Dan Ryan: Woodie's Wildcats Bring B-CU History Full Circle - Bethune-Cookman University Athletics

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Dan Ryan: Woodie's Wildcats Bring B-CU History Full Circle

April 25, 2023

Even Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Raymond Woodie appreciated why I was as equally excited for the alumni breakfast Saturday morning prior to the Spring Game.

"Make sure you get something to eat," he instructed. Oh, I did.

The anticipation had nothing to do with Sodexo's making one excellent breakfast potato. The simple majesty is that when you've been around for two fifths of the football's program centennial, it is good to see and been seen.

And more importantly, feel.

"Lot of energy and excitement in this room," AD Reggie Theus said. He nailed it.

The moment Willie Jackson and I restarted our traditional rendition of singing "Ebony and Ivory" triggered an onslaught of camaraderie, team bonding and appreciation of being part of something bigger and special.

There were the 1973 team members. 1975. The 1984 MEAC Championship team. Coach Alvin Wyatt Sr. A host of other outstanding athletes Some I easily recognized.Some not so, like Todd Walker, who once he identified himself, it was easy to spout "quarterback who also threw the first baseball no-hitter in school history." I have an associative memory. Works most of the time.

(If I saw you Saturday and you are not in this article, my apologies and my assurance that you will be featured in a future opine that will seem to be my focus in these latter days of my career.).

Oh, Bethune-Cookman has provided an infinite of great moments to chronicle. But something needs to be appreciated in being part of the whole picture.

Cases in point. Watching Rashean Mathis have one of the best seasons in FCS history and then years later dropping wisdom at a breakfast like this. Or Nick Collins coming back to coach and swapping stories about our kids. Want the ultimate? Thirty years ago, I typed Woodie's freshman bio. Now he's head coach. Don't tell me I haven't been blessed.

Some people would call that full circle. Not really. This is Daytona. We do laps here. And a new lap is about to begin

Amazing things are happening right now and are going to be in the upcoming future. It feels like it did in 1997 when Wyatt took over.

Be a part of it. See how it feels.

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