I Got Next!
Special to West Orlando News Online
By Karsceal Turner
It is finished. The 2012 Florida Blue Florida Classic is now in the record books. Also in the record books is a record low piss-poor attendance since the game moved to the “City Beautiful” in 1997.
Yep folks. Pretty much the story is the attendance or lack thereof. 32,317 made their way to Orlando to bear witness to the annual matchup which saw the Wildcats limit the Rattlers to consecutive 16-point games two consecutive years. (They scored 16 last year to B-CU’s 21).
By the way, Bethune-Cookman University preserved a perfect conference record in the slapping of our slithery serpent friends on the hill They ended the season 8-0 in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference and 9-2 overall. The Wildcats are headed to the playoffs for the second time in Head coach Brian Jenkins’ tenure at the helm. FAMU finished the season (4-7, 4-4 MEAC) and is NOT going to the playoffs. By my being a B-CU alum, you’ll forgive me if I grin a little.
A look around the Florida Citrus Bowl revealed a full B-CU side and a sparse FAMU side likely attributed to the absence of the famed “Marching 100”, which is still on suspension. Folks, as much as I clown on FAMU and feed into the rivalry thing I must admit this classic really had a missing element. I saw it in the vending too. Regardless, Those fans clad in orange and green brought a great deal of energy and it certainly transferred to their team.
A forced fumble by B-CU’s defense in the final minutes of the game proved the resilience of the Rattlers. They did not lay down, they did not quit….but they got their “A” whipped. FAMU scored the first three points of the game as Chase Varnadore connected on a 20-yard field goal with 10:04 to go in the first. The Cats answered with a TD as Quentin Williams connected with Eddie Poole from one-yard out, to take a 7-3 lead.
When one HBCU hurts, ALL HBCUs are hurt.
There are approximately 87 – 105 HBCUs overall. Florida has four of them in form of Edward Waters College, Bethune-Cookman University, Florida memorial University, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Universtiy (FAMU)
Band Tribute when one of us hurts, all of us hurt. Nice show of solidarity and love beyond the friendly rivalry.
“When one HBCU hurts, ALL HBCUs are hurt”… <—this said it all right here!! Hopefully, FAMU's Marching 100 will be back in full effect next year so the healthy rivalry of trash talking can begin!! Wonderful story!! I'm so proud!! With that being said..GO WILDCATS!!
Great piece! FAMU you can lean on us as we are always family. But as an alumni of BCU, I have to say Hail Wildcats. We have the baddest band in the world.