Florida Classic time! Bethune-Cookman rolling ahead of rivalry matchup with Florida A&M
It's time for the Florida Classic!
The historic rivalry between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M will reignite Saturday in Orlando after a missed 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For nearly a decade it has been all Wildcats, who have won the last nine meetings dating back to 2011.
"As far as the Classic goes not a whole lot needs to be said," Bethune-Cookman head coach Terry Sims said. "It's a great football game. Two great institutions and a great platform for these young men to show off those skills."
A B-CU team that started the season 0-8 has won its previous two games and is coming off a 31-14 win over Grambling State last weekend.
The Rattlers, meanwhile, have won their last seven games and sit in second-place in the SWAC East.
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On a roll
Bethune-Cookman's season has not gone how the program had envisioned.
It took until November for the Wildcats to get in the win column, but they have since found their groove, winning their last two games.
"These guys have been coming to work every week, the ball just hadn't been bouncing our way," Sims said. "But now I think we are hitting our stride and good things are starting to happen for us."
Last Saturday's win at Grambling was the best all-around performance this season.
"We had some guys show up last game," Sims said. "Jimmie Robinson III had a great day. LaDerrien Wilson was another one. Guys that played roles in others games but showed up big and that was huge for us."
Bragging rights
This historic matchup is always magnified, and the records go out the window every November. B-CU has been an underdog is the past few meetings, only to stun the Rattlers late each time.
Expect another back and forth showing on Saturday.
"A lot is at stake," Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons said. "This game is huge for many reasons. Our football team has to be prepared to play a very inspired football team."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M meet once again in annual Florida Classic
