FAMU head coach Willie Simmons not expecting a 'lasting impact' from music video ordeal
As Florida A&M conducts its internal investigation, head football coach Willie Simmons is not expecting any season-derailing penalties stemming from a portion of an unauthorized music video being recorded in the Galimore-Powell Fieldhouse locker room.
The video, which was for Tallahassee artist Real Boston Richey's song, 'Send A Blitz,' featured Rattlers football players and visible university signage while the performer sported the team's helmets and gear in some sequences.
In response to the video, Simmons suspended football-related activities in a statement released via social media late last Friday.
The players' involvement in the video did not violate NCAA rules and the university's apparel agreement with Nike wasn't breached, Simmons told the Tallahassee Democrat over the weekend.
On Monday, Simmons and FAMU vice president and director of athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes reinstated football activities, but noted that an internal investigation is underway by the university's Office of Compliance and Ethics.
"We can't talk much about the details because we're doing an internal investigation within the university," Simmons, entering his sixth-year with FAMU, said at Wednesday's 220 Quarterback Club meeting. "The decision by AD Sykes and I to suspend operations was to get out in front of things and really get our team back together.
"We met Monday morning as a team and we're all on the same page. That situation won't have any lasting impact on our season in my opinion.
"We're moving forward and getting ready for training camp next week."
The Rattlers are set to report to fall training camp on Wednesday, Aug. 2, which will be a day full of informational meetings with administration. FAMU players will participate in community service projects with local schools the next day.
The first practice is set for Friday, Aug. 4 at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
The Rattlers, who are returning from 9-2 record in 2022, were tabbed as the favorites to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division on Monday. Additionally, quarterback Jeremy Moussa was named the conference's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was one of ten preseason All-SWAC selections from FAMU, which led the entire league.
FAMU's first game is on Sept. 3 at the Orange Blossom Classic against the defending SWAC Champions Jackson State in Miami Gardens' Hard Rock Stadium.
Eight of the Rattlers' 11 contests will be carried on ESPN networks this season. The remaining three will be available via HBCUGO and the newly-launched Rattlers+ app.
Here's some FAMU football updates ahead of training camp, 2023 season
Simmons and Sykes are making their final stop for the STRIKE TOUR on Thursday, taking a trip to the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area to collect donations for the Rattler Athletic Fund. According to social media updates by Sykes alongside the donation link, FAMU has raised over $60,000.
The Boudreaux Box, a cooling station used to combat Tallahassee's warm weather, is scheduled make a return to FAMU's fall training camp and will be delivered on campus next Wednesday. The Rattlers were the first HBCU program to have one. With the assistance of the Boudreaux Box, Simmons says post-practice cramping situations were cut from over 30 in 2021 to two last year during training camp.
FAMU, Simmons are finalizing hires to bring in a new special teams coordinator to replace Chili Davis, who left for Division I-FBS Kansas State, and to replace special to the assistant/nickelbacks coach Billy Rolle, who retired in June.
FAMU is set to have 110 players when fall training camp starts, 120 when classes begin on Aug. 28. Many players were certified once the spring semester ended in May. Simmons says the remainder of players that need certification are summer school students and will be handled once grades are released next week.
Florida A&M Rattlers 2023 SWAC Preseason Honors
FAMU voted number one in the SWAC East preseason poll with 16 first-place votes.
Rattlers starting quarterback Jeremy Moussa named the SWAC's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
FAMU Preseason All-SWAC First Team selections: Jeremy Moussa (quarterback), Jah'Marae 'K-Dot' Sheread (wide receiver), Jalen Goss (left tackle), Cam Covin (right tackle), Isaiah Major (linebacker), Kendall Bohler (cornerback), Javan Morgan (safety)
FAMU Preseason All-SWAC Second Team selections: Marcus Riley (wide receiver), Kamari Young (tight end), Gentle Hunt (defensive line)
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Rattlers season not expected to impacted by music video
