Wildcats Flex Their Muscle and Find that Winning Feeling Again!

September 22, 2025 / J Bell / Leave a comment

Bethune-Cookman hosted Edward Waters in their first home game of the season this past Saturday.

7,927 fans watched BCU thump their Duval brethren 35-9 and quite honestly, Daytona Stadium felt more alive than it has in quite some time.

Coach Woodie’s guys flashed the kind of explosiveness on offense and backbone on defense that fans have been longing for.

By night’s end, BCU racked up 437 yards on offense including 228 on the ground. Defensively, the Cats held EWU’s vaunted offense to just 9 points despite the Tigers scoring over 40 points per game in each of their first three contests.

True Freshman running back, Khamani Robinson, accounted for 114 yards on 12 carries. His 75 yard touchdown run early in the 3rd quarter broke the game wide open. Robinson was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week for his efforts.

Wide receiver Maleek Huggins promised to give the fans a show this season and he certainly did that on Saturday. Huggins racked up 177 yards receiving and two touchdowns. One of the touchdowns was a highlight-reel 82-yard score. It ended with a Michael Jackson inspired touchdown celebration. The senior from Bradenton also received conference honors this week being named Offensive Player of the Week.

Naim Lassiter added a defensive score with a 40 yard pick-six late in the 3rd.

Mini-homecoming spoiled

I’m not gonna lie, it was really cool seeing Brian Jenkins patrolling the sidelines in Daytona. It was also cool seeing Matt Johnson, Ryan Davis, Eddie Poole, and Brian Dorsey on the sidelines. Several other former Wildcats joined them. They took pictures and shared love with their former head coach. Brian Jenkins won 46 games in 5 years as BCU’s head coach so we knew he would have his team prepared and fired up for this game.

And that he did. Just about 9 minutes before kickoff, BCU’s public address announcer, welcomed Edward Waters to the field from the locker room. But there was one big problem, Jenkins wasn’t ready for his team to leave the locker room just yet. So he waited. And waited. And waited until Bethune was invited to take the field. It was only then that he decided it was time to run out.

It was a reminder of everything we love about Brian Jenkins and his teams. Make every contest a dog fight and find any advantage that you can.

Thankfully for Bethune, the pregame happenings had no impact on the outcome of the game. Neither did the FCS Reddit betting odds, which listed the Wildcats as 5.5 point underdogs against their D2 opponent.

Once the ball was kicked off, the bigger, stronger, faster, and better team won.

Relax Cookman Fans and enjoy the moment !

Relax Cookman Fans and enjoy the moment!
Jerry Bell – HailWildcats.com

Let’s be honest — Bethune-Cookman fans have been conditioned by the past few seasons to flinch, even in the presence of good things happening. Call it sports PTSD, call it phantom pains — call it whatever you want to label it, but the scars are real. Years of heartbreak have taught this fanbase to keep its guard up at all times.

We saw it again on Saturday. BCU dominated the first half. However, costly mistakes and a pesky Edward Waters reduced the Wildcats’ lead to just 14-6 at halftime. You could feel the anxiety of the crowd. There was the proverbial “here we go again” echoing around the stadium.

But the good guys rattled off 21 unanswered points in the third and showed their dominance with a 26 point win. Even still, some folks almost didn’t know how to react.

“Should we celebrate?”

“How would Saturday’s performance translate against SWAC competition?”

“Why didn’t the team score 40+ points?”

It was a weird phenomenon but here is what I say to all of this: Relax Cookman Fans and enjoy the moment.

Wins are hard to come by in college football, and when they do come, you’ve got to savor them. So let’s try to forget the scars and live in the moment.

Saturday was fun, and it’s okay to enjoy the moment.

Was it a perfect game?…Well no. But were there big plays to celebrate, defensive swagger, 4 interceptions, 4 sacks, young guys stepping up?… Heck yeah there was and that’s the kind of football that’s worth celebrating. Who knows, if the Wildcats keep stacking performances like this together, Daytona Stadium can start feeling like the fortress it once was. Maybe then the fans can flex their muscles a little too! 💪

