Jaguars snare Rattlers at Classic thriller

This article is dedicated to the late Terrell Slayton, Jr., former Chairman and President of the 100 Black Men of Atlanta. (1974 photo)


The stands were noticeably half full at the Georgia Dome when the FAMU Rattlers fell under the Southern Jaguars as last minute attempts to tie the game failed.


Mission of 100 Black Men - support and improve the quality of life for African Americans

Florida A&M University was playing without its award winning band backing it up since it was placed on suspension after a hazing scandal left Metro Atlanta native and FAMU drum major Robert Champion Jr. dead after a game played on November 19, 2011. 

The first half of the Atlanta Football Classic was dominated by Florida A&M which scored only 7 points to Southern University's 0. Southern came back in the second half and tied the game 14-14. Then, with 7.01 minutes left in the 4th quarter, FAMU fumbled the football, and it was intercepted by two Jaguars who juggled the pigskin in the end zone, bringing the score to 21 - 14. 

In too many long attempts to release the ball, FAMU's quarterback was left unprotected while Southern's defense excelled at rushing and sacking their opponents. FAMU was unable to succeed in making another touchdown, and the game was called with only 43 seconds to play.

 Frustrated Rattlers near game's end

Half-time entertainment featured Southern's band, which spelled out FAMU on the field in tribute to the missing band; Chaka Khan, Douggie Fresh, and rapper Future. Ronald McDonald was off stage dancing and pointing into the crowd.

The defeat was a massive disappointment for FAMU, the largest HBCU in the U.S. "I can't believe it," said one young attendee while existing the game.  "This was the closest game I have ever seen live," said another person who came to the game with a FAMU alumni group.


Michael McCoy (2nd from l) celebrated his 16th birthday with family and friends at the Classic, an every year event.

The Atlanta Football Classic is sponsored annually by the 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. Membership in the elite organization is said to cost $10,000. Other partners included Bank of America which donated $50,000 to the organization's scholarship fund, AT&T, Abbott Laboratories, Coors Light , Delta Air Lines, the Georgia Dome, Georgia Power, Home Depot, Liquid Soul Media, MARTA, McDonald's, WalMart, and the U.S. Army.
  
©2012 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.