Coach Rome, who played collegiately at the University of North Carolina, was chosen from a competitive pool of over 230 applicants that included former NFL players and coaches at every level. But what set him apart was his proven ability to build and elevate programs at HBCUs, along with his commitment to mentorship and community engagement.

“Being selected to build Chicago State’s football program is an honor, and I’m grateful for the trust that President Scott, Dr. Carroll and the entire university have placed in me,” said Rome. “Our visions are aligned. We’re not just building a football team—we’re building something that reflects the pride of the South Side and draws from the legacy of HBCU excellence.”

CSU Athletic Director Dr. Monique Carroll echoed the excitement. “When we began this journey, we were committed to finding a leader who understands not only football, but the cultural and community significance of what we’re doing,” she said. “Coach Rome’s HBCU background and success made him the ideal fit for this role. Today is a historic day for CSU and for Chicago.”

As part of CSU’s vision to bring football to the South Side, an exploratory committee featuring community leaders, former Chicago Bears, high school coaches, and business leaders helped shape the direction of the new program. That spirit of inclusion will continue as Rome begins laying the foundation for the team.

“The future starts now,” said Coach Rome. “Chicago is getting a Division I football team, and it will be rooted in the spirit, culture, and pride that HBCUs have championed for generations. We are ready to get going.”

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Dillard University Bleu Devils

The Dillard Bleu Devils secured their first NAIA tournament berth since 2018 by clinching the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) championship. In a thrilling final, Dillard edged out Philander Smith College with a last-second layup, sealing a 19-11 season record. Entering the tournament as the 15th seed in the Duer Quadrant, they are set to face William Woods University (Mo.), a team riding a 23-game winning streak and boasting a 28-2 record. This matchup presents a formidable challenge for Dillard as they aim to make a deep tournament run. 

Florida Memorial University Lions

The Florida Memorial Lions earned an at-large bid to the tournament after a strong 23-7 season. Despite falling short in the Sun Conference semifinals to eventual champions Ave Maria University, their performance throughout the season secured them the 9th seed in the Naismith Quadrant. They will face Friends University (Kan.) in the opening round, a team that finished as runners-up in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) championship. Florida Memorial’s consistent play and resilience position them well for a competitive tournament showing. 

Langston University Lions

Langston University, an HBCU powerhouse, continues its dominance with a third consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) tournament title, culminating in a 24-7 record. Their championship game showcased resilience, overcoming a late deficit to secure a 65-62 victory over Nelson University. Senior guard Mario McKinney’s clutch performance and Bryce Monroe’s tournament MVP honors highlight the team’s depth and experience. As the 4th seed in the Naismith Quadrant, Langston faces Saint Mary (Kan.), marking their return to the national tournament after a 12-year hiatus. Langston’s recent success and experience make them a team to watch in this year’s tournament. 

Stillman College Tigers

The Stillman Tigers return to the NAIA tournament for the first time since 2022, earning an at-large bid with an 18-11 record. Despite a semifinal loss in the HBCUAC tournament, their strong regular-season performance secured them the 16th seed in the Liston Quadrant. They are set to compete against LSU Alexandria, the Red River Athletic Conference champions with a formidable 28-2 record. This opening-round game presents a significant challenge for Stillman as they aim to advance further in the tournament. 

Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush

The Xavier Gold Rush continue their tradition of excellence with their fifth NAIA tournament appearance in six seasons, holding a 20-9 record. Despite an early exit in the Red River Athletic Conference tournament, their overall performance secured them the 14th seed in the Cramer Quadrant. They will face Ave Maria University (Fla.), the Sun Conference champions. Xavier’s experience and resilience make them a formidable opponent in the tournament. 

The inclusion of these five HBCU teams in the 2025 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship highlights the talent and competitiveness within HBCU athletics. As the tournament unfolds, these teams will not only represent their institutions but also the rich legacy of HBCU basketball on the national stage.

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial University has officially named Michael Jones head coach of its HBCU football program.

“I am grateful and excited to accept the position as head football coach of Florida Memorial University,” said Jones. “I personally want to thank President William McCormick and the FMU Administration for this tremendous opportunity.” 

The FMU Football Program Mission Statement: 

To cultivate an environment that empowers our student-athletes to become better men on and off the field as a direct result of being a part of the program will be the cornerstone of operations under Coach Jones’ tenure.

“What you can expect from our football team is a championship mindset on and off the field,” said Jones. “We will have a team of players that are tough both mentally and physically and that can overcome challenges presented before them. Our team will be built on faith and dedicated to providing service to the general public and the City of Miami Gardens. I am from Miami Gardens, and it’s my belief if you take care of the community, the community will take of  you. We will be a team that competes at a high-level and we will finish our goals in everything we do. We will be an exciting team to watch on Saturdays; we will play with passion, precision, and enthusiasm.”

Jones’ dedication to the team and exceptional coaching abilities have been recognized with many prestigious accolades, including the inaugural 2023 SUN Conference Assistant Coach of the Year, followed by a national award the next year as he was named 2024 AFCA NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year.

“Our staff will motivate and encourage all of our players to achieve a 3.0 grade point average. Our goal is to graduate every student-athlete in four years,” Jones explained. “We will be a family.”

Under his leadership, the program has achieved remarkable milestones and unseen successes. Having coached at Florida Memorial since 2020, serving as the offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach since 2021, he helped lead the team to the most wins in modern history, guiding them to their first SUN Conference victory and their back-to-back SUN Conference Championship appearances in 23-24 and 24-25.

