Willie Simmons Previews Florida A&M Football | 2023
HOUSTON — After Deion Sanders departed from the SWAC, Florida A&M immediately became heavy favorites to win the SWAC Eastern Division title. But first, Willie Simmons and his Florida A&M Rattlers football team must win the SWAC East title over their division adversaries at Jackson State, Alabama State, and Alabama A&M.
"We've had three really good years now, nine wins. I just wanted to take that next step," Coach Simmons said about his team to HBCU Legends. "So we had a really productive spring. I thought the guys did a great job academically to put ourselves in a position to have everybody there. And that was the biggest thing for us last year. We were having some issues early in the semester, early in the year. We'll eliminate all of those. We got a really talented football team, and a veteran coaching staff, so all the pieces are in place for us to have our best year yet."
ON JEREMY MOUSSA
Coach Simmons is correct. 2023 could become the best season for the Rattlers, provided quarterback Jeremy Moussa has another impressive year. "Jeremy had a great spring. He's going into his second year in this system. This will be the first year in his college career that he'll have the same offensive coordinator two years in a row."
Moussa transferred from Vanderbilt as a graduate student in 2022. He passed 394 times for 2,732 yards, 21 touchdowns, and ten interceptions. The 6-3 and 225-pound quarterback rushed for and caught a touchdown in his first season with the Rattlers.
Coach Simmons continued praising Moussa, noting, "He has the understanding of the offense. He's taking charge now in meetings and holding his meetings with the receivers. You see him taking that next step as a leader. He'll probably be the Preseason [SWAC] Player of the Year for the conference."
ON THE ORANGE BLOSSOM CLASSIC
For Florida A&M to emerge from the pack of contenders in the East, they must defeat Jackson State in the 2023 Orange Blossom Classic on Sunday, Sept. 3, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL.
Credit: © Gerald Thomas / USA TODAY NETWORK
"It's a great classic. It's a game that means a lot to FAMU. Obviously, where all the way back in 1933, when the game started, people think it is our game. Typically, it's not. But we're excited to represent the great state of Florida in the game. Jackson State has been a great opponent for us. They've been our nemesis because they'd beat us the first two years. We're excited about the opportunity. There's a lot at stake, with, obviously, the winner of that game getting a leg up in the conference. Going into the season, we'll probably be picked one and two in the conference. So the winner of that game has a great chance to be SWAC champs, and we understand how important it is, and we're getting ready to go."
RATTLERS TIME TO WIN
Needless to say, following three-consecutive seasons of 9 wins, a trip to the NCAA playoffs, and multiple players landing on NFL rosters, Willie Simmons needs a SWAC title to validate how good he is as a collegiate head coach. With no Deion Sanders in the league, it should be no problem for Simmons and FAMU to notch their first SWAC championship. Losing wide receiver Xavier Smith and linebacker Isaiah Land to the NFL should pose a significant problem for the Rattlers.
Willie Simmons at Bubba McDowell's Mega Camp; Credit: Kyle T. Mosley, HBCU Legends
When a team has a reliable quarterback, they are more likely to be considered favorites. Only Andrew Body of Texas Southern and Jeremy Moussa of FAMU will return to lead SWAC teams in consecutive seasons. Prognosticators highly favor both teams to win their respective divisions. But wait, don't tell coaches Eddie Robinson Jr. (Alabama State), T.C. Taylor (Jackson State), and Cornell Maynor (Alabama A&M) to throw in their chips. Each will have their say on the matter this fall.
Make no bones about it, it's time for Florida A&M to finally cash in on its opportunity to win the 2023 SWAC Football Championship. It's also time for Coach Simmons to get the proverbial "monkey off the back" by winning titles.
Will it happen for the Rattlers in 2023?
We shall see.
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