James Colzie III has been tasked with navigating a sudden change to the Florida A&M football schedule.
Entering the week, Colzie’s Rattlers thought they would be in action this Saturday, Oct. 4, for their second Southwestern Athletic Conference game of the season versus the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in the Georgia Football Classic.
However, the Georgia Football Classic, scheduled to be played at the Atlanta Falcons’ Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 3 p.m., was cancelled on Sept. 30. Questions surrounding an unsatisfied and past-due $25,000 payment from the game’s promoters, AAA Automotive Logistics and Partners, to FAMU, among other concerns played a role in scrapping the neutral-site football game.
The FAMU versus Mississippi Valley game has been rescheduled to Nov. 29 and relocated to the Delta Devils’ Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena.
The cancellation has resulted in the Rattlers having an extra bye this week after also being off during Week 4 of the college football schedule.
FAMU (1-3, 0-1 in SWAC) returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m., when it hosts a non-league contest versus North Carolina Central (4-2), an old Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe, on Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
“Slight change in schedule,” Colzie said on Wednesday, Oct. 1, during a Zoom call with local media.
“Trying to pivot to get ready for North Carolina Central. The guys quickly adjusted.”
After the announcement that FAMU would not play this week, the Rattlers’ football coaching staff spent a portion of the week recruiting in South Georgia and other areas.
The FAMU football team didn’t practice on Wednesday, but did on Thursday, Oct. 2, and will continue to take the field through Saturday, Oct. 4.
Under second-year head coach Colzie, FAMU is attempting to shake off a slow start that most recently saw it lose the Week 5 SWAC opener versus Alabama State 42-14 last Saturday, Sept. 27, at Bragg.
“The product is unacceptable,” the FAMU coach said.
The Rattlers are off to their worst start since 2016, and suffered their biggest loss at home since 2018.
Colzie is 8-8 in his tenure as FAMU’s head football coach.
“For us, it’s a hard reset of where we’re not just looking at schematics ― philosophy ― what we’re doing with people and what we’re not doing with people,” Colzie said. “It just gives us a chance to get ready for a football team, but it also allows us to find out what this football team needs to be.”
FAMU football has looked like ‘separate entities’ in early-season slide
Colzie says one of FAMU’s focuses during the bye is determining “who our quarterback will be” and what the signal caller will be asked of.
The FAMU offense struggled to move the football downfield and extend drives against Alabama State. The Rattlers were outgained by Alabama State 405-309, went five of 12 on third downs, and one of five on fourth down attempts.
FAMU starting quarterback RJ Johnson III completed 20 of 33 pass attempts for 133 yards, one touchdown, and added eight rushes for 58 yards versus Alabama State. Backup quarterback Jett Peddy didn’t see any action versus Alabama State despite having a fair Week 3 showing in FAMU’s 33-25 comeback win against Albany State.
Other quarterbacks on the Rattlers’ roster are Traven Green and Tyler Jefferson.
“Are we playing our best players across the board? We may be a little different when we line up next week,” Colzie said.
Led by offensive coordinator and playcaller Henry Burris, FAMU’s offense ranks eighth in the SWAC stats, averaging 334.8 yards per game and 17.5 points per game.
“I think we’re too talented to be doing some of the things we’re doing offensively,” Colzie said. “We’ve got to get the ball to our players. If we’re not doing that, and it’s a quarterback issue or calling issue, or a little bit of both, we’ve got to get going offensively. You’ve got to get some points on the board if you’re going to win games here in the SWAC.”
Defensively, FAMU was boatraced by Alabama State, the top-scoring offense in the SWAC and 23rd in the Football Championship Subdivision statistics.
Instead of relying on SWAC Offensive Player of the Year candidate in quarterback Andrew Body, Alabama State leaned heavily on its running game against FAMU, picking up 299 rushing yards.
The Rattlers’ defensive coordinator is Kenwick Thompson. However, Colzie is the defensive playcaller.
“Some of our errors were just things we’re not accustomed to here,” Colzie explained. “Our communication, our execution, and just how we’re finishing things is not acceptable.”
Colzie believes the Rattlers’ shortcomings aren’t indicative of the talent.
It’s the coaching.
“In these four games, it’s looked like we’ve been separate entities as opposed to playing together,” Colzie said. “I know it’s not the players. We, as a staff, have to get them in the right direction. That’s our job.”
‘Not dead yet’: James Colzie III believes FAMU football can make up ground in SWAC standings
After losing its SWAC opener, FAMU is now a game behind in the standings as the East division is shaping up to be a two-team race between Jackson State and Alabama State.
Since FAMU joined the SWAC in 2021, one loss has separated teams from representing the East in the SWAC Championship game versus the West division winner.
The SWAC Championship game is scheduled for Dec. 6. The winner moves on to face the MEAC champion in the Celebration Bowl, the de facto Black College Football National Championship game.
“I just had to rest assured and let them know the sky’s not falling,” Colzie said. “I think with the parity we have in our league, we still have an opportunity to attain the goals we’ve set for ourselves.
“We’re not dead yet. But you got to win some ball games to put yourself in a good spot,” Colzie added.
Florida A&M Football’s Remaining 2025 Schedule
All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How FAMU football is hitting a ‘hard reset’ during unplanned bye week to end downwards spiral
Reporting by Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
