The second time around: 3 takeaways from FAMU football at SWAC Media Day

SWAC Media Day Thursday did nothing short of getting football fanatics excited for the impending kickoff.

Live on ESPN3, coaches and players fielded questions from the media at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel.

Florida A&M's Willie Simmons, wide receiver Xavier Smith, and linebacker Isaiah Land addressed  the state of Rattler football ahead of their Aug. 27 kickoff at North Carolina.

They return from a 9-3 2021 campaign, being ousted from the FCS playoffs by Southern Louisiana.

"We were one point away from being the SWAC East champs last year," Simmons said. "That's why these guys came back -- they had unfinished business.

"We're not comfortable or satisfied with being a nine-win football team and having our first playoff berth in 20 years. These guys want a SWAC and black college football national championship. The work that they put in shows that they're committed to that."

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Highly acclaimed

The 2022 season is still following the reigning Buck Buchanan Award winner and Division I sack leader Isaiah Land.

On Thursday, Land was named the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The All-American knows the attention that comes with the acknowledgement.

"My teammates prepare me mentally -- they don't cut me any slack," Land said. "They prepare me for trash talk so I'm not worried about messing up and people talking about me.

"If you hear me and my brothers talk to each other, you might not even think we're teammates until we put the same uniform on. When we're working out, it's straight competition -- all we do is compete. We can do a walking contest and say defense is going to beat offense in walking.

"Competing on Saturday's is nothing new. It just translates."

Land was a member of Simmons' first recruiting class in 2018. Simmons has watched the progression of the nationally recognized defender.

"He has a relentless motor and a work ethic that's second to none," Simmons said. "We signed him as a 6-foot-3, 180-pound defensive end. Now he's a 6-foot-4, 225-pound edge rusher that's a top prospect at the FCS level.

"He's gained a lot of valuable weight that's going to get him through the season as he takes on all those 300-pound offensive linemen. His commitment this year is showing that he can be just as astute in the run as he is in the pass.

"He's a phenomenal young man that pushes the envelope with our players as far as competition. He runs sprints with the wide receivers then lift with the linemen."

Xavier Smith earned Preseason All-SWAC First Team honors at wide receiver as he chases a chance to get the honor in the award in the postseason polls for the first time.

"We push each other to work hard and grind every single day," Smith said. "You can't take days off with this team no matter what you're doing. "When you see how hard Isaiah works, it makes you want to work just as hard that to get to where he's been.

"We've always been explosive and been an offense who can push the ball down the field and put points on the board. We'll continue to make plays as we've always done before.

"Eventually we all will reap the benefits of our hard work."

The Rattlers also are predicted to finish second in the SWAC East, racking up 108 points and seven first place votes.

FAMU Preseason All-SWAC Honors: Xavier Smith (first team wide receiver), Isaiah Land (first team linebacker), BJ Bohler (first team defensive back), Jose Romo-Martinez (first team place kicker), Cameron Covin (second team offensive lineman), Javan Morgan (second team defensive back)

Circled on the schedule

Many coaches say that they're only focused on the next game when it comes to scheduling.

But Simmons was direct when looking ahead at their 2022 opponents.

Five of the Rattlers regular season contests consist of ACC/FBS North Carolina (Aug. 27), defending SWAC champions Jackson State (Sept. 4), SIAC (Division II) champions Albany State (Sept. 10), Celebration Bowl winners South Carolina State (Oct. 8), and in-state rivals Bethune Cookman (Nov. 19).

"You do schedules two years in advance," Simmons said. "When we did the schedule, we didn't know that Albany State would be the SIAC champs, South Carolina State would be the MEAC champs, and North Carolina would resurface as a top team in the ACC.

"We feel that our schedule is going to show everyone what we are made of. We're excited about that and the opportunity to let Isaiah Land show what he can do against what's perceived as the top offensive linemen in America. Last time we played an FBS opponent, Xavier Smith had 15 catches against South Florida.

