By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Mickey Clayton might just attain his goal of adding about another 500 members to the Rattler Booster Club if he could get FAMU President James Ammons to make the pitch a few more times this football season.
Ammons talked about building a dynasty at FAMU like years past Saturday night at the annual boosters kickoff to the football season. He got the audience at The Moon pumped up about this year's football team. He even expressed optimism that FAMU's athletic program could again become the benchmark for attaining success.
Then, he told them how it could be achieved.
“No matter what happens, you've got to be true Rattlers,” Ammons said. “You can't be fair-weather Rattlers. We have to deal with these programs no matter what.
“It's a requirement for us to continue this legacy of being true Rattlers - support financially, moral support. Support in every way. This is the only way that we're going to build this dynasty.”
Clayton, director of boosters relations, has been leading the campaign since he took the position 14 months ago. During that time, he's seen a fluctuation in the number of members in the booster club, although the club raised $100,100 for athletics last year.
The goal this year is $175,000. A winning season for the football team will help, Clayton said, as much as FAMU being able to resolve reported administrative issues at the school.
As of last week, the boosters' membership was just over 725. Clayton wants it to reach 1,200, a number that he said would help the club generate more money for athletics.
Clayton's long-range goal is to raise $1 million for an endowment fund that would generate enough interest for the club to give more.
He's anticipating a spike in financial support if the Rattlers have another winning season.
“It's always easier in athletics when you field a winning team,” Clayton said. “The success of your athletic program is the basis for advertising off your institution, so when it does well boosters give more, alumni give more; everybody feels good about things that are going on.”
Ammons struck a chord that drew applause when he mentioned Saturday's opening game against rival Southern University. Boosters like Ed Haugabrook, who has been with the club for 40 years, relished the moment.
“I'm proud to say that with the enthusiasm we have this year, we're moving forward,” Haugabrook said. “You're going to see some interesting, innovating things coming up this year in order to get those resources they need to have to support the program.”
Mickey Clayton might just attain his goal of adding about another 500 members to the Rattler Booster Club if he could get FAMU President James Ammons to make the pitch a few more times this football season.
Ammons talked about building a dynasty at FAMU like years past Saturday night at the annual boosters kickoff to the football season. He got the audience at The Moon pumped up about this year's football team. He even expressed optimism that FAMU's athletic program could again become the benchmark for attaining success.
Then, he told them how it could be achieved.
“No matter what happens, you've got to be true Rattlers,” Ammons said. “You can't be fair-weather Rattlers. We have to deal with these programs no matter what.
“It's a requirement for us to continue this legacy of being true Rattlers - support financially, moral support. Support in every way. This is the only way that we're going to build this dynasty.”
Clayton, director of boosters relations, has been leading the campaign since he took the position 14 months ago. During that time, he's seen a fluctuation in the number of members in the booster club, although the club raised $100,100 for athletics last year.
The goal this year is $175,000. A winning season for the football team will help, Clayton said, as much as FAMU being able to resolve reported administrative issues at the school.
As of last week, the boosters' membership was just over 725. Clayton wants it to reach 1,200, a number that he said would help the club generate more money for athletics.
Clayton's long-range goal is to raise $1 million for an endowment fund that would generate enough interest for the club to give more.
He's anticipating a spike in financial support if the Rattlers have another winning season.
“It's always easier in athletics when you field a winning team,” Clayton said. “The success of your athletic program is the basis for advertising off your institution, so when it does well boosters give more, alumni give more; everybody feels good about things that are going on.”
Ammons struck a chord that drew applause when he mentioned Saturday's opening game against rival Southern University. Boosters like Ed Haugabrook, who has been with the club for 40 years, relished the moment.
“I'm proud to say that with the enthusiasm we have this year, we're moving forward,” Haugabrook said. “You're going to see some interesting, innovating things coming up this year in order to get those resources they need to have to support the program.”
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