Florida A&M head coach James Colzie III isn’t backing down from adversity.
After dropping four of their first five contests, including a 45-7 loss to North Carolina Central at Bragg Memorial Stadium last Saturday, Colzie addressed his squad and the FAMU faithful with a mix of candor and optimism.
“It’s still there, right?” Colzie said, referencing the goals laid out at the start of the campaign. “The pressure is just trying to continue to have this football team play and fight. But we’re 100%. Our guys are still buying in; they understand what a win can do for this program.”
The Rattlers (1-4, 0-1 SWAC East) are in the midst of their worst start since 2016, when the team ultimately finished 4-7 under then-coach Alex Wood.
Colzie remains steadfast in the belief that the Rattlers will soon right the ship. “We can’t feel down,” he insisted on Monday. “It’s important for my staff and me to put our guys in position to be successful. In practice, our guys are coming in ready, their eyes open and ears listening — we all know what we have to do to get this thing going.”
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Colzie still believes FAMU is a talented team amid woes
But the Rattlers have gotten in their way and been far too unproductive this season. FAMU’s offense ranks 10th out of 12 in SWAC statistics, averaging 307.2 yards per game and 15.4 points per game. The Rattlers have rotated quarterbacks RJ Johnson III and Jett Peddy this season, with Petty starting versus NC Central.
Peddy went 11 for 26 for 154 yards and tossed three interceptions against the Eagles.
Defensively, FAMU’s defense ranks sixth in the SWAC. It has given up 35.6 points per game, including allowing consecutive 40-point totals in back-to-back home losses.
Despite admitting to moments of frustration with play-calling and execution, Colzie emphasizes the locker room’s talent and potential.
“We’ve had situations where we could’ve been better, maybe I could have called it better, maybe we could have played it better,” he acknowledged. “But we still have an opportunity to be successful. We have some very good players in that locker room. We’re just not playing well as a team, and that’s up to me and the staff to fix.”
With seven SWAC games remaining, including showdowns against Alcorn State, Jackson State, and rivals Bethune–Cookman, the path to a winning season remains open — if the Rattlers refocus and respond.
“We still have that opportunity, but winning every week is our priority now,” Colzie said. “I just ask my guys to keep working hard, and I know they’ll do that for me.”
