Story by
FAMU football coach James Colzie after 0-2 start: 'We've got to make some tough decisions.'
- Story by
- FAMU football coach James Colzie after 0-2 start: 'We've got to make some tough decisions.'
Florida A&M head football coach James Colzie III has to get a hold of this before it gets out of hand.
"We've got to be much better than what we showed tonight," the second-year head coach told the media after the Rattlers lost 56-14 to the Florida Atlantic Owls on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Advertisement
The Rattlers sit at 0-2, with losses to Howard (10-9) and, most recently, FAU .
To contextualize the FAU loss, it was a game where FAMU, which is in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, played a Football Bowl Subdivision team. Those contests are known as "money games," where the smaller division team gets a payout for playing.
Despite that, Rattler fans should "expect to see some changes," says Colzie, now 7-7 in his 14-game tenure as the HBCU's head football coach.
"We have some guys that we were depending on to make some huge plays and strides for us. Right now, we're not getting it," a disappointed Colzie said.
Advertisement
"It's either we stay with them and they show that they can do it, or we've got some other guys who can make some plays. We've got to make some tough decisions."
The story after FAMU's Week 1 loss was RJ Johnson III's status as the starting quarterback after he failed to lead the Rattlers to a touchdown in his debut versus Howard.
Colzie stuck with Johnson as the starter versus FAU.
Johnson finished the game completing 18 of 28 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore rebounded from a down first half that saw the Rattlers post just 73 total offensive yards .
Advertisement
FAMU backup quarterback Jett Peddy also appeared in the second quarter and garbage time. The junior from Torrance, California, completed a pass out of seven attempts for five yards.
Johnson and Peddy were the leading players of interest during an offseason quarterback battle .
Colzie will evaluate quarterbacks this week as Colzie looks to shake things up before the Albany State Golden Rams visit Tallahassee for FAMU's home opener on Saturday, Sept. 13.
"We'll make that decision as we get later into the week," Colzie said when asked if we would stick with Johnson in Week 3.
"But it was great to see him throw a couple of touchdowns, and he made a key play on fourth down. [Johnson] is a guy trying to get his rhythm as Jett is trying to get his rhythm as well."
Advertisement
FAMU football looks for turnaround 0-2 start of 2025 season
The Rattlers begin 0-2 for the first time since the 2022 season.
They finished 9-2 that year and missed out on an at-large bid for the FCS playoffs under former coach Willie Simmons.
Colzie was an assistant on that staff, and FAMU still has a few holdovers from that 2022 team.
So, the Colzie's Rattlers know it's possible to right the ship.
"We talked to the team after the game, and the guys looked at me right in my face and said, 'Coach, we're not losing again.' I think they believe in what we're doing," Colzie said.
Florida Atlantic wide receiver Easton Messer (8) makes a reception during the first half of a 56-14 victory over Florida A&M at FAU Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Boca Raton, FL.
FAMU can make that proclamation true with its next two games at a place that has brought the Rattlers some magic ― Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Advertisement
FAMU won 23 straight games at Bragg, spanning from 2019 to 2024, before being stunned at home by Mississippi Valley State last November .
"We don't have a choice," Colzie said of the pursuit of FAMU chasing its first victory. "To get where we need to be, we've got to win some games and get our confidence back."
"We've got to win. No question about it," Colzie added.
FAMU football looks to avoid upset by Albany State
Albany State enters Week 3 with an unblemished 2-0 record, beating Shaw University 51-7 and most recently Kentucky State 49-21.
Former FAMU record-breaking quarterback Quinn Gray is Albany State's head football coach .
Advertisement
"They're going to come in ready to play," Colzie said of the Golden Rams, a Division II team. "They're going to see us a little wounded, so they're going to do everything they can to beat us."
In Week 1, the FAMU offense had no heartbeat while the defense held firm versus Howard. In Week 2, the Rattlers showed signs of life late while the defense was diced up by FAU and its star quarterback Caden Veltkamp.
Now, the Rattlers aim to put it all together with a non-conference game versus Albany State, then a bye, and finally their Southwestern Athletic Conference opener versus Alabama State on Saturday, Sept. 27.
"When you look at the schedule, you're hoping to be at least 1-1 before you get into Week 3. But now you're sitting here at 0-2," Colzie said.
Advertisement
"For the most part, we haven't played a complete game. The guys are a little weary. But they do understand the task at hand. The goal is to win the SWAC. But for us to win the SWAC, we're going to have to play a hell of a lot better."
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's James Colzie will make 'tough decisions' after 0-2 start