"This is kind of litmus test for the guys that have a legitimate shot at playing professional football when we play teams like North Carolina and Jackson State the next week."

With the second year since the revitalization of the Orange Blossom Classic on the way against Jackson State and coach Deion Sanders, the prestigious HBCU battle is drawing national attention.

The contest began in 1933 and was discontinued in 1978 before being reincarnated in 2021. The Rattlers hold a 26-20-1 record in the revived celebration of HBCU football. Jackson State won last year's contest.

"The unique thing is when it started, it was dubbed the black college national championship," Simmons said. "Ironically for us it was the same thing last season.

"We still have a nasty taste in our mouth about how last season's game ended. Our guys are definitely looking forward to the challenge of playing Jackson State, Coach Prime, Travis Hunter, and the star power that they bring.

"We have some tricks up our sleeve as well."

It's no secret that the Orange Blossom Classic holds postseason implications while the season is still young.

"A one point game decided the SWAC champions," he said. "We understand the altitude of this game and the winner will have a huge leg up in the conference race.

"We know that the eyes of college football will be on Miami Gardens on Sept. 4. With our first two games being nationally televised, we have an opportunity to put FAMU on a national stage and make sure we don't disappoint."

No surprises

The blindfolds are off as the Rattlers now know what to expect in the SWAC as they enter their second year.

When the smoke cleared, they became a single point short of being the SWAC champions and representing the conference for the HBCU Celebration Bowl in Atlanta last December.

It's no time for downtime when playing in the SWAC and Simmons vows to have his team assembled to compete.

"Last season, we dubbed this conference as the SEC of FCS football," Simmons said. "We know that being in this means that you better be ready to play every week -- they are no down weeks."

"Mississippi Valley won four games and we looked up in the fourth quarter and was down. We had to scratch and claw to come back and win the game. Regardless of records, every week you're going to a great gameday environment with a rabid fanbase.

"That's what makes the conference what it is -- playing in a historic, rich conference with such history and tradition to bring our own brand to. If we win this conference, we know we're one of the top teams in all of America because the SWAC is one of the top conferences."

The Rattlers want to exceed a nine-win season that has lingered for the past two seasons.

"We just need to focus on finishing the game out with discipline," Land said. Once we lock in on all the small things, everything will take care of itself.

"When we all first got here in 2018, Coach Simmons said if we have to win to get what we want. We didn't even the same clothes to work out in. Every year that we won, we reaped the benefits -- new weight room, new stadium.

"It feels good to be a part of the growth of FAMU. We've watched them build FAMU up since my freshman year."

BONUS POINT - Realignment in works?

There's been talk about the placement of HBCU's if there is needed realignment in the coming years.

The idea of an HBCU super conference has even floated around.

But SWAC Commissioner Charles McClelland said that the conference will explore all options instead of making a rash decision.

"We do not want to reactionary -- we want to be at the forefront," McClelland said. "As a commissioner of any Division I conference, it is our responsibility to ensure that our schools are comfortable with what we're doing.

"By 2030, we're anticipating our revenue to surpass at least two FBS conferences. So the strength and growth of our league has put us in an unprecedented position where we are getting exposure to put us in the sweet spot of where you want to be for conference expansion.

"I already view us as a super conference. We have every major Division I institution from Texas to Florida. We're not going to expand just for the sake of it -- that ends with teams leaving the conference. If we bring in someone, it's going to be someone that fits our academic profile and brings value."

There has also been thoughts of moving up to the FBS level in years to come.

"In the current NCAA structure, there is nothing from a bylaw perspective that would allow that to happen. When you generate the type of revenue that we are looking to make, it puts you in a certain category.

"Through this new NCAA restructure, we are hoping that there is going to be a path forward. But we want to keep our schools together. Once we get to a certain point, if it is beneficial for us to move up together, I would say unequivocally that has been a part of our 10-15 year strategically.

"There's a lot that has to happen for us to move up to an FBS conference. But it is on our list for things to look at."

Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football: What we learned at SWAC Media Day