In addition, Jones helped significantly improve the team’s conference record from 0-5 in 2022 to an impressive 5-2 in 2023, culminating in the program’s first winning season with a record of 7-4. In 2024, FMU finished 4-2 in conference play, and 6-3-1 overall.

In 2023, the FMU Lions’ offense averaged 37 points per game, good for third in HBCU football. In 2024, the Lions’ offense averaged 38 points per game, good for second among in HBCU football.

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial University is announcing a change in leadership within its HBCU football program. Coach Bobby Rome, II, who has been at the helm for three seasons, will not return next season as head football coach at FMU.

Under Coach Rome’s guidance, the Lions achieved a record of 15-15-1, including a record of 6-3-1 in his final season. With Rome at the helm, the FMU Lions rewrote the history books and set several school records.

His commitment to the sport and to the student-athletes of FMU has been unwavering, and his contributions have significantly shaped the football program for further success in the future.

A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

Bobby Rome released a public statement on his departure from the HBCU via Facebook, it reads:

Good Morning, Facebook Family,

Sometimes, change is inevitable. After three seasons here in South Florida, the administration at Florida Memorial University decided not to renew my contract and move in a different direction with the football program. This decision came as a surprise and has been a significant challenge for me and my family.

I want to express my gratitude to the student-athletes I had the privilege of working with—helping you grow, develop, and graduate has been an honor. I also extend my thanks to the coaching staff for the collaboration and camaraderie we shared during my time at the University.

As I reflect on this chapter, I’m ready for the next journey, wherever it may lead. Thank you all for your support.

Sincerely,

Coach Rome

About Bobby Rome

Bobby Rome II joined the FMU coaching staff as head football coach for Florida Memorial University in April of 2022.

Rome, a former collegiate and professional football player, has over a decade of head coaching experience, serving as head coach of the HBCU football programs at Central State University and Virginia University of Lynchburg before his stint at FMU.

A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Rome was a four-year starter at quarterback for Granby High School, throwing for more than 1,700 yards as a senior and leading Granby to the Eastern District title.

Rome went on to play for the Tar Heels at UNC from 2006 to 2009. After graduating from UNC in 2009, Rome spent time in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers. After his stint in the NFL, Rome was offered a playing opportunity for the Moscow Patriots in Russia, where he was the team’s star import and lone American player.

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Key to the Lions’ success has been their shooting accuracy and rebounding dominance. With a team shooting percentage of nearly 50% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc, they are capitalizing on high-percentage shots and spreading the floor effectively. Latavious Mitchell and Mohamad Diallo have emerged as offensive leaders, contributing 17.3 and 15.0 points per game, respectively, while also being active on the boards with a combined 8.7 rebounds each per game. Calvin Payton’s 3-point shooting has also provided a boost, hitting 11 of his 26 attempts (42.3%).

Florida Memorial has embodied resilience and skill, especially on the boards. The Lions average a notable 49.0 rebounds per game, outpacing their opponents by 19.3 rebounds. This rebounding edge not only fuels their transition game but also limits second-chance opportunities for opponents, keeping the tempo in Florida Memorial’s favor.

The Lions’ teamwork is evident with an average of 19 assists per game, indicating strong ball movement and unselfish play—a trait many HBCUs take pride in fostering within their athletic programs. The early success of Florida Memorial demonstrates the potential for HBCU programs in the NAIA to compete at a high level while bringing excitement and pride to their communities. As they continue their season, the Lions aim to build on their strong start and establish themselves as a formidable presence in the NAIA.

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“On behalf of the entire FMU football family, we want to extend our deepest condolences to you during this incredibly difficult time,” the account posted on Instagram. “Marcus was more than just an athlete to us; he was a cherished member of our team and community, whose presence made an impact on everyone around him. His dedication, spirit, and kindness will always be remembered, and though he may no longer be with us physically, he will forever remain in our hearts and memories. We will miss him greatly on and off the field. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. If there is anything we can do to support you during this time, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Florida Memorial University is an HBCU located in Miami Gardens. It is one of the most recent additions to HBCU football, starting its program in 2020.

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The Lions were led by first-team All-SUN selection Latavious Mitchell, who finished with a team-high 12 points to go along with eight rebounds before fouling out of the contest. FMU forward Felix Uadiale added 11 points and six boards for the Lions.

Florida Memorial guard Evan Busby generated 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from downtown. Busby added four rebounds, two steals, and one assist while teammates Derrius Ward and Chanze Cruesoe both produced 10 points apiece. Ward was named second-team All-SUN while Busby was named 2024 SUN Men’s Basketball Championship Game MVP.

As a team, FMU generated 26 points off turnovers while scoring 38 points in the paint, dominating the interior.

The Lions now await the NAIA regional selections, which are set to be released next week.

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A rumbling of murmurs rolled through the crowd once the announcement that the postponement of the announcement of the winners rolled through the loudspeakers. 

North Carolina A&T’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine, vying for the Division I title against Jackson State’s Sonic Boom of the South, issued what appeared to be a response to the ruling. The band had already had its “Fifth Quarter” stands performance after the official competition, and was told to load onto its busses. Instead, the BGMM broke out into another song, provoking the Sonic Boom to prepare an impromptu response of its own.

Officials quickly shut that down, reiterating that the bands needed to get to their busses as instructed and that the next band would be docked 30 points on their performance.

