FAMU Head Coach Willie Simmons greeting fans before the game
Photo Courtesy: Mylo Jenkins
After knocking off the defending black college football champions in North Carolina A&T 34-31, FAMU now finds themselves ranked no. 20 in the STATS FCS Top 25 and no. 23 in the FCS coaches poll.
Despite being ranked in the FCS Associated Top 25 poll for the first time in 10 years Head Coach Willie Simmons and the Rattler football team is “Keeping the outside noise outside.”
“Being in the top 25 was never a goal that we set as a football team, it’s a huge accomplishment, but we have a lot of football left to play,” Simmons said. “Every game left on our schedule is a conference game and we have a goal to finish as the number one team in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,” Simmons added.
As most head football coaches strive for their team to have that “perfect game,” where they execute in all phases of the game, Coach Simmons isn’t any different.
“We have not arrived yet, nor have we played a complete game, we haven’t had game a where we pass for 300 yards through the air along with 200 yards on the ground or have a shut out game on defense,” Simmons stated. “There is a lot of things that we have not accomplished as a football team, but if we continue to go after those things, I think it keeps us from getting complacent,” Simmons exclaimed.
After starting out with an abysmal 1-10 record from his freshman year under center, Senior FAMU quarterback Stanley sees it is a “blessing” for the team to be ranked, but isn’t content with the team’s current standing.
“We don’t get a trophy or win anything for being ranked, it’s a nice accolade, but we still have a long way to go in these last four games and our goal is to win these last four games,” Stanley stated.
Focusing on next week’s game, Coach Simmons will look to keep his team locked in one game at a time.
“Every team we play it’s our job is to bring our very best and if we focus on that and do that, I think we’ll give ourselves a great chance to go up to Morgan State and come out with a victory,” Coach Simmons exclaimed.
The Rattlers next game will take place against Morgan State on the road, this upcoming Saturday at 3 p.m.