Chennis Berry and Quinn Gray Sr. wanted fans to understand that Labor Day weekend will be full of excitement during the latest installment of the Orange Blossom Classic.
Florida A&M Rattlers will face HBCU national champion South Carolina State in Week 2 on Sunday, Sept. 6, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Gray, a FAMU quarterback and then Rattlers assistant, embraced the challenge of leading the program back to prominence as head coach.
“Absolutely. I mean, obviously, with this being a classic, that we’ve always been a part of having that sense of pride and making sure that we continue with the legacy of winning the classic,” Gray said on Wednesday. “You play football games, they keep score because it’s about winning and losing, right? So we want to make sure that we continue to put our best foot forward, compete at a high level, and try to make sure that we come out victorious at the end of the day.”
Florida A&M lost in last season’s classic 10-9 to Howard University en route to a disappointing 5-7 season.
Expectations for Bulldogs, Rattlers
Gray kicked off: “It’s all about discipline. You know, everybody’s got talent… but it has to be a determining factor… And if I can add in another layer, we’re going to be physical.”
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Berry doubled down on SC State’s blueprint fresh off a national title.
“Smart, fast, and physical,” he said of the Bulldogs’ approach. “For us, it’s about going 1 and 0. So that’s really the deal in our program… Every game is a big game. Why? Because it’s the next game.”
Florida A&M will have an early measuring stick test
The Rattlers have all the optimism that spring practices bring. Hope. A renewed purpose of what’s to come with a new coaching staff and players on board.
Competing against a team that ran the MEAC table for the second straight year and went on to win the Celebration Bowl will provide candid insight into where the program is.
“I’m excited to see where we will be against the defending national champions,” Gray said. “You want to make sure you’re playing quality opponents so you can measure up to figure out where you are as a program.”