“Don’t even think about it,” barked Don Roberts, one of the organizers of the ESPN Band of the Year and a long-time fixture in the Atlanta band world. 

Both A&T and Jackson State, as well as the Virginia State “Trojan Explosion” and “The Roar” from Florida Memorial – will have to wait with the rest of the world to see who will bring home the hardware as the judges tabulate the scores.

Fans and bands were politely but firmly ushered out of the dome as preparations had to get underway for the Celebration Bowl, which was set to kick off in just over 15 hours. 

As the stadium workers prepared to work into the night to make the magic happen, spectators filed out of the stadium and onto the concourse of the dome with anxious energy and a tinge of bewilderment at the course of events.

A group of North Carolina A&T supporters expressed a mix of excitement and confusion after witnessing the event – particularly with no announcement of winners.  

“I mean, some of us are coming to Celebration Bowl but other people aren’t,” one Aggie supporter in a letter jacket shared. 

“Facts,” a gentleman with a BGMM (Blue and Gold Marching Machine) shirt interjected.  “It’s anticlimactic.”

“And none of the bands are performing at the Celebration Bowl so… 

“They bout to go home tomorrow,” a friend added.

“Yeah, so they’re going to find out through social media,” she concluded.

“For an inaugural event – It was quite special,” Barry Harrison said. “Still trying to work out the mechanics of the judging. But the four bands were all excellent in their own way. They all known for their own particular stylings and musicianship. But it was it was quite an event, quite an event. And I’m glad I made the trip from New Orleans to be here to see it.” 

Harrison proudly wore a vintage Southern University letterman’s jacket. He revealed he was a percussionist for the marching band under the tutelage of legendary band director Dr. Issac Greggs. Even though his beloved Human Jukebox didn’t make the cut this round, he still felt the need to come support the ESPN Band of The Year.

“Well, when you when you reach a certain age and a certain level, you just want to see all of us succeed. So like I said, I came all the way from New Orleans,” Harrison continued. “I have come here before for the Honda. I’ve come for the Heritage Bowl. I’ve come for the Pioneer Bowl between the CIAA and SIAC. And I’m just that HBCU guy who just would like to see all of us succeed.”

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“Our president had a vision four years ago to start a bad program when he wanted to bring football to the university. And in our long history, we’ve never had a band program that was established here,” Beckwith told HBCU Gameday. “I was honored that he selected me or interacted with me to get the position. However, this has been like a baby that had to be born. Once we gave birth to the program, the opportunity to just put Florida Memorial and South Florida on the map was, I think, in our hands.”

“And for us to have grown in the four years that we’ve been here to what we’re doing now and to even be recognized by the organization is a great honor. I’ve seen people come up and cry at games because they never expected Florida Memorial to get this kind of notoriety. And we’re very, very grateful as a bandstand to be able to bring this kind of attention to South Florida and to our university.”

It wasn’t easy. The first football season was set for 2020 – which brought along the COVID-19 pandemic. FMU was the only HBCU to play football that season, playing a handful of games before being shut down. 

The band continued to improve out of the purview of many in the HBCU world. Florida Memorial University competes in football at the NAIA level, and only faces a handful of HBCUs per year because of that. Even when the Band of The Year concept was announced, there wasn’t much of a buzz about FloMo, but the proof was in the rankings.

FMU ranked second in September, turning heads with its selection over marching bands in the Division II/NAIA category with much more extensive history. It maintained top three status in each of the the three months. Co-Chair Dowell Taylor, Band Director Emeritus at Jackson State University, talked about what impressed him the most. 

“I was impressed with their mannerisms, the way they carried themselves, the way they handled their instrument carriage, the way they handled their total body form,” Taylor told HBCU Gameday. “And I was very impressed with the fact that everybody was in tune with each other. Everybody knew, and I recall seeing some adjusted steps in some of your maneuvers. I saw some curvilinear forms in your maneuvers.”

Florida Memorial will be competing against one of the oldest HBCU bands, Virginia State University, for the national title at the D2/NAIA level. Whatever happens, Dr. Beckwith is proud of what his band has accomplished in such a short amount of time. 

“From the day that I was handed the position, we declared that one day we were going to be amongst the best,” he said. “Like we literally said it in the interview, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to actually showcase what we’re doing more than anything.

And I’m grateful to God for, you know, the prophecy and just being able to speak it out, walk in it every day and tell the students every day, listen, do it the right way, do it with integrity. Go hard every single time, show your your effort and good things will come. So this is a manifestation.”

The Band of The Year competition is set for Dec. 15 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

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Jackson State leads the SWAC with nearly 30k. That’s an impressive number, but it is a significant drop from its 2022 number. Norfolk State got a slight bump as it led the MEAC. North Carolina A&T got another sellout it’s first season in the CAA.

Here are the numbers of attendance at each HBCU homecoming game. All numbers were taken from official box scores from each school’s athletic website.