Statistic	EWU	BCU
First Downs
Total	20	15
Rushing	7	11
Passing	10	4
Penalty	3	0
Rushing
Total (Net)	74	228
Attempts	30	41
Avg. Per Rush	2.5	5.6
Rushing TDs	0	1
Yds. Gained	137	250
Yds. Lost	63	22
Passing
Total (Net)	173	209
Comp.-Att.-Int.	19–40–4	13-23-1
Avg. / Att.	4.3	9.1
Avg. / Comp.	9.1	16.1
TDs	1	3
Total Offense
Yards	247	437
Plays	70	64
Avg. / Play	3.5	6.8
Fumbles – Lost	1-0	0-0
Penalties – Yds.	13–94	11-89
Punting
Punts – Yds.	7-230	5-231
Avg. / Punt	32.9	46.2
Inside 20	3	2
50+ Yds.	1	2
Touchbacks	0	1
Fair Catch	3	0
Kickoffs
Total – Yds.	3-138	6–349
Avg. Yds. / Kickoff	46.0	58.2
Touchbacks	0	3
Returns
Punt: Total – Yds. – TDs	2–12-0	1-10-0
Punt: Avg. / Return	6.0	10.0
Kickoff: Total – Yds. – TDs	3–59-0	1-8-0
Kickoff: Avg. / Return	19.7	8.0
INT: Total – Yds. – TDs	1-0-0	4–51–1
Fumble: Total – Yds. – TDs	0-0-0	0-0-0
Miscellaneous
Misc. Yards	0	0
Poss. Time	30:49	29:11
3rd. Down Conv.	4 of 15	6 of 13
4th. Down Conversions	1 of 1	0 of 1
Red-Zone: Scores – Chances	1-1	2–4
Sacks: Total – Yds.	3-22	4–44
PAT: Total – Made	0-1	5–5
2PT Conversion: Total – Made	0-0	0-0
Field Goals: Total – Made	1-1	0-1

Qtr	Time	Scoring Play	EWU	BCU
1st	03:07	BCU – Huggins,Maleek 20 yd pass from Ransom,Cam’Ron (Dominguez,Juan kick) 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 02:57	0	7
2nd	03:13	BCU – Scott Jr.,Alihaja 9 yd pass from Ransom,Cam’Ron (Dominguez,Juan kick) 3 plays, 45 yards, TOP 01:13	0	14
2nd	01:13	EWU – Lovett,Makai 23 yd pass from Bodden,Noah ( ) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:00	6	14
3rd	09:27	BCU – Robinson,Khamani 75 yd run (Dominguez,Juan kick), 3 plays, 84 yards, TOP 01:32	6	21
3rd	04:44	BCU – Huggins,Maleek 82 yd pass from Ransom,Cam’Ron (Dominguez,Juan kick) 5 plays, 92 yards, TOP 02:12	6	28
3rd	03:14	BCU – Lassiter,Naim 40 yd interception (Dominguez,Juan kick)	6	35
4th	06:04	EWU – Gagne,Ryan 41 yd field goal 17 plays, 67 yards, TOP 09:16	9	35
			9	35

Opportunity Season: The Road Back Starts Here

August 5, 2025August 8, 2025 / J Bell / Leave a comment

Sports has a way of giving us all kinds of sayings when the pressure’s on.

“Barbecue or mildew.”

“Put up or shut up.”

“Hunt or be hunted.”

“Run with the big dogs or stay on the porch.”

You’ve heard them. We all have. They’re different ways of saying the same thing: it’s time to deliver.

But for the 2025 Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, no catchphrase is really needed this time around.

It’s just the simple reality of new season, new opportunity.

After all, BCU is coming off the roughest four-year stretch in its 100-year history.

But isn’t that what we love about new seasons? It’s a reset. A chance to change the narrative. And while it may be difficult to believe from the outside, there are reasons to feel optimistic about the 2025 campaign.

🏆 A Legacy Worth Fighting For

Bethune-Cookman boasts a proud football tradition with a resume stacked with decades of wins, championships, and pro-level pedigree. The Wildcats are:

Top 25 in FCS All-Time Winning Percentage with an all-time record of 510–351–27 (.590). That’s good enough for seventh all time amongst HBCUs.
5 Conference Titles over the past 20 years and 14 Conference Titles overall.
4 claimed Black College National Championships.
A NFL Hall of Famer in Larry Little. A Buck Buchanan Award winner in Rashean Mathis. Several NFL All-Pros, Pro- Bowlers, etc.

Bottomline, there is a ton of heritage attached to this BCU football program.

😔 A Historic Low Point

While Cookman has a ton of history to celebrate on the gridiron, we can’t pretend that the past four seasons have not been difficult for the maroon and gold. The Wildcats suffered 2–9 seasons in 2021 and 2022, a 3-8 season in 2023, and a 2–10 finish in 2024. The nine wins over the past four years represent the worst 4-year run in the program’s 100 years of playing tackle football as mentioned previously.

🔥 Why 2025 Could Be the Barbecue Season (No, Really)

Entering his third season, Coach Raymond Woodie Jr’s positive impact is being felt off the field.

Team GPA has risen from 2.4 to 3.25.
19 players earned 4.0 GPAs last season.
The team was removed from NCAA mandated practice time restrictions due to Academic Progress Rate (APR) penalties.
New on-campus locker room. ✅. New showers. ✅. New facility upgrades. Underway.

These are all positives happening within the program and worth celebrating. But let’s take a look at why 2025 has a chance to be different ON THE FIELD.

🔁 Experience Returning

The 2025 version of the Bethune-Cookman football team is easily the most experienced team of the Raymond Woodie era. Heck, for the first time in 3 years, they actually had enough players to host a traditional Spring game.

