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MONTGOMERY, Alabama –– The Florida A&M Rattlers prepare to head to Montgomery for their first Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) matchup of the season, carrying the confidence of a four-game winning streak against the Alabama State Hornets. But head coach James Colzie knows that Alabama State’s tough defense and strong rushing game will pose a big challenge when the Rattlers take the field.
Coach Colzi emphasized the importance of rest and recovery for his team after a rare and unexpected bye week due to Hurricane Helen. “The benefit for us was that we had the opportunity to get healthy,” Colsey said, stressing that the extra week off allowed him to rebuild his team and study the Hornets’ recent performance.
Alabama State enters this game riding high on momentum after gaining a close win over Bethune-Cookman in its conference opener and gaining over 300 yards on the ground. “They want to run the football and play good defense,” Colzie said. He emphasized that their physical, run-first approach has been the Hornets’ identity for the past few seasons, and it’s a style of play that could be a long night for the Rattlers if they’re not ready.
The Rattlers’ recent success in this series doesn’t guarantee an easy victory. In the last trip to Montgomery in 2022, Florida A&M narrowly escaped with a victory. Colzi expects a similar fierce battle this time around. “This is where we scored one in 2022 and we hope to see a similar football match in 2024,” he said. Playing in front of an enthusiastic homecoming crowd at Alabama State only adds to the challenge.
Colzi also acknowledged the importance of starting SWAC play with a bang. “We have to go there prepared for the game so we can start the SWAC game 1-0,” he said, adding that the team will focus on execution and intensity for the important road matchup. It was shown that the
Rested and refocused, the Rattlers will look to extend their winning streak against the Hornets while proving they are ready to defend their SWAC Championship.
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