MEAC

Norfolk State-24,976

South Carolina State-22,269

North Carolina Central-13,626

Howard-7,684

Delaware State-6,300

Morgan State-Canceled

SWAC

Jackson State-30,947

Alabama A&M-26,391

Florida A&M-22,338

Southern-21,492

Alcorn State-21,012

Alabama State-17,995

Prairie View A&M-14,224

Arkansas-Pine Bluff-13,469

Bethune-Cookman-9,458

Mississippi Valley State-8,752

Grambling State-8,657

Texas Southern-6,352

CAA

North Carolina A&T-21,500

Hampton-13,811

CIAA

Winston-Salem State-8,200

Virginia Union-5,250

Shaw-5,022

Livingstone – 4,501

Bowie State-4,395

St. Augustine’s-3,719

Fayetteville State-3,680

Elizabeth City State-3,579

Johnson C. Smith-3,452

Virginia State-3,409

Lincoln (PA)-2,117

Bluefield State-N/A

SIAC

Tuskegee-31,726

Clark Atlanta-19,597

Savannah State-12,723

Fort Valley State-12,113

Morehouse-10,213

Benedict-8,589

Albany State-8,371

Kentucky State-2,898

Edward Waters-2,472

Lane-1,753

Allen-905

Central State-N/A

Miles-N/A

Other

Tennessee State-13,975

West Virginia State-3,954

Lincoln (MO)-3,333

Virginia University-Lynchburg-1,753

Florida Memorial-1,200

Langston-N/A

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | Florida Memorial football has named former NFL star Terence Garvin as Co-Defensive Coordinator.

“I’m thankful to Coach Bobby Rome, AD Horn, and the Florida Memorial community for this opportunity,” Garvin explained. “I am excited to put my hand in the pile and go to work and lead this defense to success. I am focused on the mission, and eager to attack it.”

Garvin joined FMU in the summer of 2022 as linebackers coach, defensive run-game coordinator and assistant special teams coordinator. Prior to his coaching debut, he played in the NFL for a total of six seasons, including stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Washington Redskins (now Commanders), the Seattle Seahawks, and the Miami Dolphins.

“When you ask around the football community about Terence Garvin, people consistently have a lot of respect for his knowledge of the game,” said FMU head football coach Bobby Rome. “Coach Garvin works extremely hard and values his opportunity here at FMU, and we’re happy to have him on our coaching staff.”

Following his time in the NFL, Garvin played in the inaugural Alliance of American Football League for the Orlando Apollos, then joined the XFL as a member of the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Coach Garvin is a Baltimore native who attended and played football at the University of West Virginia. During his time with the Mountaineers, he was a member of the BCS Orange Bowl Championship team that defeated Clemson in record fashion 70-33, breaking eight separate team and individual bowl game records.

n his first season with the FMU Lions, Garvin coached the linebackers who produced the conference’s leading tackler, Joshua Mimms. The FMU linebacker finished with 100 tackles in 2022. In the same season, the Lions defense finished first in the NAIA in tackles for loss.

Garvin has been coached by NFL greats like Dick Labeu, Mike Tomlin, Pete Carroll, and many more.

“Coach T-Garv is a dog,” said Jameel Smith, who is splitting duties with Garvin as Co-Defensive Coordinator. 

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. | With five seconds left in the 2022 Big Cat Classic, Florida Memorial defensive back Darius Conley sealed the deal with an interception to capture a 39-34 victory over the Tigers of Edward Waters in a fantastic battle between the two Florida programs in the first HBCU classic of the year. Despite trailing 26-0 at halftime, the Tigers stormed back to score three touchdowns in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough as FMU prevented a repeat from last season, this time holding on to victory by forcing a turnover on the final possession.

Florida Memorial head coach Bobby Rome earned his first career victory at FMU as his team stays undefeated in a thriller heading into next week’s big contest in Baton Rouge against Southern University.

“Going into the game we were really eager to get on the field and show some of the things we’ve been working on during the off-season and all through training camp,” said Rome. “I think we have an outstanding coaching staff and a great group of men who are willing to go out and work hard, because they put the work in. I was eager to see what we would do on Saturday, and I’m proud of the outcome. I’m proud of the way my team came out and performed, and hopefully we get another victory next weekend against Southern.”

Florida Memorial scored on its opening drive on a 10-play, 69 yard drive that resulted in a touchdown pass from quarterback Antoine Williams to wide out Markell Lee. After the Lions defense forced a three-and-out, Williams connected with Lee on an 18-yard touchdown pass on another 10-play drive, this time covering 64 yards.

Later in the quarter, FMU’s defense made a crucial play and caused a 4th down fumble when Jaiden Louis jarred the ball loose from Tigers running back David Johnson. FMU linebacker Joshua Mimms recovered the fumble to end the drive for the Tigers.

The Lions scored another two touchdowns in the second quarter; the first coming off a 62-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Christian Edger. FMU’s defense stepped up again and returned the ball to the offense, when Williams fumbled the ball inside the red zone which was recovered by EWU. However, FMU scored again later in the quarter on a 5-yard rushing touchdown from sophomore running back and Miami native George Young.

Check here for a complete list of HBCU classic games this fall.

“Edward Waters is a good football program, so at halftime, I told them that we have to be ready to take that blow in the second half and be able to execute and finish when we need to, and we did that tonight,” Coach Rome explained. “I’m so proud of our young men; we found a way to win and we found a way to pull it out. That’s what good football teams do.”

Edward Waters came to play in the third quarter, scoring three touchdowns, cutting the deficit to 32-21 heading into the fourth quarter. The Tigers added an additional two touchdowns and looked to complete the comeback, but a late fourth-quarter 1-yard touchdown run from Young proved to be the game-winning score.

For the game, Williams was 25-for-36 with 382 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while Young rushed for a total of 134 yards and three touchdowns. On the defensive end, Mimms produced a team-high nine tackles while teammate and sophomore defensive lineman Antwan Davis produced a game-high four sacks. The Miami native also added eight tackles in the victory.

