | #REPEAT pic.twitter.com/G7THGQutOx
— Florida A&M Football 🏈 (@FAMU_FB) October 6, 2024
THE BEAUTY OF CLASSIC WEEKEND
The Classic boasts strong economic, cultural, and social significance. As such, it also serves as a successful fundraiser for education initiatives at both universities. The Florida Classic is a major event for people all over the state and the nation to celebrate their culture, diversity, and love for the rival teams. The game also offers a perfect opportunity to meet and bond with family, friends, colleagues, and college comrades over a competitive game, good food, and great music.
The Florida Classic, operated by Florida Citrus Sports, the non-profit group behind the Citrus Bowl and the Cheez-It Bowl, is a longstanding tradition dating back nearly a century. It is more than just the nation’s largest annual HBCU football game — it’s a celebration of sports, family, music, and culture woven into the fabric of Central Florida.
Today, it is one of the most anticipated college football bowl games in the country and boasts an average of 60,000 spectators per game. The highest attendance, 73,358 attendees, was recorded in Orlando in 2003.