Offense

Team continuity is a precious commodity in the current transfer portal era. Fortunately for Bethune, nine starters return on offense alone. That’s not to say that BCU was not impacted by the portal on offense. In fact, last year’s leading rusher, running back Dennis Palmer, and second leading receiver tight end Thomas Nance, transferred to FBS programs Troy and Temple respectively.

Beyond that, all other starters return on the offensive side of the ball. That’s HUGE!

QB Cam Ransom completed over 62% of his pass attempts last year throwing for 1843 yards and 11 touchdowns in the process. The big left hander from Lakeland was named to the Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Team. Ransom has the arm, the legs, and the poise to give BCU a chance on every snap. Transfers Tim McClain (Arkansas State) and Amari Jones (Florida International) are expected to push Ransom for snaps and provide the Wildcats with three top notch signal callers.

WR Malik Huggins is another Preseason All-SWAC 2nd Teamer. Huggins is dangerous in both the return game and in the slot. A six-yard slant can quickly become a 60-yard see-ya once Huggins gets his hands on the ball. Fellow slot receiver Javon Ross, had an incredible Spring and seems poised for a breakout sophomore campaign. Pitt transfer Lorenzo Jenkins showed what he can do outside the numbers last season. Add all of that up, throw in a handful of newcomers who are expected to contribute right away and BCU has quietly put together one of the better wide receiver rooms in the SWAC.

O-Line: The entire starting group is back and anchored by freshman All-American Teko Shoats. This group got better as they got younger last season which is a crazy statement. Bethune finished 2024 with 3 true freshmen starting on the offensive line in the last few games. Ironically, the offense performed its best during that same span. The unit was bolstered in the offseason by getting a few guys healthy again, as well as adding new faces via the portal and on national signing day. Let’s see if the Wildcats can make the next leap forward as a collective unit in the trenches. If they can, watch out!

Defense

Seven starters return on defense. AJ Hall anchors the front seven from his defensive tackle position. Hall is yet another All-SWAC performer who will be joined by Preseason All-SWAC LB, Malik Stinnett and last year’s All-SWAC Preseason linebacker, Dearis Thomas, who spent the last 10 games of 2024 nursing an injury.

BCU suffered far more attrition to the portal on the defensive side of the ball losing 4 linemen and a linebacker to FBS and FCS schools alike. That means the newcomers in the front seven will have to produce right away to help offset these losses.

🗺️ The 2025 Roadmap

The Wildcats start the year on the road to face 3 of their 4 toughest opponents: at FIU, at Miami, and at South Carolina State respectively.

The non-conference slate wraps up on September 20th when a Brian Jenkins led Edward Waters visits Daytona Stadium for the first home game of the year.

The final 8 games are all against SWAC opponents. The home matchups include Alabama A&M (9/27), Southern (10/11), UAPB (10/25 homecoming), and MSVS (11/1).

BCU visits ASU (10/4), Grambling (11/8), JSU (11/15), and that school from one of those hills in Tallahassee on (11/22) in Orlando for the Florida Classic.

💥 The Case for BCU in 2025

Bethune lost 4 conference games a season ago by a combined 13 points. That’s painful. To add insult to injury, the Wildcats had the ball with a chance to win on the final possession in all 4 of those games. 2025 will look different if BCU can find a way to start winning the close games; or as Coach Woodie often says, “they have to finish”.

We expect the offense to be better; but how much better can they be is the real question yet to be answered.

The glass half empty crowd will point to the fact that the offense ranked in the bottom third of the conference in most major offensive metrics last year. The most important of which was 11th in points per game at a mere 20.2.

The glass half full crew understands that the current unit is more established, more experienced, and has more depth. We think the offense will need to be at least a 7-8 points better per game if they are to secure their first winning season in 5 years. That’s a huge number for sure but 27 points per game in modern college football is a more than reasonable expectation for winning squads.

On the defensive side of things, Coach Woodie has to hope that his unit performs closer to the way they did in his first season in 2023. That year, they finished 2nd in FCS in tackles for loss with 7.8 per game and gave up around 26 ppg.

If the season kicked off tomorrow, the Wildcats would be more than a one score underdog in 4 games (FIU, Miami, SC State, and Jackson State); they would likely be favored in 3 games (Edward Waters, UAPB, and MSVS); and the other 5 would likely be games under a one touchdown scoreline which we are considering toss up games (AAMU, ASU, SU, GSU, and FAMU). The straightest path to a .500 or better season is to win the games you’re favored in, and win more of the toss up games than you lose. That alone gets you to 6 wins if our point spread assumptions are true. If they can pull an upset or two or win a few more toss up games, now you’re talking a 7 or 8 win season. I think that would be a fully successful season in year 3 for Coach Woodie.

