On Saturday, I was able to witness something that I have never felt before as a scout. I was able to not only see my first game live as a scout but I was able to watch the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Florida Classic between Bethune-Cookman Wildcats and Florida A&M Rattlers. From my perspective it was better than I could have imagined, I have seen Classic games before played on television but if you have never went to a Classic game, you are missing out. The Citrus Bowl of Orlando did an awesome job this weekend preparing the game, and the field looked amazing.
The atmosphere is something more than a person can imagine. HBCU schools all over the nation have Classic games which are fun to watch and are so competitive, but this one was amazing. When I pulled up to the stadium to pick up my credentials I noticed families walking in together holding hands. The husband wearing a BCU shirt and the wife’s wearing FAMU shirts. These families were excited to go see this game. They had food on every corner, real soul food, which you just had to try. It smelt so good walking to the game, I had to splurge myself and get some food. When you are walking in, it was like a parade. People were everywhere chanting their fraternity’s names out and dancing in the streets. You had Rickey Smiley (Radio personality) and his crew in Lot C, taking the time out with fans, and other celebrities there watching the game. They were really reppin their schools and showing their team spirit.
It didn’t stop there, when I entered the stadium, I felt my neck hair stand up as I heard the marching band in the stadium playing the ESPN song, (Dun-a-na! Dun-a-na!). I realized right then that this was going to be an amazing feeling, so I hurried up to get to the press box where I would be sitting. I sat downalong with scouts from NFL, and CFL teams, waiting for kick-off. It was a pretty cool experience, because if you have never been to a game in the press box, you don’t know what to expect. The Florida Citrus Bowl staff took care of us fed like Kings. I was amazed at how well the staff managed the game.
The first half was under way and it started off with Florida A&M taking an early lead when kicker Trevor Scott, who has been pretty good this year, showed a good leg on a field goal that cleared the bar by an extra 20 yards. At the end of the first quarter the score was 3-0 Rattlers. The BCU defense also had a huge interception in the first quarter when Ryan Lewis linebacker was able to catch an interception from a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage, but couldn’t come away with any points. It wouldn’t take long though for BCU to get it going. In the start of the second quarter, the team drove right down the field on a 15 play, 76 yard drive, capping it off with a touchdown from freshman running back Anthony Jordan. After the pursuing kick-off, BCU defense would come alive, when Senior stand-out Ryan Davis the big DE from Tampa, Florida was able to sack Damien Fleming of FAMU and cause a fumble which was recovered by the Wildcats. BCU would drive down the field and hit a huge field goal by Sven Hurd, ending the half with BCU leading 10-3.
I figured the halftime would be a good time to go get refreshments, so I went to get up before I was grabbed by about 10 people saying you cannot miss this, this one of the best parts of the game. That was the halftime show or the Battle of the Bands between the two groups. They call it the battle of the bands for a reason; these teams are serious about their bands. FAMU started things off this year honoring our nation’s troops and taunting the BCU Wildcat band pointing at them and jumping up and lying dead on the ground. As FAMU was walking off the field BCU was off to the races.
Although I don’t know too much about bands, BCU was so amazing out there, they were doing things I could imagine doing with a heavy Tuba hanging off me. These bands had announcers who would say stuff to each other, and BCU had some very funny things to say about FAMU, one being, offering free summer camp to any of FAMU’s band members if they wanted real band lessons. This to me was amazing because these fans, players and bands really went there to showcase their fanhood as well as their talents. I don’t know who won the Battle of the Bands, but I would have to say Bethune-Cookman probably took that fight, because their announcer was pretty funny. Both bands were very good and I give them tons of credit, because that is not an easy thing to do.
After the bands taking more than the allotted time to perform, Bethune Cookman was given a penalty of 15 yards and accepted it with flying colors after their bands performance. After a horrible kickoff by Scott who slipped Bethune was able to get their first drive started from the FAMU 49 yard line. After a few moments, Johnathan Moment broke a huge 43 yard run to the end zone and was able to get BCU on the boards with another touchdown. Leading 17-3 BCU would then kick it off to the Rattlers who would make it a game. Damien Fleming hit Bryan Tyms on an amazing slant play that Tyms took to the house on a 62 yard reception, getting FAMU on the board. A several plays later though on the next drive after an interception by Jean Favor, Anthony Jordan the freshman was able to fight his way back into the end zone. At the end of the third it was 24-10.
The fourth quarter would determine the game, could FAMU climb out of the hole they were in, it wasn’t long, before they were backed up to their own 2 yard line. On a bad snap, QB Damien Fleming hustled to pick up the ball but failed to do so. Ryan Davis recovered the football which was initially ruled a touchdown, but was over turned when the referee noticed that Fleming’s leg was out of bounds and he was laying on the football even though he didn’t have possession his foot was out of bounds. So they gave Ryan Davis his second sack of the game and a Safety. FAMU wouldn’t give up as they tried to get back down the field and did and scored on a drive with 13 seconds left, but would have enough time to win the game. They failed the two point conversion and that was the end of the game with Bethune Cookman winning 26-16.
The players of the game were Ryan Davis on Defense, who had 2 sacks, a FF, and a Safety and Anthony Jordan on offense who was able to 9 carries for 34 yards and 2 touchdowns. Although BCU came away with the win, there were a few football players that stood out to me. Two of them were the wide receivers, Lenworth Lennon of FAMU had an amazing game, who was all over the field, he was their main target, but was a work horse. He caught a very tough catch across the middle and was rocked by Jean Favor, knocking his helmet off. The most impressive thing was he held onto the ball, the bad thing was he got up in the defenses face and was given a 15 yard penalty for un-sportsman’s like conduct. Bryan Tyms another receiver from FAMU had very good hands and was a very big target, he looked very big from the press box, and was playing big, he had a few good receptions and has an amazing slant route. On defense for the Rattlers, junior Demarcus Folsom led the Rattlers with tackles and was playing very well, he was making plays both in coverage and at the Point of Attack.
The BCU team had a few standouts as well, Jean Favor the Safety was amazing, and is a hard hitter who is a ball hawk. This kid showed great coverage ability and hard hitting. He was flag for a hit but it was so hard the WR’s helmet popped off. Favor is athletic and has good hands, he caught an amazing ball with his fingertips for and interception. QB Jackie Wilson did a good job at managing the clock and had a few throws that were dropped, he should have had at least 50 more yards on perfectly thrown balls but the receivers just couldn’t hold on to the ball. Ryan Davis was my MVP, not because he was my Diamond in the Rough a few weeks ago, but the kid was constantly pushing back the LT, who had him in size by 50 pounds. He was shove him back into the Quarterback with ease, and was getting around him using his rip and swim moves. He was able to get to the backfield, because of his motor, this kid is special, almost as special as this game was for me.
You will never experience something as amazing as a Classic game unless you get a chance to attend, when I was leaving the same couples that came in holding hands were walking apart from each other. This game can split a household at least for the night, but at the end of the day they were able to experience the same thing as me, greatness. I will be just like those families, I will be back here again next year, so let me take this opportunity to thank Optimum Scouting for giving me a chance to go, Florida Citrus Bowl for having me as a scout and both Bethune Cookman Wildcats and Florida A&M Rattlers for putting on such a great game.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
