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FAMU vs Troy: A non-traditional football rivalry that stands on shoulders of legendary matchups
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- FAMU vs Troy: A non-traditional football rivalry that stands on shoulders of legendary matchups
Florida A&M vs Troy may not be a rivalry synonymous with college football.
However, the Rattlers and the Trojans have a significant history to their programs and lower NCAA Division I football in their own right.
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As members of the Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision), FAMU and Troy often had famous duals while vehemently competing to reach the national title game.
From 1996 to 1999, FAMU and Troy, then known as Troy State, faced each other thrice in the Division I-AA playoffs.
Coach Billy Joe's Rattlers defeated Coach Larry Blakeney's Trojans twice in that stretch, most recently 17-10 in the 1999 Division I-AA quarterfinals. FAMU's 27-17 victory over Troy in the 1998 Division I-AA first round was the Rattlers' last time hosting a postseason game until 2023 . Troy beat FAMU 29-25 in the 1996 Division I-AA first round.
"That was always a nice, short trip for us. Going against Troy was always a very competitive game," Joe told the Tallahassee Democrat from his Birmingham home.
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Troy has since migrated away from the FCS, joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2001.
The Trojans have collected eight Sun Belt Conference titles, the most in the league's history. Troy repeated as Sun Belt champions, winning in 2022 and 2023.
"Coach Blakeney was one of the best coaches in the country, getting Troy where it is," said current FAMU head coach James Colzie III . "They were one of the stalwarts in the FCS and continued up to the FBS."
Troy leads FAMU 4-2 in all-time head-to-head matchups, dating back to 1984 when the Trojans beat FAMU 17-3.
The Rattlers and the Trojans last met in 2018, where Troy won 59-7.
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FAMU (2-1) and Troy (0-3) will meet again this Saturday at the Trojans' Veterans Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Eastern Time, and ESPN Plus will broadcast the game.
Seeing how the Rattlers are ranked 20th in the FCS Coaches Poll while the Trojans are still searching for their first win, Joe feels FAMU has a chance to get its first upset win since beating Miami in 1979.
"I think FAMU has a chance to win the game this year because it has an outstanding football team this year on the FCS level. And Troy doesn't have a good team," Joe said. "When you have that type of mix, the lower-ranked team has a chance for victory and can compete."
FAMU football has a realistic shot at beating the winless Troy Trojans
FAMU has 33 transfers on its roster. Twenty-eight come from FBS programs.
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Some Rattlers' FBS transfers have made immediate impacts, such as starting quarterback Daniel Richardson , who's amongst the best in FCS statistical rankings.
FAMU has a Troy transfer in Elijah Philippe . The redshirt junior landed a starting job on the Rattlers' offensive line.
Those types of players could lead the Rattlers to score that coveted FBS win.
"It says that the program is going in the right direction. We have players that have come from the FBS level and the similar type of players they have," Colzie said.
FAMU is one of the hottest squads in the FCS, as first-year coach Colzie inherited a team fresh off a Black College National Championship . Meanwhile, Troy is still finding its way under first-year coach Gerad Parker , dropping its games to Nevada, Memphis, and most recently, Iowa 38-21.
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It's the perfect time for the underdog Rattlers to strike the Trojans.
But Colzie's Rattlers are respecting their next opponent.
"[FAMU] knows the news and the record of what Troy has. They've lost but have played well," Colzie said.
"I think our guys understand that we have an opportunity. But we must make sure we take care of the things that we need to take care of before we can even discuss beating Troy. We'll continue to do that throughout the week."
The 83-year-old Joe won't be in attendance to watch his former team take on one of his greatest foes.
But he'll be cheering on the Rattlers, as he does every weekend, as FAMU looks to knock off Troy since 1999 when he was the head coach.
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"I've seen all the games they've played," Joe said. "Coach Colzie and his staff are doing an excellent job, and I think they're going to have a great season this year."
Florida A&M vs. Troy Matchup History
Sep 14, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Troy Trojans quarterback Matthew Caldwell (12) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
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1984: Troy 17, FAMU 3
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1996: Troy 29, FAMU 25 (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)
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1998: FAMU 27, Troy (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)
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1999: FAMU 17, Troy State (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinals)
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2002: Troy 24, FAMU 7
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2018: Troy 59, FAMU 7
Florida A&M (2-1) at Troy (0-3) ― Week 4
Florida A&M Rattlers take on South Carolina State in first home game of the season Thursday, August 31 2024.
When: Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time
Where: Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama
Broadcast: ESPN Plus
Tickets: Purchase Here
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Visiting FAMU football's non-traditional, but historic rivalry vs Troy