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Florida Memorial University’s Director of Athletics, Jason Horn, names a new head coach to lead the Lions’ football team. Bobby Rome II will be at the helm as FMU enters its third season since the relaunch of the football program after a 62-year hiatus.

Rome, who is set to begin his tenure in May, is the second head coach in the modern era of FMU football.

Horn emphasizes the care and diligence that he and the search committee took in selecting the next head football coach, and how excited he is about what the program can achieve under Rome’s direction.

“The process was thorough and intentional as we conducted the search for our next head football coach,” Horn said. “We had a tremendous amount of solid interest in our program. Coach Rome will continue the work our team has done to build a championship-caliber football program”

A native of Norfolk, Va., Rome comes to Miami Gardens after spending two seasons serving as the head football coach at fellow HBCU, Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, and with eight years of overall experience as a collegiate head football coach.

“”I am ecstatic to accept the head football coach position at Florida Memorial University,” Rome said. “President Hardrick and Athletic Director Jason Horn speak my language. My minimum standard is graduating student-athletes, but I am extremely encouraged to know that achieving excellence, across the board, with regard to the student-athlete experience, is a priority for this administration and University.”

During his time leading CSU, Rome signed a Top-100 rated recruiting class heading into the 2021 season — including the eventual 2021 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year; had players earn a combined three SIAC Player of the Week honors; and had two players participate in the FBS Tropical Senior Bowl and HBCU Legacy Bowl.

Rome’s coaching career includes two seasons as the head football coach at the University of Virginia-Lynchburg, where he also served as the institution’s athletic director. He also spent four years as the head coach at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia. While coaching internationally, Rome directed all aspects of the program while serving as an American ambassador for the sport of football in Russia.

During his time at VUL, Rome was named the 2018 Small College Sport Report National Coach of the Year.

Prior to his coaching career, Rome enjoyed a successful playing career. He was a four-year starter at quarterback for Granby High School in Norfolk, Va., throwing more than 1,700 yards as a senior and leading Granby to the Eastern District title. He went on to play for the University of North Carolina from 2006 to 2009, playing in 49 games during his collegiate career as a fullback.

After graduating from UNC in 2009, Rome spent time in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Pittsburgh Steelers. After his stint in the NFL, Rome played internationally for the Moscow Patriots.

Rome will coach his first game with the Lions on August 27, when Florida Memorial University is set to host in-state HBCU rival Edward Waters University in the second football meeting of the “Big Cat Classic.”

“Our staff is going to do everything we can to prepare our students to become successful individuals on and off the field,” Rome said. “Our goal is to produce young men that the FMU community can be proud of.”

Florida Memorial University will host an on-campus news conference introducing Rome in May.

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Florida Memorial University announced Wednesday that head football coach Tim “Ice” Harris is resigning from his position.
 
FMU Director of Athletics Jason Horn confirmed that the athletic department will begin a national search for its next head football coach. Horn also confirmed that Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line coach Pierre Senatus will serve as the interim head coach.
 
“We respect Coach Harris’ decision to step down and certainly wish him well in the future. The University appreciates him being the first head coach after the 62-year hiatus with our football program. As we begin the next chapter, our focus remains to build a championship-level program.”

FMU football had its first-ever All-Mid-South Conference Sun Division First and Second Team performers, and their first-ever Mid-South Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week honorees in 2021 under head coach Tim “Ice” Harris.
 
The football program will join all other FMU athletic programs as a member of the Sun Conference, as the NAIA-affiliated conference has added football to its ledger.

More on Tim “Ice” Harris

The former head coach at Miami’s Booker T. Washington, led the program to three state championships, including 2013 national championships as well as being a three-time winner of the Florida Dairy Farmers Coach of the Year Award.

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“We are excited to partner with the Miami Dolphins Social Impact Committee and Lennar Foundation to launch the FMU Construction Trades Certificate Program,” said Dr. Jaffus Hardrick, President, Florida Memorial University. “This program will provide residents in underserved communities throughout Miami-Dade, Miami Gardens and Opa Locka the opportunity to develop career skills to help fill the talent gaps in the construction industry.”

FMU’s Certificate Program in Construction Trades will work with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Associated Builders and Contractors Institute (ABC) to develop curriculum, lab material, transportation, and industry-recognized credentials. Upon completion of the program, participants will have the ability to receive several certifications including OSHA 10, NCCER Blue Card, NCCER Level 1 and a Program Completion Certificate from ABC will receive a certification in an Electrical, HVAC or Plumbing trade.

“The thing I love about this program is that it gives people an opportunity, and in some cases, a second chance,” said Dolphins player Patrick Laird. “Most people want a job and the ability to provide for themselves, not a handout. This program can give someone a great start to a lifelong career where they can become their own boss.”

“In many parts of America, people aren’t afforded the opportunity to grow up in neighborhoods with well-funded school, effective after school programs, or economic opportunities,” said Dolphins player Byron Jones. “This program fills the gap that many people of underserved communities fall into. Whether you’re a high school dropout or have a criminal history, this program gives people a chance to develop career skills that will change their lives for the better.”

“The Lennar Foundation is honored to partner with the Miami Dolphins Social Impact Committee in sponsoring the Residential Construction Skills Certification Program at Florida Memorial University. We know that such training can not only lead to a career that averages compensation of over $51,000 a year but can also lead to owning one’s own company. Many of Lennar’s current Trade Partners started as skilled laborers themselves.” noted Marshall Ames, Chairman of the Lennar Foundation.

