November Pressure Cooker: Why the Next Month Could Shape the Next Few Years of Bethune-Cookman Football

Bethune-Cookman football is entering a defining chapter, as November stands to be an evaluation and culture-shaping month that could impact the program for years to come. 

The little private school on “Da Beach”, who thrives on overcoming obstacles and doing more with less, is facing one of the toughest stretches in its 101-year history of playing football. In fact, you would have to look back almost 40 years to find a low point even close to what Wildcat fans have witnessed over the past 4 seasons. 

This article will try to highlight why the next four games represent not only an opportunity for redemption for the current coaching staff and squad; but a potential beachhead from which the Wildcats can launch as they attempt to ascend to the top of the mountain that is HBCU football.

A Historic Struggle with Consequences

The Wildcats are spiraling in one of the worst four-year runs that Bethune-Cookman football has ever endured and everyone feels the weight of this moment. The stakes are higher than ever for the coaching staff to chart a new course and improve on its 1-7 record.

A former Bethune-Cookman football player recently shared some valuable insight with me. He  pointed out that this season’s lineup of games offers some uniquely relevant comparisons. BCU has played or will play 10 games this year against SWAC, FCS, and Division II competition. 8 of those 10 matchups will be against teams with first- or second-year head coaches. When you consider Coach Raymond Woodie Jr. is in his second year, it presents a fair basis for comparison to measure the development and progression of this year’s Bethune-Cookman team against those other squads with first and second year guys.

Reasonable conclusions can be drawn when you consider the shared realities between BCU and so much of its competition this season. To take it a step further, it would be irresponsible to not have reasonable expectations or hold this program accountable for their performances when the like for like comparisons are so abundant.

The Revenue Angle

Despite BCU’s lackluster on-field performance, the program isn’t operating without resources. Could things be better…well course. Could they be worse? That’s also true. But this current team has the luxury of a brand new on-campus artificial turf practice field. They have a new on-campus locker room. And they have access to the same on-campus grass practice field that Wesley Moore, Alvin Wyatt, and Brian Jenkins’ championship teams practiced on.

According to the July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023 EADA report, BCU’s athletic department generated $13,636,502 in revenue. This figure is the fifth-highest in the SWAC and trailed only Southern, Alabama State, Alabama A&M, and Prairie View A&M during the same timeframe. The financial report at least suggests that there are enough raw resources to work with to be competitive. 

This is especially true when comparing BCU to fellow SWAC programs like Jackson State ($12,821,652)  and Florida A&M ($13,172,315), and even MEAC powerhouses like North Carolina Central ($11,339, 477) and South Carolina State ($13,271,355) —all of whom generated less revenue during the same timeframe but achieved better results on the field. 

When analyzing Bethune-Cookman’s 2024 EADA, the overall department revenue dropped precipitously from the year prior. Football specific expenses dropped from $5,270,780 in 2023 to $4,683,961 in 2024 which represents an 11.13% decrease. 

Despite the decrease in football expenses, BCU still outspent Jackson State ($2,867,733) by almost $2 million in 2024. 

November to Remember: Head to Head Evaluations Against First-Year Head Coaches in the SWAC

Considering BCU Athletics’ revenue is commensurate with its SWAC counterparts, let’s rule out the lack of resources as a factor in the team’s ongoing struggles. Instead, we can turn our attention to the field and make evaluations based on a) how this team has looked so far this season; and b) how the guys in maroon and gold will close out the year against similarly suited teams given the fact that all four games in November are against SWAC foes with first year head coaches: 

• Grambling State: Head Coach Mickey Joseph

• Southern: Head Coach Terrence Graves

• Texas Southern: Head Coach Cris Dishman

• Florida A&M: Head Coach James Colzie.

The indictment against the Wildcats heading into these four contests is that the first year guys at GSU (4-4), SU (4-4), TxSU (3-4), and FAMU (4-3) have all won multiple games and are all floating around .500.