The good news is we won’t have to guess and “what-if” for much longer. We will soon get our answer as to whether the 2025 Wildcats will “barbecue or mildew”, “hunt or be hunted”, “run with the big dogs”… Like I said, you get the point.

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

October 31, 2024 / J Bell / 1 Comment

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.

It’s Time to Go SWACing

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021 / J Bell / Leave a comment

Darryl Powell hauls in a catch vs UCF Photo Credits: Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel

This will sound a little bonkers to you if you only casually followed Bethune-Cookman football through the first two weeks of the season but hear me out. Despite their 0-2 record and despite yielding 1,141 yards of total offense in those two games, Bethune-Cookman has shown me enough to believe they will fair well in SWAC play this season.

I fully admit I often see-through maroon and gold lens. Fair enough. But I am offering an objective analysis this time. I promise! I think!

So here goes my reasoning. I had a group chat rolling last Saturday evening during the UCF vs BCU game. It was the same group chat I had rolling when the Wildcats traveled to El Paso to face UTEP but I digress. There were three active football coaches in that chat. The exact quote from one of those coaches was “after 5 quarters of watching BCU this year, we can all agree that they are a good FCS football team.” They matched up well against UTEP from a size, speed and athleticism standpoint and there were several guys who really popped out against UCF as well.

Now admittedly, that chat thread grew awfully quiet by midway through the 2^nd quarter of play against UCF, however, the thought process remains. I saw enough positive things and heard enough positive feedback from guys who know what they are talking about to feel pretty good about BCU Football as they enter the portion of the season that truly matters.

We won’t have to wait long before the Wildcats start to prove or disprove these assumptions.

Reigning HBCU National Champions Alabama A&M roll into Daytona stadium this Thursday evening in what will be Bethune-Cookman’s first ever SWAC conference contest. The Bulldogs head into the contest winners of seven straight including a 42-41 shootout against South Carolina State in Week One. Brian “Juice” Jenkins Jr., former Daytona Beach Mainland standout and son of former Wildcat head coach Brian Jenkins Sr. had a game high 112 yards receiving against South Carolina State. Cookman’s defense will have their hands full trying to slow down Jenkins, SWAC Offensive Player of the Year Aqeel Glass and Connell Maynor’s high octane offense.

Glass’ 426 yards passing and 4 touchdown tosses this season is almost identical to BCU talisman, Shannon Patrick’s 453 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. The glaring difference being Glass’ stats all came in one game compared to Patrick doing it over two. Granted, Patrick led his team against two FBS opponents including one that is headed to the Big 12. The playing field levels out beginning this week when the Wildcats begin a stretch run of 9 straight contests against FCS competition.

Credits: Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel

Alabama A&M’s undersized front seven surrendered 242 yards on the ground against SCSU. Meanwhile the Cats’ Que’shaun Byrd is averaging 6.7 yards per rushing attempt with a long of 68 yards this season. We fully expect the Wildcats will look to take advantage of Byrd’s playmaking ability and their size advantage in the trenches this week.

Defensive Coordinator Yogi Jones has shown great patience in sticking with a ton of shell coverage so far. I suppose you can say there has been a lot of “bend” in the defense. Unfortunately for the Wildcats and their “bend but don’t break” philosophy, the “but don’t break” part of the moniker has been absent from the D. Opponents have scored touchdowns on 11 of 13 Red Zone tries and the defense has only forced 5 punts this season. Ouch. The Wildcats have to find a way to limit the Bulldogs to kicking situations. Maybe that comes through pressuring Glass and forcing punts. Maybe that comes by forcing field goal tries once inside the Red Zone. Either way, Cookman’s defense has to find a way to slow down this Bulldog offense.

In addition to Byrd proving himself as a reliable playmaker, pass catchers Darryl Powell Jr., Marcus Riley and Kemari Averett have all proven to be matchup problems. Bethune-Cookman should not have many issues moving the ball against the Bulldogs. It will be critical that the Wildcats finish drives with touchdowns because I believe the first team to score 38 wins this contest.

I also believe this is an excellent opportunity for Terry Sims’ men to plant their flag and remind the HBCU World that the Wildcats are 8-0 against SWAC competition since 2006. We think…I repeat think Bethune-Cookman is a good football team. We will follow up on that assumption in less than 72 hours. See you all at 7:30pm, Thursday, September 16^th at Daytona Stadium.

Follow HailWildcats.com on socials and online. We will continue to bring you updates and insights into BCU football. We will also continue to help you support our guys as they play away from home. Click LetsGoWildcats.org for updated information on Fan Trips.

5 Questions from Fall Camp

August 15, 2015August 16, 2015 / J Bell / Leave a comment

The Bethune-Cookman football program has spent most of the last five seasons nationally ranked and atop the MEAC standings. In that same timeframe, the Wildcats have posted more victories than any other conference school and advanced to the postseason on four occasions. Yet despite its recent run of success, the buzz surrounding the program has been relatively quiet heading into the 2015 campaign. Questions abound as to rather BCU’s window of success is closing or if the Cats are poised to continue their reign as one of the premier programs in the HBCU and FCS ranks.

