Raymond Woodie was an all-MEAC linebacker at Bethune-Cookman in the early to mid-90s and now he will begin the task of rebuilding the Wildcats football team into a SWAC contender.
“I’m thankful for the administration for bringing me back to my alma mater that helped mold and shape my character,” Woodie said. “This means a lot to me and we’re not making any excuses or blaming anyone else. We’re ready to get to work.”
Woodie’s work will be cut out for him as the Wildcats (2-9 overall, 2-6 SWAC) finished in a tie for fifth place with Mississippi Valley State in the SWAC East last season. The pre-season polls predict B-CU to finish behind the Delta Devils in last place this year.
Woodie is hopeful his experience as a Wildcat player can help the current edition of the team prove the naysayers wrong in 2023.
“I tell the guys, ‘If you come to work and go to work, you’ll be successful.’ We didn’t have everything that everyone thought we should have, but we had some really smart football players,” Woodie said of his playing days. “That’s our job, to teach student-athletes to make a positive situation out of a negative situation. That’s the definition of adversity.”
Woodie is also pleased to be working with Athletic Director Reggie Theus, who he believes understands the challenges of building a program very well.
“The administration as a whole has been awesome, and Coach Theus gets it because he’s a coach,” Woodie said. “We’re taking a step forward, and I’m really excited because a lot of times people may listen, but now you’re seeing action. That means something.”
One thing the Wildcats will have working in their favor this season is starting from scratch.
“Things change all the time, but we can’t worry about who we’re playing. I want to take care of us first,” Woodie says. “When we take care of us first and get that right, then every else is going to fall into place.”
The Wildcats begin the Woodie era on Sept. 2 at the University of Memphis before the home schedule begins against Savannah State of the SIAC on Sept. 9.
