Bethune-Cookman still away from home after Hurricane Ian as Wildcats prepare for Jackson State
Terry Sims hasn’t returned to Daytona Beach since Hurricane Ian hit.
Aside from a couple coaches and equipment managers, no one from the Bethune-Cookman University football team has been back. The Wildcats ditched town on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and have been road warriors since, living in hotels, studying online and practicing on various high school, college and pro fields across multiple states.
They remain away from home this week as they prepare to host Deion Sanders and his Jackson State Tigers in Jacksonville Saturday.
“Honestly, the resiliency of this whole group has been outstanding through this whole thing,” said Sims, B-CU’s head coach since 2015.
“Our trainers, our managers, our video folks, our operations, all of these young people and our whole travel party have just stuck together and pushed through this thing. It’s been tough.”
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Bethune-Cookman issued a mandatory evacuation and moved all classes online the week of the storm. The campus suffered some damage, but the school started bringing students back this week. Face-to-face learning resumes next Monday.
Both of the Wildcats’ football games since Hurricane Ian have been on the road, so they didn’t have to cancel either one.
They lost to Alabama A&M on Oct. 1 after holding meetings at Brainerd High School and practicing at Boyd Buchanan School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
They spent the following week in Nashville, working out at Vanderbilt University and eating their meals at Lipscomb University before falling to Tennessee State last Saturday.
This week, they’ve bounced between Edward Waters University, Jacksonville University and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ facilities.
“I think we’ve all found out a little bit about each other through this time,” Sims said. “It’s been good for everyone …
“Our administration has been absolutely fabulous throughout these three weeks. They’ve taken care of us and made sure that we have everything we need to be comfortable and have some sense of home and normalcy.”
But the extended trip is finally coming to an end. After this Saturday’s game, the Wildcats will head back to campus and a normal routine.
They have a date with Jackson State at TIAA Bank Field first, though.
Bethune-Cookman vs. Jackson State: Deion Sanders makes his return to Jacksonville
Scouting report
At 5-0, the Tigers enter as the only undefeated team in the Southwest Athletic Conference. They won the league with an 11-2 record last year, beating Bethune-Cookman 42-12 along the way.
On offense, Jackson State leans on sophomore quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The son of the Tigers’ head coach has already racked up 1,726 passing yards and 17 touchdowns this season.
“They have a solid running game, but it’s obvious they like to throw the football, and they have good weapons to throw the ball to,” Sims said. “We just have to make sure that we’re doing what we’re supposed to do defensively to stop their passing game.”
Jackson State’s biggest name on defense is Travis Hunter, the former No. 1 recruit in the nation. The freshman has missed all but one game — the season-opener — this year due to injury, but he returned to practice earlier this week.
The Tigers' defense has allowed more than 12 points in only one game this fall.
“Defensively, they’re aggressive,” Sims said. “They want to play man coverage, and they want to blitz you. They want to put pressure on you.”
Where and when
Despite this week’s contest being played in Jacksonville, it counts as a home game for the Wildcats (1-4). It will be the first time they’ve played in Duval County since 2006, though they have a long history there.
Deion Sanders made headlines last summer, criticizing the decision to move the matchup away from Daytona Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. The action will air on ESPN+.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: College football: Bethune-Cookman preparing for Deion Sanders, Jackson State
