FAMU VS Howard In Atlanta: Old Foes… Meeting for the First Time

December 7, 2023 admin

By Aaron N. Taylor

Since its inception in 2015, the Celebration Bowl has cemented itself as the true national championship game. No more subjective “power rankings” and endless debates among fans. At the end of Celebration, the Black College National Championship is clear. But Celebration Bowl weekend is more than a football game. It is a (pun intended) celebration of HBCU culture overall. As you walk around downtown Atlanta during the weekend, you see people wearing HBCU paraphernalia far beyond the two teams playing in the game. Alumni of my undergraduate alma mater, North Carolina A&T, are particularly visible—to the chagrin of others. But we have good reasons for this—not only is Atlanta home to thousands of Aggies, but we won 4 of the first 5 Celebration Bowls before committing the epic blunder of leaving the MEAC.

This year’s contest features two of the nation’s most prominent HBCUs, each making their first appearance in the game. SWAC champion Florida A&M and MEAC champion Howard will face off for the title. Both schools hold special standing in my life. I grew up in Tallahassee, the child and grandchild of Rattlers, and graduated from FAMU’s K12 school. Years later, I ventured north to D.C. and eventually earned a law degree from Howard. I have been predicting the possibility of this game since the beginning of the season. I knew FAMU would win the SWAC, with the Deion Sanders carnival show having moved on to its next stop. I was hopeful that Howard could win the MEAC, given that their only conference loss last season was to Celebration Bowl winner and national champion, North Carolina Central.

While FAMU, with its vaunted defense and explosive offense, is the unquestioned favorite, Howard should not be underestimated. The Bison’s record (6-5) was depressed by two closely played losses against FBS opponents and a blowout at the hands of the richest school in the world: Harvard. The Bison do have two losses against HBCUs: Hampton and South Carolina State. But last month, I attended Howard’s game against Central, then #7 in the country. I saw a dynamic, balanced offense and a solid defense. The Bison scored seven TDs—four rushing, three passing—against an opponent hardly no one, including myself, gave them a chance to beat. After all, just a week earlier, Howard notched a loss to lowly SC State.

The last time FAMU and Howard played was in 2019. FAMU won that game 39-7, on their way to a conference-best 7-1 record. Unfortunately for the Rattlers, they were ineligible for postseason play that season, which meant that NC A&T would represent the MEAC at Celebration, defeating Alcorn 64-44 in an absolute classic. FAMU and Howard have a long history as gridiron opponents dating back a half century. They were both members of the MEAC for more than 30 years until FAMU left for the SWAC in 2021. These are two programs that know each other well.

This year’s Celebration Bowl will feature old foes, facing each other for the first time in the title game. Two of the most loved (and hated) HBCUs, these schools will surely attract their own fans as well as others seeking to take part in what has become the ultimate—and aptly named—way to celebrate another successful HBCU football season.

The author is a graduate of FAMU High, North Carolina A&T, and Howard Law.

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