While students are preparing for finals and graduation, Simply Marvelous is preparing to defend their national championship.
Simply Marvelous, Florida A&M University’s female flag football team coached by Marvin Green, is getting ready to play in the National Intramural & Recreation Sports Association national championship tournament Dec. 27-29. Before reaching the National Championship, the team will compete in the NIRSA regional tournament at the University of Southern Mississippi on Dec. 6-7.
“We’re going to go in there and win,” said Ayanis Dennis, 20, a junior broadcast journalism student from Ft. Lauderdale. “This is a must win tournament and that’s what we need to do.”
Since losing their first tournament in mid October, the ladies have not lost a game, putting up impressive scores beating teams 43-0, 32-0, and 21-0.
“We learned how to play together and once we learned that we were fine,” said Jennifer Campbell, 22, a senior elementary education student from Orlando.
Despite their success, Simply Marvelous is still without a regular place to practice.
“We just need a facility to practice on, hopefully we can expand women’s flag football on campus,” Dennis said.
The ladies have won their last two American Collegiate Intramural Sports regional tournaments at The University of North Carolina-Wilmington and the University of West Florida. Their margin of victory for the season is 225-30.
“Our goal was to win the Swamp Bowl, all regionals and nationals,” Green said. “They are expecting to win, but the next thing is to win the next tournament. We want everyone to know we can’t be beat.”
The team is diligent in continuing their successful course, no matter the obstacles; they practice regardless of the temperature, and receive no funding from the school.
“They are out here practicing in 40 degree weather- always committed,” Green said. “They pay their own way on trips. This is their own sorority.”
Dennis, a new member on the team strongly agrees with Green.
“We got to keep working hard,” Dennis said. “We’re out here in the cold and we work hard, every practice counts.”
The ladies recently received new practice and pre-game warm-up suits courtesy of Green. The team will also have a break following their next tournament for the Christmas holidays.
“These girls are passionate about making sure people know as much about flag football as they do about the FAMU football and volleyball team,” Green said.
After nationals, the team is planning to participate in tournaments in Las Vegas and Mexico City, Mexico.
“Their just as committed as any intercollegiate team on campus. They simply just want to make a name for themselves,” Green said.