Kinfolks from B-CU and FAMU come together annually for food, fellowship and, eventually, bragging rights

BY KARSCEAL TURNER
FLORIDA COURIER

In a few days, a sea of colors ranging from the maroon and gold of Bethune-Cookman University to the orange and green of Florida A&M University will descend on the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. The annual rivalry football game between the two rival institutions already has eclipsed the well-known New Orleans-based Bayou Classic, which pits Grambling State University against Southern University.

This year, patrons of the 29th annual Florida Classic will have more reason to celebrate. The event comes on the heels of an election that saw the emergence of the first Black president of the United States. Although attendees continue to feel the squeeze of the economy, they will surely be energized and ready to celebrate. The Florida Classic serves as the perfect outlet.

We are family
Longtime B-CU enthusiast Lerosa Dixon of Daytona Beach can share a thing or two about the celebration. Dixon is a 1971 B-CU graduate and her sister Joyce Nunn Jenkins graduated from FAMU the same year. The sisters organize a get together each year to combine the Florida Classic experience with an old-fashioned family reunion.

The family is split down the middle, with one half of the relatives leaning toward the FAMU Rattlers and the other half supporting the B-CU Wildcats.

“This has become a very big deal for the family,” Dixon told the Florida Courier. “We’ve been doing this ever since the Classic started in Tampa back in 1978. When we were in Tampa, we celebrated, and now we’ve moved it to Orlando.

“Since the two of us graduated from the opposing schools and our families both support them, we decided to get together. My brothers furnish the meat, and we have all the fixings to compliment them. It has grown into a very big event,” she said.

FAMU leads in game wins
The series between the two schools began in 1925, with Florida A&M winning 25-0. Then Bethune- Cookman College’s first win came a year later, 12-0, in 1926. At one stretch, the Rattlers won 19 straight games, including a 68-6 victory in 1959, a 97-0 win in 1960 and a 76-0 win in 1961. Overall, the Rattlers lead the 59-game series, 45-15-1.

Florida A&M won the first Florida Classic game in 1978, 27-17, overcoming a 17-0 halftime deficit. The team went on to win the inaugural National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-AA championship. Bethune-Cookman made the series competitive starting in 1973, winning 11 of their 14 series victories during that span, including a 58-52 overtime win in 2004, which was the firstever “three-peat’’ for the ’Cats in the overall series.

Dixon said the Classic is a lot more interesting when the two teams are more equally balanced on the playing field.

Good-natured ribbing about teams, band
“Bragging rights go to the winner for a whole year,” she said. “It can get pretty serious, but it all calms down when we return home after the game. We truly enjoy being together as a family.”

Dixon said family members enjoy poking fun at each other’s teams.

“We say little things about who has the best team and whose going to win,” she said. “We also get into heated conversation about the Battle of the Bands.

“Everyone always praises Bethune-Cookman’s band. FAMU was always known for having a good band for years. When it comes down to it though, we are happy for each team, very happy for B-CU because they don’t have as many students as Florida A&M. I think it is close, but B-CU has the most supporters in the family,” she laughed.’’

Family divided just through game
Dixon said the jokes stop once the family arrives at the Citrus Bowl.

“We go our separate ways,” she quipped. “It’s a family divided. FAMU people go on their side and we go on our side. Then after the game, we go back to the house and eat again and, of course, we talk about the game.

“It has really gotten bigger. It is better, I think. We have a better camaraderie. It is always good to see more family members are coming each year. We’re expecting more than 50 people from my immediate family,” she exclaimed.

Serious about game at early age
Dixon said she goes to the game decked in maroon and gold, prepared to cheer on her team. “I’m from the old school so I’m decked out in the B-CU hat, shirt and jacket. I’m dressed to let people know ‘Hey, I’m from B-CU.’ Everything is a competition. The FAMU side of the family has on their hats and shirts and accessories. We really go all out. People know who supports who in my family.”

The B-CU fan says her favorite part is getting the family together and seeing the little children’s excitement.

“They are really serious about their teams, even at a young age. I also love seeing all my alumni friends, many of whom I haven’t seen in many years. I have friends from B-CU and FAMU. It’s almost as good as Homecoming. I see friends from Miami, New York, everywhere,” she added.

Extra reason to celebrate
Dixon said this Classic will be even more special because of Obama’s election.

“It is even more of a celebration. It is historic. People shed blood for this to happen. This is a great moment to be living in. We are saying ‘yes we can’ in spite of the economy, go and have a good time at the Classic. It will be a much bigger crowd hopefully, because of this,” she explained.

“I’m excited about going because I’ll be taking my great-grandchildren for their first time. They saw Obama, went to the B-CU Homecoming parade, and now they’re going to the Florida Classic and will meet more of their relatives.”