FAMU wins its 'Holmescoming'

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  A scene that is rarely witnessed after a FAMU football game unfolded Saturday night at Bragg Stadium for the first time in more than a decade.

Right after Rattlers got a stunning 22-21 homecoming victory over North Carolina Central, the second-ranked team in the MEAC, acting coach Earl Holmes was doused with Gatorade. Still soaking wet, the players hoisted him on their shoulders amid a deafening cheer from the crowd of 14,768 that had witnessed the Rattlers win a homecoming game for the first time in two seasons.

“When you talk about love you just can’t talk about it,” Holmes said afterward. “You’ve got to show it and those guys showed love today.

“We play for each other; from week to week, day to day and hour to hour. At the end of the day we are modern gladiators.”

It’s been an emotional past seven days for the Rattlers. They found out last Saturday that former coach Joe Taylor would retire at the end of the season. Four days later, Taylor decided that he would step aside immediately.

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Varnadore's kicks lift FAMU

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  As FAMU drove toward the North Carolina Central end zone, kicker Chase Varnadore appeared a little antsy on the sideline.

His number was called after the Rattlers took two unsuccessful shots at the end zone. With two minutes left in the fourth quarter and FAMU down by two points, Varnadore knew he couldn’t miss.

He didn’t, either, driving the 36-yard attempt straight through the upright to secure a 22-21 victory for the Rattlers in their homecoming game at Bragg Stadium.

“I was real eager to get in there,” Varnadore said. “I kept pacing and going, ‘please just get me within range.’ I’m just thankful that the offense got down there and gave me an opportunity to make it.”

The win wasn’t all that Varnadore celebrated. He became the first FAMU kicker to hit five field goals in one game since his coach Juan Vasquez did it against Morgan State University in 2000.

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