TALLAHASSEE, Fl. (WTXL) — Thursday afternoon brought day 1 of fall practice for FAMU and FSU, however, the rattlers were not on the field. Players were not practicing today because according to head coach Willie Simmons, there are still some members of the squad who need updated physicals.
Coach Simmons said, “We’re still working through some internal processes, as far as getting out guys cleared for their physicals and so from a safety precautionary standpoint, I didn’t feel it was in the best interest for the guys who are cleared to take the field with limited numbers. Obviously, in the state of Florida, it’s very hot and we don’t want to run the risk of heat related injuries.”
FAMU finished the 2018 season 6-5 and tied for 2nd in the MEAC. This year, the rattlers are looking to get the MEAC talking more about them, depsite being banned from the post season. The goal for the 2019 season is to still set goals, such as going undefeated and breaking records.
“Goals sometimes change throughout the course of the season. So, we still have a lot of goals to set this year, we still have the MEAC championship, we do have the opportunity to be a team that hasn’t lost a game, we have a chance to go undefeated at home," explained Coach Simmons. "We have a chance to become black college national champions, we have a chance to have an all-time leading passer at Florida A&M University. So, those are a few of the goals we have set for ourselves.”
FAMU will take the field for their first game in Orlando. The rattlers face UCF on Thursday, August 29.
