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FAMU football's unexpected bye week creates 'advantage' for SWAC duel with Alabama State
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- FAMU football's unexpected bye week creates 'advantage' for SWAC duel with Alabama State
Florida A&M was on the outside looking in as Southwestern Athletic Conference football kicked off last weekend.
Originally scheduled to open their SWAC schedule versus Alabama A&M, the Rattlers ' home game was postponed until Nov. 29 in preparation for Category 4 Hurricane Helene's impact on Tallahassee.
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The unexpected bye week gave FAMU football extra time to rest after a grueling four non-conference games , losing at Troy 34-12 in its last game on Sept. 21.
The Rattlers (2-2) also closely watched Saturday's eight SWAC games, which included their next opponent, the Alabama State Hornets (2-2, 1-0 in SWAC).
FAMU and Alabama State will play in Montgomery on Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. ESPN Plus will stream the Week 6 game.
"The advantage for us is that we got a chance to get healthy and watch the entire league play ― see what they have," FAMU head coach James Colzie III said in Monday's game week conference.
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"Now, we got a game to look at. The most important thing for us was giving us a full opportunity to get healthy as we move forward to this upcoming Saturday."
Florida A&M head coach James Colzie III drills his team during the Rattlers' first day of spring football practice in pads on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Friday, March 8, 2024.
Following FAMU's game postponement, Colzie gave his team the week off to take cover or evacuate for Hurricane Helene .
Colzie said his players returned to campus safely on Sunday for a team meeting, then had an abbreviated practice on Monday morning to preface Alabama State.
"We moved really, really well. I thought our execution was great on both sides," Colzie said of FAMU's Monday morning practice. "They're excited about opening up against Alabama State in the SWAC."
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FAMU football coach James Colzie III scouts Alabama State
Alabama State, head coached by Eddie Robinson Jr., played at Bethune-Cookman last Saturday and left Daytona Beach with a 26-21 in the SWAC opener .
The Hornets rushed for 308 yards, led by running back Jamarie Hostzclaw scampering for 120 yards on 15 attempts on Bethune-Cookman.
Alabama State Hornets running back Jamarie Hostzclaw (20) shakes off the tackle of Miles College Golden Bears defensive back Jeremiah Hudson-Davis (23) during their game on the ASU campus in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday September 7, 2024.
Defensively, Alabama State allowed 241 total yards against Bethune-Cookman. The Hornets have the sixth-best defense in the Football Championship Subdivision .
"They want to run the ball and play good defense. That's been their motto for the last two or three years," Colzie said.
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FAMU at Alabama State is one of the season's most anticipated SWAC matchups.
SWAC voters picked the Hornets to finish first in the East Division over the Rattlers, who claimed the Black College Football National Championship last season. FAMU was predicted to finish second in the SWAC East.
FAMU is ranked 22nd in the FCS Coaches Poll six weeks into the season. The Rattlers are the only ranked HBCU team.
FAMU beat Alabama State 28-0 in 2021 and 23-10 last season in Tallahassee.
FAMU last traveled to Alabama State in 2022, where the Rattlers escaped the thriller with a 21-14 triumph .
"It's a place where we snuck one out in '22. I'm anticipating a similar football game in 2024," Colzie said.
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To add to the suspense of this season's matchup, Alabama State scheduled FAMU for this Saturday's homecoming football game.
"Playing them on their homecoming, our SWAC opener, we can have our hands full if we're not ready to play," Colzie said.
"Thinking back a couple of years ago, it was one of the toughest environments I had ever been in all my years of coaching and playing. They do a really good job over there, atmosphere-wise," Colzie added.
Florida A&M at Alabama State ― Week 6, SWAC
Florida A&M Rattlers head coach James Colzie III coaches the FAMU v South Carolina State game Thursday, August 31 2024.
When: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: ASU Stadium; Montgomery, Alabama
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Broadcast: ESPN Plus
Tickets: Purchase Here
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: How FAMU football's off week gives edge for SWAC game vs Alabama State