The Miami Dolphins Social Impact Committee was formed by players to positively impact civic engagement, education and economic empowerment. Previously, the committee donated $100,000 to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Fines and Fees program, which assists returning citizens who have outstanding fees to complete their sentences and become eligible to vote. In addition, the committee gave $300,000 to public schools in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties to bridge the digital divide and assist with wireless technology for underserved students.

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Dr. Jaffus Hardwick released a statement on Friday which explained Jones would be leaving his role to pursue other opportunities.

“Today, AD Jones resigned as the athletic director,” Dr. Jaffus said via statement. “I have asked Ms. Chevonne Mansfield, Deputy Athletic Director, to serve as the Interim Athletic Director to manage daily operations of the department. She brings 15 years of experience in college athletics with NCAA Division I institutions.”

Men’s soccer was also canceled. This move comes just days after FMU announced that women’s volleyball and women’s soccer would not finish their seasons. 

FMU has made headlines over the past two weeks after students and parents expressed concern at the school’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Hardwick has maintained that the school does not have a COVID-19 outbreak. 

Online/offline accusations against Florida Memorial AD

HBCU Gameday has spent the last two weeks speaking to current and former student-athletes, current and former coaches, as well as others with ties to the Florida Memorial program. Alleged sexual misconduct by Jones was a common theme amongst those whom we spoke with. Some cited hear-say while others recounted their experiences with us.

Another was an account by a source who claims Jones impregnated their cousin, who was a cheerleading intern, and paid her off. Dr. Hardwick stated that he was aware of the allegation, but that her family vehemently denied Jones was the father of the child.

All sources chose to remain anonymous for fear of retribution within the athletic department and the school.

Twice in the past week, petitions calling for Jones’ removal as AD appeared on the internet. The first of which received 777 signatures in just a few days before being taken down. The latest was posted earlier this week, referring to Jones as a “sexual predator.”

We asked Dr. Hardrick last week about the claims against Jones. He said the university had done their due diligence, investing the claims brought to them. At the time, he said he found no reason to relieve Jones of his duties.

“When you are cleaning up an organization, and you’re trying to establish accountability, there will always be those who will come out and make allegations of any kind,” Dr. Hardwick said. “But the bottom line is, they know that my door is always open. And its wrong for them to say that…’well I allow AD Jones to operate any way that he wants. No, that’s just not factual.

They may not see the results that they want which is ‘oh well we want him out.”

Now it appears that Jones has shown himself the door. 

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Here’s the official release:

Football, basketball forge ahead

However, sources tell HBCU Gameday that there is a COVID-19 outbreak among the women’s soccer program. As many as 14 members of the soccer program, including coaches, have tested positive according to these sources.

“We still have a couple of those players who are coming out of quarantine,” Dr. Jaffus Hardrick, President of FMU told HBCU Gameday on Tuesday. And they just didn’t feel like they wanted to jump out there and play.  The majority of them said we want to play, but out of caution said no.”

This news comes almost two weeks after members of the volleyball program tested positive for COVID-19 following a Sept. 30 volleyball game. The team’s coach, Marrita Crockett-Moulton, was suspended after members of the program voiced concern. She was later reinstated. Dr. Harwick said volleyball was the only sport that elected not to play as a team.

“Football, 100 percent said they want to play,” he said. “Player and coaches. Men’s and women’s basketball said they want to play and they wanted to play with fans.”

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A report from the Miami Times stated that Harris had been fired as head coach early Thursday afternoon. Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell stated that Harris had been suspended, not fired. The school later released a statement that Harris, along with volleyball coach Marrita Crockett-Moulton were both still employed at the University.

HBCU Gameday reached out to Florida Memorial for comment on the status of both those coaches, as well as cheer coach Kalyn James who has reportedly been fired after our initial report. Our request remains in queue, however, James’ status was not answered by the school.

AD has numbers, won’t release them

Jones told HBCU Gameday on Tuesday that, although he is aware of the number of student-athletes that have tested positive, he is not at liberty to disperse the information. Nor is it in his hands.

“My job as the athletics director is to get the information to the people on campus. And then the school moves it from there,” Jones said.

“The health and safety of our students, of our student-athletes, of our faculty and staff is at the forefront of every decision that we make,” he said. “We don’t make any decisions at Florida Memorial University without thinking about our students, our student-athletes, our faculty and our staff. Me, in particular as the director of athletics, I’m here because of these young people. And because of this staff. I’m never going to jeopardize their health, their wellness– any of that stuff. It will never happen as long as I’m the AD.”

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Multiple sources tell HBCU Gameday that there is a COVID-19 outbreak at the university, with many cases involving student-athletes. One coach and at least one player tested positive for COVID-19 one day after being forced to play a volleyball game in a crowded gym. They also claim information about the number of COVID positive results is not being made available to them. 

HBCU Gameday spoke with people associated with the volleyball team. One is a current volleyball player. One is a former volleyball player. Both have asked for anonymity for fear of potential loss of scholarships. The third is an employee who tested positive for COVID-19 after the Sept. 30 game. All three say that they feel FMU does not care.

“We feel that this school is not taking the right precautions and following protocol in order to help us contain the situation,” the source said.

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The current player said that the volleyball team expressed their displeasure with returning to the court as early as this summer. The student-athlete says that Ernest Jones, the school’s Director of Athletics, threatened to take their scholarships if they didn’t compete.

“He basically made us play because our scholarship was at risk. Without the scholarship we cannot study, we cannot play. The whole team is international, basically, just one player is from here. So we really need the scholarships.”

The employee echoed the player’s sentiment.

