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New FAMU football offensive play-caller Henry Burris to bring new dynamic, lean on experiences
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- New FAMU football offensive play-caller Henry Burris to bring new dynamic, lean on experiences
Florida A&M always practices for sudden change on the football field.
The Rattlers are now experiencing a similar situation on the sidelines as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Henry Burris will oversee play-calling for the final two games.
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On Tuesday, FAMU head coach James Colzie III announced Burris is responsible for the Rattlers' offensive play-calling entering this Saturday's Florida Classic rivalry game versus the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
Burris will also call plays in the Rattlers' season finale as they host Alabama A&M on Nov. 29 .
Burris replaces FAMU offensive coordinator Joseph Henry , who began calling the plays this season. Henry has been the Rattlers' offensive coordinator since 2022.
Henry wasn't at FAMU's Tuesday or Wednesday football practices but is still listed on the roster.
Florida A&M quarterbacks coach Henry Burris coaches up campers at James Colzie III's prospect camp at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, Thursday, June 20, 2024.
FAMU is currently 5-5 and 3-3 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference . The Rattlers have the SWAC's third-best offense but are seventh at scoring through 10 games, averaging 22.5 points per game. FAMU has only eclipsed 30 points once this season, a 52-28 homecoming win over Texas Southern .
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"I'm ready for the opportunity," Burris told the Tallahassee Democrat at Wednesday's practice.
"It's bittersweet how things came along because you want to make sure you have a successful season and step in under better circumstances. But I'm doing it for the players. It's about motivating those guys for one of the biggest games of their life.
"We're making sure we put the work in."
All eyes will be on Burris this Saturday as he leads the FAMU offense in what many consider the Rattlers' most important game ― the Florida Classic versus in-state rivals Bethune-Cookman (2-9, 2-5 in SWAC) .
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Burris says players have rallied around his leadership as FAMU's newly appointed play-caller.
"It's been a crazy 72-hour period. But the guys have responded favorably and came out here ready to get better," Burris said. "Of course, there are many sad minds and faces looking around at what happened as far as the changes because it falls on everyone's shoulders.
"But at the end of the day, we have another game to play. These guys are juiced. Because this is our bowl game this season, and it's a battle for the state of Florida from a Black college and bragging rights perspective."
Joining FAMU football's staff as the quarterbacks coach this season, Burris adds a new dynamic to the Rattlers' offensive attack as the play-caller.
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Burris has worked closely with graduate student quarterback Daniel Richardson , who's in the mix in many statistical categories in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Burris may have an understanding of what Richardson may see or is looking for from a quarterback's perspective.
"He's my coach. So, we're together most of the time. He sees stuff and coaches me up," Richardson said. "Great opportunity for him. The team is excited. He's here to help us get the victory and call plays."
Henry Burris to mix past coaching experiences into leading the FAMU offense
Burris has had to learn FAMU's offense quickly.
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He credits Henry for educating him on the Rattlers' system and is confident that it will help him succeed in dialing up the offense.
"Coach Henry did a fantastic job of indoctrinating me into this offense and helping me learn step-by-step the process of getting the team ready to go and making sure you advise with all with your entire staff," Burris said. "I was just sitting behind him, being a shadow. And I'm truly thankful for him."
Burris has been successful on all levels of football.
He's one of the Temple Owls' greatest quarterbacks and proceeded to have a championship and Hall of Fame career in the Canadian Football League from 1997-2016. Burris also briefly played in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears .
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 27: Henry Burris #1 of the Ottawa Redblacks talks to the media following the final whistle of the 104th Grey Cup Championship Game against the Calgary Stampeders at BMO Field on November 27, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Coaching-wise, Burris has been an NFL assistant coach with the Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars , and Detroit Lions .
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"I'll take a little bit of flavor from all those places and kind of sprinkle it into what we're doing," Burris said. "However, we are who we are at this point of the season. You don't want to get too tricky and fancy with things. You want guys to play fast."
Play fast, but play sound football.
Burris is emphasizing the need for FAMU to stop committing turnovers. The Rattlers, through 10 games, have 23 turnovers ― 12 fumbles lost and 11 interceptions.
"Protecting the football is what he's been preaching. That's always been his motto," Richardson said. "Get the job done and do whatever it takes to win."
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With Burris making his FAMU offensive play-caller debut, the Rattlers and the Wildcats will kick off at 3:30 p.m. in Orlando's Camping World Stadium. ESPNU will broadcast the Week 13 SWAC rivalry game.
"I'm excited for him. He's a guy ready for the opportunity," Colzie said of Burris. "Hopefully, he can have that same quarterback success as a coordinator. I'm proud of him and feel we'll do well with him."
Florida A&M vs Bethune-Cookman ― Florida Classic: Week 13, SWAC
When: Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Camping World Stadium; Orlando, Florida
Broadcast: ESPNU
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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: Henry Burris 'ready for opportunity' to lead FAMU football's offense
