The athletic department re-released the football team’s 2003 schedule Feb. 7, after releasing an erroneous schedule last month.
The new schedule has the Rattlers playing only three games at Bragg Memorial Stadium, for the first time since 1988, as opposed to the old schedule having four home games.
The changes came after interim athletics director J.R.E. Lee III, failed to convince Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent, Howard University, to make a trip to Tallahassee for a second consecutive season.
Teams in the MEAC are supposed to alternate home games every year, and because FAMU played Howard at home last season, the Rattlers have to travel to Howard in 2003.
“We wanted to try to get that fourth home game on the schedule, but it wasn’t meant to be,” assistant athletics director Alvin Hollins said.
The three remaining home games are Sept. 6 against Morgan State, Sept. 27 against Delaware State and the Homecoming game on Oct. 26 against Norfolk State.
Two of the three games conflict with Florida State’s 2003 home football schedule.
The Rattlers’ game against Morgan State is on the same day the Seminoles play Maryland during their varsity weekend.
FAMU’s Homecoming game is the same weekend as FSU’s Parents Weekend, when the Seminoles host Wake Forest.
Howard is making the Oct. 11 date with FAMU its Homecoming game.
Last season the Rattlers went 3-2 at home, including a 28-24 loss to the Bison.
The rest of the games on the previously released schedule will remain the same.
FAMU will have a tough out-of-conference schedule next season, facing Alabama State, Jackson State and Tennessee State, all in “classics.”
The Rattlers will also play Division I-A Florida Sept. 13.
Kevin Fair can be reached at kfair1@mail.com.