DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – So, for the first time since 1943, Bethune-Cookman won't have an opening day of football season in the fall. Today would have been the start of the 2020 campaign with a return to Tampa to face South Florida.

Yeah, we know. We feel it, too.

But … Wildcat football will be back. So will the band. And the unique and wonderful experience that is game day when you're wearing the Maroon and Gold.

In the meantime, let's relive some great Wildcat memories. We have plenty. Since this would have been opening day, this is the best time to relive some of the best opening day performances.
 
2003: ERIC WEEMS
(Alvin Wyatt, Sr. Era)
The greatest opening night is a no-brainer.

Expectations were high for the defending 2002 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champions. Quarterback Allen Suber was back for his senior season, but could the Wildcats replace Rashean Mathis on defense? Or maybe the likes of Erik Lash on offense, who had caught 64 passes for 1,006 yards and eight touchdowns?

One answer was discovered that August 30, 2003 evening in Jacksonville's Gator Bowl. It was a 62-12 romp over Savannah State that was part celebration as well as coming out party for Weems, a heralded local product out of Seabreeze High School in Ormond Beach, Fla.

Weems' first touch was a four-yard rushing play on the Wildcats' opening drive. He followed that with a nine-yard catch as Bethune-Cookman matriculated the ball 64 yards in eight plays for its first score, an eight-yard Weems run barely five minutes into the game.

His next two touches?

Another eight-yard run and a 26-yard pass from Suber that gave the Wildcats a 21-0 first quarter advantage.

Weems got the rest of the night off after a 56-yarder from Suber with 1:29 remaining in the opening half. His stat line for 30 minutes of work: Three rushes for 20 yards and two touchdowns with five catches for 153 yards and two scores. That's 24 points in eight touches.

Yeah, the Wildcats found a new offensive threat that night. Also, a guy named Nick Collins had the pick that set up Weems' final score. Both went on to NFL careers that included Pro Bowl and Super Bowl appearances.
 
2019: SAM MARC
(Terry Sims Era)
This is also a subtle plug for Wednesday's Re-Air and Interactive Watch Party of last year's MEAC/SWAC Challenge, but Marc's 96-yard scoop and score capped a second half in which the opportunistic Wildcat defense scored twice (Trevor Merritt also had a pick six) and set up another as B-CU [Spoiler Alert] rallied to defeat Jackson State 36-15.

2011: JAMARR ROBINSON
(Brian Jenkins Era)

The Wildcats' quarterback situation was up in the air prior to the opener in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge against Prairie View A&M in Orlando. By the second quarter, the only thing in the air was the ball. Robinson, a Maryland transfer,  totaled 281 yards (251 passing and 30 rushing) and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) as B-CU scored 42 in the first half en route to a 63-14 victory.

1983: BERNARD HAWK AND 1989: MARC MCLACHLAN
(Larry Little era)

The Wildcat NFL Hall of Famer's coaching era began with a 51-0 rout of District of Columbia that featured two Bernard Hawk touchdown passes in the first half. It was a precursor of things to come – a year later Hawk delivered one of the greatest seasons a Wildcat signal caller would ever have as Bethune-Cookman won its first MEAC championship.

McLachlan gets a nod as well as some love for kickers with his three field goal game in a 23-15 victory over UCF that ended a four-game losing skid to the Knights. Those kicks came into play as the defense kept UCF at bay to help a rebuilding Wildcat offense find its footing.

1980: KENNY MCMILLAN
(Bobby Frazier Era)
A transfer from Miami, McMillan shook off early jitters and managed a 10-0 victory over Texas Southern in the Gateway Classic in Jacksonville. He finished with only 89 yards, but connected with Stacy Charles on a seven-yard TD pass in the second quarter that was all the Wildcats needed in a defensive struggle.

1978: MARCUS YOUNG
(Andy Hinson era)

This is for being at the right place at the right time. Young, a defensive end, caught a Texas Southern pitchout in the air and 54 yards later, scored the touchdown that would give Bethune-Cookman an improbable 14-13 win over Texas Southern.
 
1975: BOOKER T. WILLIAMS
(Wesley Moore era)

Bethune-Cookman was a wishbone team in the 70s with powering backs like Williams, who rushed for two scores in a 21-6 victory over Mississippi Valley State in the Daytona International Speedway infield.

1968: ALFRED HAYWOOD
(Cy McClairen era)
One of the fastest backs ever to wear Maroon and Gold, Haywood had three touchdown catches in a 47-6 rout of Morris Brown.

1952: JIM DANIELS
(Bunky Matthews era)
Daniels scored three times as Bethune-Cookman downed Lane 27-0.