BY VAUGHN WILSON, Outlook Staff Writer ORLANDO - The game never seemed to be in doubt. The Florida A&M University Rattlers spanked the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats 58-35 in Florida Classic XXIX in front of an impressive crowd of 60,712. The Rattlers behind quarterback Curtis Pulley, who scampered for 171 yards on 13 carries, scored nearly a point a minute against coach Alvin Wyatt’s overmatched Wildcats. Pulley credits the FAMU coaches with providing a winning atmosphere. “I’d just attribute (the win) to the whole offensive staff working with us and practicing,” Pulley said. “They put us in great position to make plays, and all we gotta do is go out there and make them,” he added. FAMU’s “Mr. Excitement,” LeRoy Vann, ignited the Rattler faithful with an 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter that broke a short momentum swing in favor of the Wildcats. FAMU head coach Joe Taylor said, “These young men, they’ve come together, they’re playing hard, and they really want to continue to play.” Taylor was referring to the Rattlers’ chances of getting into the NCAA playoffs. Finishing with a 9-3 record, and second place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the Rattlers came up just short for a birth in the championship tournament. Although in just his first year as Rattler head coach, Taylor sea’s promise in the program. “I would say we’re on the right track. There’s still some things we need to get done, but we’re on the right track,” Taylor said. Taylor attributed the high scoring to all three phases of the team working in unison. “When all three get involved-offense, defense and special teams-that’s when you normally have (a high-scoring game),” Taylor said. The annual classic is the biggest HBCU Classic football game. With the downturn in the economy, many Division I-A schools would love to draw 60,000 for a game. The Florida Classic is much more than a game though; it considered the biggest black family and class reunion in the country. Because so many fans have both FAMU and B-CU bloodlines, before and after the game is usually filled with camaraderie. The 60 minutes of football between that time and the halftime match up between the FAMU Marching 100 and the B-CU Marching Wildcats is an all out war. Anything goes during the game and halftime. The annual Florida Classic is put on by Florida Classic Consortium, which is run by FAMU and B-CU, with many management functions executed by the Florida Citrus Sports association. The money is one of the biggest single fundraisers for each of the universities annually. Additionally, bragging rights for a year are on the line. It helps with recruiting of top students as well.
