TALLAHASSEE, Florida – FAMU fans are ready for some football! That point was emphasized with the mass of supporters who filled the concourse of the Al Lawson Center on Saturday. There was at least 100 people waiting in the heat by 1:30 p.m., with doors set to open at 2 p.m. When the floodgates opened, there was a steady flow of Rattler spirit, optimism and enthusiasm. All accounted for, an estimated 1,000 folks walked through the doors throughout the event.
One of the first people to arrive at Fan Day was FAMU president, Dr. Elmira Mangum. Mangum was the first in a rotation of FAMU and FAMU Athletics representatives to pose for photos with fans in the Rattler photo booth. Fans flocked to the booth, with the athletic staff having to extend her time to allow those who were in line to get a photo with her the opportunity to do so.
Music was blaring to the sounds of young DJs, DJ Laila Jade and Z-Dub Beats. With an old school flow, it was a family friendly environment for the masses.
The Rattler volleyball team joined the festivities for the first time. The Lady Rattlers are actually the first team to compete, as they will play in the University of Miami tournament in Coral Gables, Fla., next weekend. Their posters were also available, so fans had the opportunity to meet coach Tony Trifonov’s roster of athletes.
The voice of the Marching “100”, Joe Bullard, was the emcee for the event. His usual witty humor kept the entertainment flowing from segment to segment.
The first person to address the crowd was FAMU athletic director Milton Overton, Jr. Attending his first fan day, Overton was electrified by the turnout. “We are strong, and together we are going to build champions in this house. We’re going to do it together and we’re going to do it one step at a time,” Overton told the crowd. Overton was a crowd favorite. He stayed until the end of the event, posing for photos, encouraging folks to get season tickets and making sure the operation was run smoothly.
The Rattler football team began to emerge from the floor of the arena as they concluded individual head shots in the media room. Several players were also available for media outlets from around the country. After the entire team was mustered, they rose to the concourse level to take seats around the arena to sign autographs and take photos with fans. Some fans brought their own items for the players to sign, while most grabbed a poster from the promotions table to get signed.
Right around that time, the world-famous Marching “100” struck up the tunes. The band played all of the stadium favorites, really bringing a game atmosphere to the arena. There is just about nothing that gets FAMU fans riled up like the sound of its prized marching band.
Angela Suggs, Assoc. Athletic Director for External Affairs and D’Wayne Robinson, Assoc. Athletic Director for Compliance, were two of the department’s leaders who oversaw the activities. The entire athletics staff put time and effort into making the day a success.
With the emergence of Alex Wood into the mix of fans, the day seemed to elevate to yet another level. There is much anticipation about Wood and his staff’s ability to turn the FAMU football program around, and seeing him in person for the first time was a treat for FAMU faithful.
Wood was proud to be a part of the festivities. “This is great! There’s great excitement and I know our players love it. We love it! Football is football, but this is part of the entertainment and there is nothing like having fans to come out and support and get excited. Please buy your season tickets and come out to Bragg and watch some good football,” Wood said.
Fans were afforded the opportunity to sign up for the Venom Kids Club. Venom was a part of the day’s festivities, taking an extended turn in the photo booth and taking photos with fans throughout the day. The event concluded around 4 p.m. with a buzz…the buzz of excitement that the wait is over…football season is here.
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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