FAMU football’s training camp reaches the dog days. How are the Rattlers are pushing through?

Gameday is so close that Florida A&M football can smell the fresh turf at Center Parc Stadium, the site of the Rattlers’ Aug. 24 season-opener versus Norfolk State in Atlanta’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

However, coach James Colzie III’s Rattlers aren’t looking two weeks down the line.

With 12 of 25 preseason training camp practices down, the defending Black College Football National Champions are focusing on themselves.

“Just take care of where your feet are right now. We still have two more Saturdays before we can play,” Colzie said.

“We don’t even mention Norfolk State unless we’re asked. Take care of FAMU. That’s been our main priority throughout this camp. We’ll worry about Norfolk State once we get to that week of playing them.”

It’s a test knowing football season is within reach but having enough restraint to internalize that excitement.

How do the Rattlers manage?

Having elder statesmen helps. Fourteen holdovers from the Rattlers’ 2021 team that reached the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs are still on the team three years later.

FAMU tight end Jeremiah Pruitte is one of them. He arrived at FAMU during the 2021 season.

“One thing my coaches want us to focus on is don’t get bored with the mundane,” Pruitte said.

“A lot of stuff is repetitive, but we understand that it’s a process that goes along with our championship mentality here.”

FAMU cornerback Kendall Bohler, also on the team since 2021, keeps outside distractions from getting to him as training camp reaches the point where some may lose count of how many practices the Rattlers have had.

Bohler has garnered Preseason All-American honors alongside making the Buck Buchanan Award and East-West Shrine Bowl watchlists.

He’s thankful for the accolades. But Bohler’s staying grounded ― especially when he and top FAMU wide…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/famu-footballs-training-camp-reaches-011500859.html

Author : Tallahassee Democrat

Publish date : 2024-08-09 01:15:00

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