Here are 5 mysteries that must be solved if Bethune-Cookman is to remain consistent in its winning ways.

The Man following the Man

1st year head coach Terry Sims

First year head coach Terry Sims inherits a roster full on talent but lacking in experience. Sims won’t be afforded a honeymoon period to acquaint himself or his young squad to the high expectations in Daytona Beach. Wildcat fans fully expect Sims to continue and build upon the success of former head coach Brian Jenkins.

Sims is well respected within the BCU athletic department. He is ultracompetitive, detailed-oriented, and perhaps better credentialed than was Jenkins when he first took over the reins in 2010. But there are some aspects of the head coaching position for which only the crucible of experience can prepare you. The manner in which Sims responds to tense, split-second and sometimes unpredictable moments on and off the field will go a long way in determining the success of this year’s squad.

Fantastic Four or Fantastic No-more???

Yogi Jones is arguably the best defensive coordinator in the MEAC. He will need to rely on all of his experience and know-how to ready a defense that features nine new starters including an all new front four.

Donald Smith #16

Not only will the defensive line feature four new starters but the four new starters were not even enrolled at Bethune-Cookman this time last year. Thankfully, they all have some post-high school playing experience under their belts and they all possess great athleticism and potential. Getting this group of new faces to actualize their talents and replace the production void left by the likes of Erik Williams, LeBrandon Richardson and Rony Barrow will be quite a task even for Yogi Jones.

Inexperience at Linebacker

Donald Smith returns as the lone starter at linebacker. We expect Robert Way, our preseason pick for breakout player of the year, and Deland high school product Trenton Bridges to join Smith as the starting linebackers. All three guys will lay a good thump on you. We just want them to get in the habit of getting ball carriers on the ground and racking up tackles. We’ll worry about highlight reel hits down the road.

OC or Oh-No?

While Yogi Jones has proven his mettle as a great defensive coordinator, the jury is still out on 4^th year offensive coordinator Jim Pry. BCU has never averaged more than 30 points per game or more than 400 yards of total offense under Pry’s guidance. In fact, Pry’s units rarely racked up huge numbers in his previously stints as offensive coordinator at Dartmouth, Akron and Duke. Granted, you can’t measure success by statistics alone and the offensive talent he had at his disposal while serving as OC at the aforementioned schools generally were not as good as the competition he faced. But coaching is a bottom line business. Pry will need to have the BCU offense prepared to carry more of the weight this season to give the new faces on defense time to jell and gain experience.

Step it up QB

In 2010, BCU entered Fall Camp unsure who would emerge as the primary signal caller. Senior Matt Johnson stepped up, made the job his own, and proceeded to have one of the best seasons any Wildcat quarterback has ever experienced. We’re hoping redshirt senior Quentin Williams can find some of that same magic in his final year.

Williams has not been bad as a starter but he has struggled with consistency at times. Q needs to step up his production this season. Whether he does or doesn’t isn’t an issue of talent but one of confidence.

Larry Brihm will challenge Williams for snaps all season and the thought of both quarterbacks taking meaningful snaps is not out of the question.

The Terry Sims era of Bethune-Cookman football begins on Saturday, September 5^th when the Wildcats travel to South Florida to take on FBS powerhouse University of Miami. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN3.

Congratulations to Mrs. Emma Price on winning (2) 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic Tickets

November 8, 2014 / D Will / Leave a comment

Congratulations to Mrs. Emma Price of Daytona Beach on winning the Hailwildcats.com BCU vs Norfolk State “Watch Party” Raffle for (2) 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic Tickets. If you missed the past raffle, you have another opportunity this week, details below! Congrats again Mrs. Emma Price!

Hailwildcats.com will host a WILDCATS “LETS GO” Watch Party on Thursday November 13th, 2014 starting at 7 p.m. EST when our Mighty Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University take on the Pirates of Hampton University on ESPNU. The game will air live on the “BIG SCREEN” of Buffalo Wild Wings at 2479 W. International Speedway Blvd Daytona Beach, FL 32114.

If you are in the Daytona area, put on your Maroon and Gold and come out and share with the Wildcat Nation in this momentous and joyous occasion and see

“Who will ascend to the top of the mountain?”

We will hold a raffle for (2) Tickets ($54.00 value) to the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic which will be held on Saturday November 22, 2014 @ 2pm in the newly remodeled Citrus Bowl. To enter, tickets are One (1) for $5.00 or Three (3) for $10.00, the winner will be announced on Hailwildcats.com on Saturday November 15th, 2014. You may pre purchase raffle tickets below:

(1) Raffle Ticket $5.00

(3) Raffle Tickets $10.00

JOIN US FOR FOOTBALL, FOOD, and FUN!

