FAMU's Best: Looking back and listing the Rattlers' top moments of 2022
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Happy New Year, Rattler Nation!
Through triumph and failure and ups and downs, one cannot deny the success of Florida A&M athletics in 2022.
The calendar year can be tallied as a win for the Rattlers across all sports programs.
In the last 365 days, we've seen teams continue their dominance, administrative progressions, and even Rattlers of yesterday go on to spread their wings at the highest levels.
The foundation has been set for 2023 to be another prosperous year.
But first, let's go down memory lane and look back on how the sports scene on the Highest of Seven Hills flourished in 2022.
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FAMU basketball's MJ Randolph proves to be the best player in the SWAC ― March 8, 2022
FAMU men's basketball guard MJ Randolph would become a household name in the Southwestern Athletic College in what would be his final year with the Rattlers.
Randolph dazzled the SWAC in the 2021-22 season with his scoring as he led the conference in scoring with 18.8 points per game.
For that, he earned the SWAC Player of the Year Trophy in FAMU's first year in the conference.
Randolph was invited to the G-League Elite Camp over the summer and forwent his final year of eligibility to declare for the 2022 NBA Draft.
He was eventually signed to the New Orleans Pelicans' G-League affiliate Birmingham Squadron on a training camp contract.
FAMU track star Rachel Robertson 'jumps' center stage on national scale ― June 11, 2022
FAMU track jumper Rachel Robertson called 2022 the best year ever as she was the shining star of the team last season.
She won the SWAC Indoor and Outdoor high and triple jump trophies.
Then to top it off, Robertson qualified for the national triple jump competition in the NCAA Outdoor Championships at the University of Oregon to conclude the season.
Though she didn't come back to Tallahassee with the gold medal, the biggest moment was how she represented black colleges by being the only HBCU athlete to nationally qualify in triple jump.
Robertson transferred to the University of Miami to pursue her Masters degree and conclude her track career with the Hurricanes.
FAMU football players pens public letter to University President to express unease ― Aug. 29, 2022
Whew, what a beginning of the season it was for FAMU football.
After 26 players were ruled NCAA uncertified or ineligible ahead of its season opener at North Carolina, the team decided to release a public statement to FAMU President Dr. Larry Robinson, Ph.D.
The letter cited players’ concerns with athletic compliance and advising staffing, financial aid, and the reduced amount of family and friends tickets.
FAMU football met with Robinson a day later and reached a point of understanding as the president vowed to make the proper steps to satisfy the student-athletes.
Since then, players said that the team felt heard out and progress was made to help them rest assured.
On the field, the Rattlers would lose their next game to eventual SWAC champions Jackson State but went on a nine-game winning streak to finish 9-2 in coach Willie Simmons' fourth active season with the team as he said the letter was the turning point of the year.
FAMU All-American safety Markquese Bell makes it to Sundays ― Aug. 30, 2022
Some would say that former FAMU football safety Markquese Bell deserved to hear his name called in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Regardless, his talent and poise couldn't be denied much longer as he accepted an undrafted free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys immediately following the draft.
Bell took the opportunity and made the most of it, impressing Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and staff in rookie minicamp and training camp to earn a 53-man roster nod on the NFL's final cut deadline.
Now, Bell has an active player contract and is a member of the 12-4 Cowboys who are second in the NFC East behind the league-best Philadelphia Eagles (13-2).
His former teammates linebacker Isaiah Land, cornerback BJ Bohler, and cornerback Kortney Cox have all declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and hoping to be the next Rattlers in line to play on Sunday afternoons.
FAMU calls on Tiffani-Dawn Sykes to be the next overseer of athletics ― Oct. 11, 2022
It may not have happened as quickly as Rattler Nation wanted to, but FAMU made its decision to hire a new vice president and director of athletics in Tiffani-Dawn Sykes after six months of the position's vacancy.
Sykes enters the job with extensive athletic administration history, specializing in compliance. Her last job was executive senior associate athletics director for varsity sports and senior woman administrator for Dartmouth College.
She is scheduled to officially to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 4, and has already laid some groundwork in her FAMU homecoming visit to Tallahassee and Orlando trip for the Florida Blue Florida Classic.
FAMU volleyball remains undeniable in the SWAC ― Nov. 20, 2022
Nov. 20 was a somber day on the Highest of Seven Hills as the football team found out that it would not be featured in the FCS playoffs on the heels of the nine-game winning streak and third consecutive nine-win season.
But FAMU volleyball helped raise the spirits by bringing back-to-back SWAC championship trophies to Tallahassee after beating Alabama State in Houston.
Outside hitter Dominique Washington played two years in the SWAC after transferring to FAMU from Georgia Tech and ended her college career with a pair of conference player of the year honors.
Since joining the SWAC, FAMU volleyball has 29-3 in-conference, won two titles, and appeared in two NCAA tournaments.
Honorable Mentions of top moments of 2022 FAMU athletics
Football becomes first HBCU to get coolant refresh chamber for fall training camp gifted by the 220 Quarterback Club
Alumna Caitlyn Davis designs 'Nike Dunks' in honor of alma mater for 'Yardrunners 3.0' collection
FAMU works $12 million Bragg Memorial Stadium renovation project
Associate head coach James Spady regains vision after season opener incident
Nate Newton inducted into Black College Football Hall of Fame, Tyrone McGriff Sr. and Henry 'Killer' Lawrence on deck
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Famer Quinn Gray is named Albany State's head coach
Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
Follow the Tallahassee Democrat on social media at Tallahassee Democrat (Facebook), TallahasseeDemocrat (Instagram), and @TDOnline (Twitter)
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Athletics: A trip down 2022's memory lane and top moments
