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The MEAC/SWAC Challenge isn’t just the 2024 HBCU football season kickoff.
The annual Week 0 game between the two NCAA Division I HBCU conferences also marks the beginning of a new college football season as a whole.
This year, the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, played on Aug. 24 at Atlanta’s Center Parc Stadium, features Florida A&M of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Norfolk State of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
It’s the Rattlers’ first trip to Atlanta since winning the Celebration Bowl to claim the program’s 17th Black College Football National Championship.
“We are extremely excited to be here and show what the FAMU Rattlers are all about. It’s exciting for this football team to be back where we ended last year and getting a chance to start here again as the reigning HBCU national champions,” first-year FAMU head coach James Colzie III said at Wednesday’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge press conference.
Florida A&M head football coach James Colzie III at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge press conference in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
FAMU vs. NSU is one of seven contests to be played on Aug. 24’s Week 0 slate, alongside the Florida State vs. Georgia Tech Ireland game, among other slots that include Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision teams.
However, the Rattlers and the Spartans’ MEAC/SWAC Challenge contest has attracted a primetime slot at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
“We’re kicking off a major event. Saturday night college football on ABC. This is prime time,” said Norfolk State head coach Dawson Odums. “Do you know how many schools will never receive this opportunity to play college football on Saturday night ― on ABC?”
The MEAC/SWAC Challenge began in 2005 to showcase a team from each Division I HBCU conference.
After stints in Birmingham, Orlando, Daytona Beach,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/famu-norfolk-state-set-stage-231230876.html
Author : Tallahassee Democrat
Publish date : 2024-07-17 23:12:30
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