Considering this, the logical question is why does Bethune only have one win to this point?

With each passing week, the doubts surrounding this coaching staff, this team, and this program will only grow more and more if the team continues to struggle to find success. 

On the other hand, winning a few of these last games would do more than boost this year’s record; it would send a message that Bethune-Cookman can compete with programs under similar rebuilding timelines and lay a foundation for a culture of competitiveness for the future. Even a few close losses could help build the case for Coach Woodie and his staff.

Transfer Portal and Roster Revamp: A Double-Edged Sword

Another crucial aspect of BCU’s rebuilding process that’s under the microscope is its utilization of the transfer portal. With 24 transfers on the roster this season, Coach Woodie has tapped into the potential of the portal to expedite a roster overhaul. However, the lack of return on that investment raises questions: has this transfer infusion truly moved the needle, or are we still looking for players to buy into the program’s culture and vision? What’s a reasonable amount of time supporters should expect for players to create cohesion, a shared sense of purpose, and a belief that winning here is possible?

That brings us to a hard lesson from earlier this season: Division II Clark Atlanta, winless in 2023, came into Daytona under a first-year coach, Teddy Keaton, and they walked away with a victory. Clark now sits at 5-2-1, and are assured of a winning record. This moment should serve as both a wake-up call and a challenge for BCU: if Clark can build a winning culture in such a short period, Bethune-Cookman supporters have every reason to demand the same.

What Needs to Happen in the Next Four Games

So, what does BCU need to accomplish over the next month to steer the program toward a stronger future?

1. Competitive Performances: The Wildcats need to play these next four games with consistent intensity and execution. They can’t just play well for a play, or a series, or a quarter, or a half. Football is a 60 minute game so play well to the end.

Close games, even if they end in narrow losses, will show that the team is competitive and progressing. Blowouts, however, would be another setback and may undermine the confidence of players and fans alike.

2. Defensive Accountability: The Wildcats have given up a staggering amount of yardage this season and rank last in the conference in total defense (490 ypg). To frustrate matters, a huge part of playing well on defense is effort and intensity; and effort and intensity are not something you can have questioned as a football team. To stand a chance against these upcoming SWAC teams, and to begin to rewrite the narrative around this program, the defense must prioritize tackling, play with some passion, and limit explosive plays. Or as Coach Woodie often states: play with technique, fundamentals, and attention to detail. 

3. Offensive Improvement: The Wildcats’ offense looked as good as it had all season this past Saturday in the first half of the Jackson State game. Build on that. Play that way for 4 quarters and the offense should be fine.  Quarterback Luke Sprague, running back Dennis Palmer, and wide receiver Lorenze Jenkins have all shown flashes recently. All three skill players are eligible to return next season. Couple that with several freshmen offensive linemen who have made their way into the starting lineup and you’re starting to create a foundation for the future on offense. 

4. Cultural Cohesion: A consistent challenge for programs in rebuild mode is achieving cultural buy-in from players, especially with so many new faces. The next four games should reveal whether the team has developed any resiliency and buy-in; or if there is more work to do in bringing this roster together.

5. Winning at Least Two Games: BCU needs to demonstrate progress with wins. Capturing at least two victories over the next four games would signal the Wildcats are building forward momentum. Coach Woodie led BCU to 3 wins in his first season so anything less has to be considered a failure. A couple of wins against these SWAC foes would resonate through recruiting pipelines, fan engagement, and player morale, setting the tone for next year.

Building for the future

These next few matchups are more than just a series of games—they are a critical moment to shape the program’s identity and trajectory for years to come. It is an honest opportunity to assess where BCU stands relative to programs dealing with similar realities. Now is the time for the Wildcats to demonstrate that they are capable of competing and winning consistently. 

This November will be remembered. The question is will it be remembered as the month BCU football began its resurgence or as another missed opportunity and setback for the program. Let’s hope that we can look back and say it was the start of something great. The future of Bethune-Cookman football is now, and it’s time to seize it.