“We kind of figured already that the situation was going to get worse,” the employee said. “What we didn’t want was for halfway through the season it to get worse and that be it for the girls.”

The current player said that things started off okay early in the year, but it quickly fell off. Then things took a big dive last week just before the game took place.

“There were students not wearing their mask. There was no social distancing in the game,” the player said. “There was no control of anyone. It was like crazy.”

A video interview from BCSN featuring Jones and Provost Adrienne Cooper showed a parade of student-athletes walking onto the gym floor and fist-bumping masked administrators. Official attendance was listed as zero, but there were spectators in the stands.

The day after the game, Oct. 1, the team decided to go off-site and get tested on its own. Two days after testing negative, a coach and player received positive results.

The player says her teammate tested positive and was told she needed to relocate to a hotel and pay for her transportation.

“You’re telling her dad you’re going to take care of her, taking her to the hotel,” she said. “And now you’re telling our coach to tell her to take an Uber? What kind of professionalism is that. What kind of AD are you?”

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Director of Athletics Ernest T. Jones made the announcement on Friday morning.

“These are challenging times and we have to remain flexible in our scheduling at the college level. Although I am disappointed to lose our home opener vs. Keiser, I’m excited to play St. Thomas, our Miami Gardens rival, in our first home game of the season on Oct. 10, which is also our Homecoming game.”

Additionally, Florida Memorial and Keiser have agreed to a weekend schedule change as FMU men’s soccer will also move their Oct. 3 contest vs. the Seahawks to a later date.

FMU reinstated its football program after more than 60 years and played its first game in September. The Lions are still looking for their first win, but obviously, getting back on the field might be a challenge.

The state of Florida has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions, and the state has seen its infection rates soar in many places. 

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MIAMI LAKES, Fla. — With its first football game in over 61 years less than three days away, Florida Memorial University’s football team took to the practice field Wednesday morning at Dade Christian High School’s Wooten Field.

The Lions, who will travel to face defending Sun Division (Mid-South Conference) champs and preseason conference-favorite Keiser University this coming Saturday, went through a two-hour practice session that included a few highlight plays.

HIGH-INTENSITY
Since starting their fall camp just under a month ago, the level of intensity of the Lions’ practices have been on a crescendo arc leading up to the start of the regular season.

Even FMU’s coaching the staff was brimming with excitement and energy Wednesday — as multiple coaches yelled and jumped around with the players during pre-practice warmups as Hip-Hop music blared from speakers on the sideline.

“[You’ve] gotta love this,” yelled Lions linebackers coach Sabbath Joseph. “I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else but this.”

Because football — and sports in general — has been pushed to the brink of a possible COVID-19-driven hiatus; athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the sport have been working with what seems to be a new appreciation and energy.

That energy was evident as the players went through individual drills — with audible thuds from players crashing into sleds, the cracking of pads colliding, and the grunts of effort as players sprinted from one end of the field to the other.

LOOKING IMPRESSIVE
One of those highlight plays came from senior running back Crispian Atkins. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound ball carrier took a handoff and darted to his left to get outside, put on a quick hesitation move, then stiff-armed a would-be tackler before the play was blown dead.

Atkins, a Plant City, Florida native, has quickly established himself as a No. 1 type-back — to be expected of a transfer coming in from a Division-I FBS school. Atkins spent three seasons at the University of Miami before electing to finish his collegiate career in Miami Gardens with the Lions and has already shown the skillset that allowed him to amass over 1,600 all-purpose offensive yards his senior year of high school.

EXTRA WORK
While Atkins and the Lions offense had its fair share of success Wednesday, FMU’s defensive coaches apparently weren’t too happy with the performance of the defense.

At the conclusion of practice, the defensive players had to do extra sprints as an admonishment.

It’s commonplace for coaches to have to the players of whichever side “loss the day” put in extra conditioning work, and the Lions’ defense got the short end of the stick Wednesday.

“The offense will win some days, the defense will win some days,” Florida Memorial University head football coach Tim “Ice” Harris Sr. said. “The coaches weren’t pleased with the defense today, so they’re getting in some extra work. Ultimately, we want to see both sides of the ball continue to compete and practice with goof effort and energy.”

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The initiative is part of the NFL’s ongoing commitment to preparing students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities for careers in football administration and sport business. 

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“We look forward to partnering with FMU Athletics in promoting the NFL Campus Connection initiative,” said Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “Campus Connection celebrates, honors and drives awareness of opportunities for students of color in professional football beyond the field of play.” 

Through Campus Connection, the NFL will support Florida Memorial students with career development opportunities such as involvement in career fairs, case study programs, and the Executive Leaders Series hosted by NFL personnel.  Student support will also include participation in the HBCU Careers in Football Forum and consideration for the NFL Experienceship program which provides nominated students hands-on experience and networking opportunities.  

Among other programs, FMU will host their annual townhall in which NFL personnel will participate, the first annual career fair in collaboration with the Miami Dolphins, and the Election Day Vote initiative. 

“We are proud to make this investment with FMU in partnership with the NFL to create greater access and opportunities for students,” said Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs Jason Jenkins. “These programs and initiatives will give students better insight for careers in sports business and strengthen the overall talent pipeline.”  

“We are extremely excited to collaborate with the NFL and provide our students with career development opportunities,” said FMU Athletics Director Ernest T. Jones. “This relationship will bring value to both FMU and the NFL. Our students will benefit from the networking and mentorship opportunities, and the NFL will benefit from the ideas that our students put forth as a result of these initiatives.”  

