FAMU football coach Willie Simmons opens up about 2023 schedule, sets expectation for season

If anyone doubted what Florida A&M football's goals are this year, they have to no more.

Head coach Willie Simmons addressed Rattler supporters and fandom at the weekly 220 Quarterback Club luncheon on Wednesday to talk about the team's slate of games and answer questions ahead of spring football practice and the upcoming season.

He kept it short and simple, but didn't mince words as he made his intentions and expectations clear of what's expected from himself, his staff, and players in 2023.

"We're trying to position ourselves to accomplish our ultimate goal which is win the SWAC Championship and (HBCU) Celebration Bowl. That's it," Simmons said.

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FAMU released its 2023 football schedule less than a month ago on Feb. 8.

The Rattlers are set to play 11 total games. Of those games, the Rattlers will host four games at Bragg Memorial Stadium to defend its second-longest home winning streak (15) in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Two of those games will feature Division II programs West Florida on Sept. 16 and Lincoln (Ca.) in the regular season home finale on Nov. 11.

The scheduling of the Division II couple raised questions of FAMU's strength of schedule which played as a deciding factor when the Rattlers were left out of the 24-team FCS playoff field last season after finishing 9-2 in the regular season on the heels of a nine-game winning streak.

"The decision made was to select another Division II opponent because we had the option to play at home and a Division II team was the only one that we can get or take another game on the road which would only give us three home games in Tallahassee. Which none of us want," Simmons said.

"Strength of schedule is important, but for us it's to prepare us to win the SWAC championship."

FAMU Football 2023 Schedule

• Sunday, Sept. 3 vs. Jackson State University ― ORANGE BLOSSOM CLASSIC inside of Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida*

• Saturday, Sept. 9 at University of South Florida inside of Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. University of West Florida inside of Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida

• Saturday, Sept. 23 vs. Alabama State University inside of Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida*

• Saturday, Sept. 30 at Mississippi Valley State University inside of Rice-Totten Stadium, Itta Bena, Mississippi*

• Saturday, Oct 7. at Southern University inside of A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana*

• Saturday, Oct 21. at Texas Southern University inside of Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas*

• Saturday, Oct. 28 vs. Prairie View A&M University ― HOMECOMING inside of Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida*

• Saturday, Nov. 4 at Alabama A&M University inside of Louis Crews Stadium, Huntsville, Alabama*

• Saturday, Nov. 11 vs. Lincoln University (CA) inside of Bragg Memorial Stadium

• Saturday, Nov. 18 vs. Bethune Cookman ― FLORIDA CLASSIC inside of Camping World Stadium, Orlando Florida*

• Saturday, Dec. 2 SWAC Championship ― LOCATION TBD

• Saturday, Dec. 16 HBCU Celebration Bowl inside of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Home games are in bold

Neutral games are in italic

* ― SWAC games

FAMU is the home team in both classics

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Willie Simmons ready to reach next level of success