ORLANDO, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman Football renews its annual rivalry with in-state opponent Florida A&M this weekend as the two longtime Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) foes square off in the Florida Blue Florida Classic at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The game will take place Saturday, Nov. 18, with kickoff set for 2 p.m., and will be televised live on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app.
 
Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M
Nov. 18, 2017 | 2 p.m. EST
Camping World Stadium | Orlando, Fla.
ESPNU | WatchESPN | WELE Radio | WSOS Radio | WSIR Radio
 
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Bethune-Cookman 6-4 (5-2 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
Florida A&M 3-7 (2-5 MEAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats
 
Web Stream: WatchESPN
 
Game Day Hashtags
#FAMUvsBCU | #BeatFAMU | #FloridaClassic2K17 | #BCUResurge
 
The Game
Bethune-Cookman looks to continue its unprecedented run of consecutive wins against rival Florida A&M when the two teams collide in the 2017 edition of the Florida Blue Florida Classic at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Wildcats have not lost to the Rattlers since 2010 – then the first year of current BCU head coach Terry Sims' first year with the Wildcats program while serving as the assistant head coach under Brian Jenkins.
 
Story Lines
• Bethune-Cookman is seeking to win its unprecedented seventh consecutive game against Florida A&M in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic. BCU is also seeking to move to 11-10 all-time against FAMU in Orlando.
• Junior punter Javaunie Francis was selected as this past week's MEAC Specialist of the Week after averaging 44.9 yards per punt last Saturday at North Carolina Central.
• Terry Sims enters the weekend seeking his 20th victory as a collegiate head coach in now his third season at the helm.
• A total of six (6) different players for the Wildcats have hauled in at least one touchdown reception on the year.
• The Wildcats took over the Internet and social media last week with the "Tip Six" Hail Mary from Larry Brihm, Jr. to Keavon Mitchell in a game-winning fashion at the horn against North Carolina Central in Durham.
• Linebacker Marquis Hendrix played sparingly throughout the first three games of the year, but is now second on the team in tackles with 65 to his credit, including 5.5 tackles for loss.
 
Series Notes
• Florida A&M leads the all-time series by a count of 49-21-1.
• Bethune-Cookman has won the last six consecutive meetings in the series – the first time it has ever been accomplished by the Wildcats.
• The average margin of victory for the Wildcats over the last five contests against the Rattlers has been 13.2 points, including a come-from-behind overtime victory in 2014.
 
The Broadcasts
The game will be streamed live on ESPNU and the WatchESPN app on all mobile devices, while the CatEye Radio Network carries the contest via all three stations in the form of WELE 1380 The CAT, WSIR 1490 and WSOS 99.5 & 1170 with Nolan Alexander (play-by-play) operating alongside Larry Wesley (color) in the booth.
 
The Coach
Head Coach Terry Sims is now in his third year at the helm of the Bethune-Cookman Football program. The Knoxville alum holds a record of 19-12 overall with the Maroon and Gold, and he is seeking his third win all-time against Florida A&M as a collegiate head coach.
 
The Weather
Projected temperatures on game day: Daytona Beach – 80/61. Orlando, Fla. – 81/62 (10% chance of rain).
 
#HighFive
1. The BCU offense ranks atop the MEAC in red zone offensive performance scoring 83.9 percent of the time.
2. Being on the receiving end of the "Tip Six" a week ago in Durham, junior receiver Keavon Mitchell collected his second touchdown of the 2017 season.
3. Bethune-Cookman ranks third in the MEAC for pass efficiency defense, allowing just a rating of 105.20.
4. Redshirt senior quarterback Larry Brihm, Jr. has completed at least one passing touchdown in his last four consecutive games.
5. Redshirt senior receiver Frank Brown is tied for second place all-time at BCU with 21 receiving touchdowns, matching the career efforts of Eric Weems and the legendary Jack "Cy" McClairen.
 
A Win Over Florida A&M Would…
• Allow Bethune-Cookman its seventh consecutive win against the Rattlers.
• Be the 493rd win all-time in school history.
• Extend BCU's winning streak to four games.
• Improve BCU to 11-10 all-time against FAMU in Orlando.
• Allow Wildcats' Head Coach Terry Sims to collect his 20th victory in charge of the Maroon and Gold.
 
Javaunie Francis Earns Specialist of the Week Honors...
• Javaunie Francis of Bethune-Cookman Football has been selected as this week's MEAC Specialist of the Week announced by the MEAC Office on Monday afternoon from the league headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.
• Francis, a 6-2, 236-pound junior punter from Miami, helped to flip field position several times during Bethune-Cookman's come-from-behind 13-10 win over three-time defending league champion North Carolina Central over the weekend in Durham, North Carolina. Francis averaged 44.9 yards per punt on nine total kicks that traveled 404 yards altogether. He place done punt inside the 20 yard line, as well as one going 58 yards in length.
 
Block Party...
• The Bethune-Cookman special teams has amassed three blocked kicks in 2017. One of those kicks was a game-saving block as time expired against South Carolina State, that registered by Delwaun Beard.
 
Nick Collins Selected to Hall of Fame...
• Nick "The Pick" Collins was selected for induction into the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame, announced Thursday from the MEAC Office in Norfolk, Virginia.
• Collins was a three-year starter at free safety (2002-04) and the captain of one of the most successful football teams in Wildcats history. Known as a ferocious hitter, the free safety earned All-American and First Team All-MEAC honors when he led the league with six interceptions in 2004.
• He was picked in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers in 2005, going on to earn three Pro Bowl appearances and scoring a touchdown in the Packers' Super Bowl XLV victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. After retiring in 2015, Collins was named to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2016.
 
Thou Shalt Not Pass...
• Through 10 games across the 2017 campaign, the Bethune-Cookman defense is allowing just 154.1 yards per game through the air. That allows BCU to sit eighth in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for passing yards per game allowed by the defense.
• In pass efficiency defense, the Wildcats defensive unit is ranked ninth nationally, allowing just a 105.20 stat line from the opposition.
 
Playoffs?...
• Despite the introduction of the Celebration Bowl in February 2015, a member of the MEAC still has the possibility of participating in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs. A member would have to accept an at-large bid to the playoffs, which last happened with North Carolina A&T accepting the at-large bid in 2016.
 
Conference Misses...
• Bethune-Cookman's two conference "misses" in 2017 are Delaware State and Morgan State. This marks the first of two seasons the Cats will miss the two northern foes, while Hampton and Howard return to the BCU schedule for the first time since 2014, respectively.
 
Non-Conference Success...
• Since 2000, Bethune-Cookman is 36-13 in regular season, out-of-conference contests, earning notable victories against the likes of Alabama State, FIU (2x), Southeastern Louisiana and Tennessee State, respectfully.
• Of the 13 losses in non-conference play, seven have come against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), including Florida State, Miami (4x), North Texas and UCF.
 
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