The longest non-conference series in Black College Football will come to an end when the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Southern University Jaguars take on the Rattlers of Florida A&M University, representing the Mid-eastern Athletic Conference, for the last time under the old contract. The two teams have been playing against one another since 1941.
“I have mixed feelings about this maybe being our last game against FAMU,” said head coach Pete Richardson. “The game is always well received by the fans.”
The Rattlers currently lead the 56 game series 32-23 with one game ending in a tie.
These two teams who can be thought of as “twins separated at birth” due to their many similarities, are both powerhouse teams in their respective conferences.
“FAMU has always had a good program, they play hard against everyone,” said Richardson.” But, they are no better than us.”
As mentioned before FAMU and SU share many similarities. They are both located in the same city as the state’s flagship school. Southern and Louisiana State University are separated by roughly nine miles of highway, Florida State University and FAMU are one mile apart. And that is only one similarity. They are both in the midst of potentially great seasons that could end in conference championship titles.
“We are both trying to make it to the championship,” said Richardson. “But right now, we are just going to concentrate on this weekend’s game.”
The last time the Rattlers and the Jaguars met, the Jaguars were narrowly defeated in A.W. Mumford Stadium. Before a crowd of 22,317 the Rattlers slipped pass the Jaguars 50-49.
Both injury riddled teams are coming off big victories as the Jaguars shut out Mississippi Valley State University 49-0. The Rattlers defeated Hampton University 47-35, bringing them one game closer to their team goal of 500 victories.
Kickoff is set for 4p.m., Saturday at the Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.