Buffalo Wild Wings

2479 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Daytona Beach, Fl 32114

We look forward to seeing you there! Kickoff at 7:30 P.M.

Hailwildcats.com WILDCATS “LETS GO” WATCH PARTY Nov. 13th, 2014 @ 7p.m. (Buffalo Wild Wings Daytona Beach, Fl)

November 6, 2014 / D Will / Leave a comment

CALLING ALL WILDCAT NATION!!!!!

If you are in the Daytona area, put on your Maroon and Gold and come out and share with the Wildcat Nation in this momentous and joyous occasion and see

“Who will ascend to the top of the mountain?”

(1) Raffle Ticket $5.00

(3) Raffle Tickets $10.00

JOIN US FOR FOOTBALL, FOOD, and FUN!

Buffalo Wild Wings

2479 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Daytona Beach, Fl 32114

We look forward to seeing you there! Kickoff at 7:30 P.M.

Hailwildcats.com WILDCATS “LETS GO” WATCH PARTY Nov. 6th, 2014 @ 7p.m. (Buffalo Wild Wings Daytona Beach, Fl)

October 31, 2014November 6, 2014 / D Will / Leave a comment

CALLING ALL WILDCAT NATION!!!!!

Hailwildcats.com will host a WILDCATS “LETS GO” Watch Party on Thursday November 6th, 2014 starting at 7 p.m. EST when our Mighty Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University take on the Spartans of Norfolk State University on ESPNU. The game will air live on the “BIG SCREEN” of Buffalo Wild Wings at 2479 W. International Speedway Blvd Daytona Beach, FL 32114.

If you are in the Daytona area, put on your Maroon and Gold and come out and share with the Wildcat Nation in this momentous and joyous occasion and see

“Who will ascend to the top of the mountain?”

We will hold a raffle for (2) Tickets ($54.00 value) to the 2014 Florida Blue Florida Classic which will be held on Saturday November 22, 2014 @ 2pm in the newly remodeled Citrus Bowl. To enter, tickets are One (1) for $5.00 or Three (3) for $10.00, the winner will be announced on Hailwildcats.com on Saturday November 8th, 2014. You may pre purchase raffle tickets below:

(1) Raffle Ticket $5.00

(3) Raffle Tickets $10.00

JOIN US FOR FOOTBALL, FOOD, and FUN!

Buffalo Wild Wings

2479 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Daytona Beach, Fl 32114

We look forward to seeing you there! Kickoff at 7:30 P.M.

Jenkins Declines Jackson State Interview — Statement from Brian Jenkins

January 9, 2014 / J Bell / 4 Comments

Bethune-Cookman University head football coach Brian Jenkins has declined to interview for the vacant head coaching position at Jackson State University. Jenkins, officially considered a candidate for the open head coaching position at JSU, made the announcement on Thursday afternoon. Through an official from the B-CU Department of Athletics, Jenkins released a quote on his decision to decline the next step in possible talks with Jackson State.

“I am honored to have a school with a rich history of football like Jackson State University consider me for their head coaching vacancy,” said Jenkins. “It not only speaks volumes about how highly they think of me and my coaching philosophy, but also that of my coaching staff. After all, none of the success we’ve enjoyed over the last four years would be possible without a dedicated staff and great student-athletes. A year ago this time, Dr. Edison O. Jackson and Lynn Thompson showed their tremendous support not only of me, but towards my staff and family, when they extended my contract at Bethune-Cookman University. I said then that I had a goal to achieve. And since I’ve yet to achieve that goal, I stay firmly committed to believing B-CU is the place where that goal can be achieved in the future.

“Again, I want to thank Vivian Fuller and Jackson State for noticing what my staff and I have done here at B-CU, and believing it would take the JSU football program to even greater heights. I thank them for their consideration, but I thank B-CU even more for its love and support. We have a good nucleus of student-athletes coming back in 2014. Mixed with the strong recruiting class we’re expecting to sign next month, I believe we are poised to do something special for Wildcats Nation next season. And it’s something everyone should want to be a part of.”

Jenkins tabbed MEAC Coach of the Year; 12 @BCUGridiron athletes earn All-MEAC honors

November 29, 2013November 29, 2013 / J Bell / Leave a comment

Norfolk, VA – Fourth-year head coach Brian Jenkins of Bethune-Cookman was selected for his third Coach of the Year honor. Jenkins led the Wildcats to a 7-1 MEAC mark and a 10-2 overall record. The Wildcats defeated Florida A&M, 29-10, to clinch a share of the conference’s regular season title and secure the MEAC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division I (FCS) Championships. The Wildcats are currently ranked 12^th in both the Sports Network’s FCS and FCS Coaches Poll. He has led Bethune-Cookman to three MEAC titles in four years and fell just one game shy of back-to-back undefeated MEAC finishes.