Campus Connection is just one of several HBCU-focused programs the NFL has implemented to recognize and strengthen its relationships with HBCUs across the country. 

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MIAMI, Florida – The Florida Memorial University football team held its first full practice of the new academic year on Monday. FMU, who is resuming football after a 61-year hiatus, has high hopes for their 2020 campaign under the direction of head coach Timothy Harris, who is entering his first year with the program. 

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The Lions were on campus for the first day as they practiced at Harry T. Moore Field because Betty T. Ferguson Complex is not yet open to the public. 

After months of Zoom meetings and weeks of voluntary workouts, the players showed significant retention level going through their first team practice together. Since early March, Florida Memorial football had to resort to making most of its program progress virtually during physical distancing throughout the pandemic.

Full pads aren’t scheduled to be put on until practice No. 5. Until then, players will continue to reacclimate to football in the Florida heat and humidity while creating championship habits under the guidance of the coaching staff.

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Florida Memorial National Alumni Association President Rochelle Hill has already expressed the group’s efforts to fundraise for the season.

“Fundraising is the biggest thing that we are doing right now,” Hill said. “Bernard Jennings gave a thousand tonight, and we have other alumni that gave $5,000. We just another fundraising, and we have another fundraiser where all the proceeds will go to football. We want to make sure it[football season] happens, so we are prepared to make sure we raise the money needed.”

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Flag football, which was announced as FMU’s 11th varsity sport in May 2020, is slated to begin Spring 2021.

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new coaches, new programs

Pedro Herrera was named as FMU’s first head softball coach of softball while Jonathan Alvarez was tabbed the women’s inaugural flag football coach.

Herrera comes to Florida Memorial University after serving as head softball coach at Broward College before his season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During Herrera’s time at Broward, all players maintained a 3.0 or better grade-point average.

“I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to build the Florida Memorial University softball program,” Herrera said. “I want to thank Ernest T. Jones for the opportunity. We want to recruit the best student-athletes in the country, and I can’t wait to get started.”

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Flag Football and softball in Miami-Dade

In Alvarez, the Lions bring in a coach that has an extensive history in Flag Football in the state of Florida and previously served as the girl’s flag football offensive coordinator at Mater Academy High School in Hialeah Gardens, Florida.

“I want to thank Florida Memorial University for giving me the opportunity to lead the Lions in their inaugural collegiate flag football season,” Alvarez said. “I am extremely excited for the season to begin and to compete in this league. Flag football runs deep in Miami-Dade County’s veins, and we finally get to showcase what our women can do on the football field.”

The addition of softball and women’s flag football allows Florida Memorial University to continue to meet Title IX gender equity compliance requirements. FMU’s other recent women’s sports addition was beach volleyball in 2020.

“A myriad of factors go into not only adding a sport, but finding the right one for your university and athletics profile,” Jones said. “We believe we have an opportunity to immediately compete at the highest collegiate level. Additionally, we will attract new students from across the country and support our goal of providing women with more opportunities to participate in sports.”

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Consider another glass ceiling broken.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced Monday that it will be adding women’s flag football as a sanctioned varsity sport to its ledger beginning in 2021, and Florida Memorial University will be one of the initial schools to start a flag football program.

Thanks to a two-year partnership with the National Football League (NFL) and Reigning Champs Experience (RCX), the NAIA will work to develop league infrastructure and operations for the first women’s flag football competition governed by a collegiate athletics association.

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“Football is for everyone,” NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent said. “This groundbreaking and historic joint venture provides an opportunity for the values, fun and competitive environment of football to be enjoyed as a varsity sport by female student-athletes attending NAIA institutions across America.”

In adding flag football, Florida Memorial will have 12 total athletic programs — seven of which being women’s sports.

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FMU Athletics Director Ernest T. Jones said that adding flag football continues to push forward with the new direction of Lions athletics.

“This is very exciting and very energizing news,” Jones said. “Adding women’s flag football to the list of sports that we offer here at Florida Memorial University means that the amount of lives that we get to impact as an institution of higher education grows. More young women will have the opportunity to pursue their academic and athletic goals and potentially change their lives and their families’ lives.”

“We look forward to building a flag football program that follows in the footsteps of all our other sports programs — one that chases academic excellence and championships,” Jones said.

Also, Jones confirmed that a head coach for the Lions’ program will be named at a later date.

The NAIA will begin working with NFL FLAG and RCX immediately to outline competition guidelines and next steps for schools and conferences interested in instituting women’s flag. The first competitive season will be held in the spring of 2021.  

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As the official operating partner of NFL FLAG and the NAIA Showcases, RCX will help facilitate women’s collegiate flag football across the NAIA and drive participation through women’s flag football NAIA Showcases. The NAIA will host its first Showcase open to female football athletes in the late summer or early fall of 2020.

The NAIA will host an emerging sport or invitational championship in the spring of 2022. An emerging sport in the NAIA is defined as at least 15 participating institutions, while invitational can be defined as at least 25. A sport must have a minimum of 40 participating institutions to be considered for full championship status. 

In addition to the women’s flag football initiative, the NFL will serve the presenting sponsor of the 2020 NAIA Football National Championship, scheduled for Saturday, December 19 at Eddie G. Robinson Stadium at Grambling University in Grambling, La.

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Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social mediaInstagram: @GoFMULions | Twitter: @GoFMULions | YouTube: Official FMU LionsPrint Friendly Version

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