Howard quarterback Greg McGhee was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Year and Joe Thomas of South Carolina State earned the Defensive Player of the Year honors, as voted on by the MEAC’s head football coaches and sports information directors.

North Carolina A&T’s Tarik Cohen earned the Rookie of the Year award and Tristan Bellamy, of S.C. State, was selected as Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Junior Greg McGhee led the MEAC in total offense (272.9 avg./g) and ranked second in passing yards per game (198.2 avg./g). He completed 228 passes on 385 attempts (59%) with 16 touchdowns in 12 games this season. He also finished the season ranked third in the MEAC in rushing with 896 yards (74.7 avg./g), on 157 attempts, and three touchdowns. McGhee ranks 19^th in the nation in total offense and 31^st in completions per game (19). He earned conference Offensive Player of the Week accolades twice this season. McGhee is the tenth Bison to earn the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year honor and first since Ted White in 1996.

Joe Thomas recorded 116 total tackles, 84 solo, with a conference-best 19 tackles for a loss during the 2013 campaign. Thomas collected 7.5 sacks, sixth in the MEAC, with one interception, five breakups, five hurries, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery to help the Bulldogs finish as the nation’s No. 1 rushing defense (80.5 avg./g) and No. 2 scoring defense (14.0 avg./g). Thomas earned Defensive Player of the Week honors once this season and is currently listed on the Sports Network’s Buck Buchannan Award watch list, which recognizes the nation’s top Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) defensive player. Thomas becomes the 13^th Bulldog to earn the conference’s top defensive award, however he is only the second to have been selected in more than 10 years (David Erby 2010).

As a freshman, North Carolina A&T’s Tarik Cohen led the MEAC in rushing, averaging 104.4 yards per game (,) on 195 attempts with eight touchdowns. He earned the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week accolades three times and Rookie of the Week honors twice this season. A native of Bunn, North Carolina, Cohen became the first freshman in North Carolina A&T State history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Cohen’s is currently listed on the Sports Network’s Jerry Rice Award watch list, which recognizes the nation’s top FCS freshman. Cohen is just the second Aggie to be named Rookie of the Year. He joins the school’s all-time rushing leader, Mike Mayhew, who earned the honor in 2009.

Tristan Bellamy aided a dominating Bulldog offense that accounted for 4,101 yards of total offense , including 2,000 yards on the ground. Behind Bellamy’s blocking S.C. State finished second in the MEAC in scoring offense (29.6 ppg), and third in total offense (341.1 avg./g). Bellamy earned the conference’s Offensive Lineman of the Week honor twice this season. Bellamy is the sixth Bulldog to earn Offensive Lineman of the Year accolades.

South Carolina State led all schools with 13 student-athletes recognized on the three MEAC post-season teams. The Bulldogs have five student-athletes earn first-team honors, in addition to two-of-four top awards.

Bethune-Cookman finished close behind with 12 student-athletes to earn post–season honors, in addition to five first-team selections.

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) – 2013 Football All-Conference Teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Greg McGhee, Howard

Defensive Player of the Year: Joe Thomas, South Carolina State

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Tristan Bellamy, South Carolina State

Rookie of the Year: Tarik Cohen, North Carolina A&T

Coach of the Year: Brian Jenkins, Bethune-Cookman

First Team

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
QB	Greg McGhee	Jr.	Howard	Pittsburgh, Pa.
RB	Tarik Cohen	Fr.	North Carolina A&T	Bunn, N.C.
RB	Rolandan Finch	Grad.	Norfolk State	New Albany, Ind.
WR	Tyler McDonald	Sr.	South Carolina State	Summerville, S.C.
WR	Milton Williams III	Jr.	Delaware State	Upper Marlboro, Md.
TE	Joseph Hawkins	r-Sr.	Norfolk State	Chicago, Ill.
C	Andrew Edourad	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Philadelphia, Pa.
OL	Karim Barton	Sr.	Morgan State	Los Angeles, Calif.
OL	Alex Monroe	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Jacksonville, Fla.
OL	Domanic Wilson	r-So.	South Carolina State	Lake City, S.C.
OL	Rashard Brown	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Kissimmee, Fla.

DEFENSE
Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
DL	Miles Groom	So.	Hampton	Richmond, Va.
DL	Andrew Carter	r-Jr.	South Carolina State	Hamlet, N.C.
DL	Alex Glover	Jr.	South Carolina State	Charlotte, N.C.
DL	Rodney Gunter	Jr.	Delaware State	Haines, Fla.
LB	Lynden Trail	r-Jr.	Norfolk State	Miami, Fla.
LB	Jarkevis Fields	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Samford, Fla.
LB	Joe Thomas	r-Sr.	South Carolina State	Blackville, S.C.
DB	Nick Addison	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Tampa, Fla.
DB	Darrin Marrow	r-Jr.	Norfolk State	Virginia Beach, Va.
DB	Justin Blake	r-Sr.	Hampton	Piscataway, N.J.
DB	Ademola Olatunji	Jr.	Howard	Riverdale, Md.
P	Lawrence Forbes	r-Fr.	Morgan State	Upper Marlboro, Md.
PK	Anthony Prevost	Fr.	Hampton	Chesterfield, Va.
RS	Adrian Wilkins	r-So.	North Carolina Central	Forest City, N.C.

Second Team

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
QB	Cory Murphy	Sr.	Delaware State	Sunnyvale, Calif.
RB	Isidore Jackson	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Mossy Head, Fla.
RB	Anthony Philyaw	Fr.	Howard	Redondo Beach, Calif.
WR	Eddie Poole	Grad.	Bethune-Cookman	Belle Glade, Fla.
WR	Simon Heyward	Sr.	Savannah State	Savannah, Ga.
TE	Kris Drummond	Jr.	Savannah State	Washington, D.C.
C	Tristan Bellamy	r-Sr.	South Carolina State	Johnston, S.C.
OL	William Robinson	r-Jr.	North Carolina A&T	Clinton, Md.
OL	Nathan Isles	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Atlanta, Ga.
OL	Darren Pinnock	Jr.	Morgan State	Miami, Fla.
OL	Kory Alpichi	Jr.	Hampton	Winchester, Calif.

DEFENSE
Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
DL	Dyron Dye	Grad.	Bethune-Cookman	Sanford, Fla.
DL	Javon Hargrave	So.	South Carolina State	Salisbury, N.C.
DL	LeBrandon Richardson	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Miami, Fla.
DL	Deon King	So.	Norfolk State	Reston, Va.
LB	D’Vonte Grant	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Charlotte, N.C.
LB	Delbert Tyler	Sr.	Hampton	Monroeville, Pa.
LB	Tazmon Foster	Sr.	North Carolina Central	Henderson, N.C.
DB	D’Vonte Graham	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Tallahassee, Fla.
DB	Michael Jones	Fr.	North Carolina Central	Baltimore, Md.
DB	Kimario McFadden	Sr.	South Carolina State	Riverdale, Ga.
DB	Carvin Johnson	Sr.	Hampton	New Orleans, La.
P	Christian Faber-Kinney	r-Fr.	Hampton	Williamsburg, Va.
PK	Nick Belcher	r-Sr.	South Carolina State	Sumter, S.C.
RS*	Tubotein Taylor	Sr.	Morgan State	Anaheim, Calif.
RS*	D’Vonte Graham	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Tallahassee, Fla.

Third Team

Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
QB	Richard Cue	r-Sr.	South Carolina State	Florence, S.C.
RB	Lamont Brown	r-Fr.	Morgan State	Suffolk, Va.
RB	Justin Taylor	r-Sr.	South Carolina State	Atlanta, Ga.
WR	Antwon Chisholm	Sr.	Hampton	Belle Glade, Fla.
WR*	Lenworth Lennon	r-Jr.	Florida A&M	Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
WR*	Malik Golson	r-Fr.	Delaware State	Smyrna, Del.
TE	Termarrick Hemingway	r-So.	South Carolina State	Loris, S.C.
C	Joshua Matthews	Sr.	Howard	Bowman, S.C.
OL	Toree Boyd	Fr.	Howard	Miami, Fla.
OL	Deonta Allen-Wright	r-So.	Howard	Midolthian, Va.
OL	Blake Matthews	r-Sr.	Norfolk State	Manassas, Va.
OL	Anthony Kibler	Jr.	Bethune-Cookman	Belle Glade, Fla.

DEFENSE
Pos.	Name	Cl.	School	Hometown
DL	Tyree Hearn	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Durham, N.C.
DL	Damon Gresham Chisholm	So.	Howard	Covington, Ga.
DL	George Riddick	Jr.	Norfolk State	Suffolk, Va.
DL	Tevin Toney	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Sebring, Fla.
LB	Marquis Smith	So.	Savannah State	Prince Georges County, Md.
LB	Cody Acker	Jr.	Morgan State	Greenbelt, Md.
LB	Ernest Adjei	Sr.	Delaware State	Woodbridge, Ga.
DB	Terrick Colston	So.	Delaware State	Lakeland, Fla.
DB	Travis Crosby	Sr.	North Carolina A&T	Charlotte, N.C.
DB	John Wilson	Sr.	Savannah State	Athens, Ga.
DB*	Tim Burke	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
DB*	Patrick Aiken	r-So.	Florida A&M	Miramar, Fla.
P	Oleg Parent	Jr.	North Carolina Central	Lake Forest, Calif.
PK	Cody Jones	Fr.	North Carolina A&T	Gastonia, N.C.
RS	Darius Drummond	Sr.	South Carolina State	Asheville, N.C.

*indicates tie