TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 Florida A&M University\u2019s Homecoming brought generations of alumni, students, and community members together for a weekend packed with celebration, tradition, and Rattler pride.<\/p>\n
FAMU Homecoming brings Rattler Nation together on game day<\/p>\n
Former Rattler punter from the 1970s reflects on returning to campus1985 pledge class of Kappa Alpha Psi celebrates 40-year reunionWatch the video below to see how alumni felt about coming back to the Seven Hills<\/p>\n
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT: <\/p>\n
It\u2019s one of the biggest weekends in Tallahassee \u2014 FAMU Homecoming and the highly anticipated Homecoming game!<\/p>\n
And this weekend, the pride of Rattler Nation runs deep, as generations of alumni return to celebrate tradition, unity, and that unmatched FAMU spirit.<\/p>\n
With every step show, mixer, and reunion, the spirit of FAMU lit up Tallahassee all week long.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, it reached its peak \u2014 as thousands gathered for the Homecoming game, reconnecting with the past and celebrating the legacy of Rattler Nation, including Stevenson Kelley, a Rattler’s Punter from the 1970s.<\/p>\n
Stevenson Kelley said, \u201cIt couldn\u2019t have been no better than coming back on this wonderful day to see some of the old classmates. The ones that I have seen haven\u2019t seen them in years, and the ones that I have seen, great guys, great people that I ever have come across are right here on this campus.\u201d<\/p>\n
And reunions like this were happening all over campus, like the 1985 pledge class of Kappa Alpha Psi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, this year for homecoming, my fraternity brothers, this is our 40th anniversary for us pledging Kappa Alpha Psi at FAMU. You know a lot of brothers I haven\u2019t seen in 40 years. It\u2019s been great. We\u2019ve been having dinner together and just hanging out and just talking about old stories about pledging and being on campus, so it\u2019s been really good\u2026yo nups!\u201d said Derrick Lewis, FAMU alum & Kappa Alpha Psi pledge 1985<\/p>\n
And with so many different generations of rattlers together there\u2019s always some friendly competition between classes<\/p>\n
\u201c1968, 1988, 68, 88, 68!\u201d Two Rattler alums jokingly claim their class is better.<\/p>\n
Homecoming also brought out local Tallahassee community groups routed in FAMU like the Scorpion Queens who came out to show support and give back to the community<\/p>\n
Winnifred Stokes-Bennett, Vice President of Scorpion Queens, said, \u201cOur job is to get back to the community and give back in charitable giving. We are back to fundraisers, scholarships, and we do things in the community to kind of help us support our community, and we love our FAMU rattlers!\u201d<\/p>\n
On the field, the Rattlers took on Alcorn State in a SWAC battle. The Rattlers trailed into halftime, knocking through just three field goals. It was 14-9 at the break. In an elongated halftime, Marching 100 alumni joined the band for a homecoming performance. When play resumed, FAMU came out and scored on back-to-back touchdown drives to take control of the game winning 33-28<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a weekend full of community and celebration, with it all wrapping up Sunday with the FAMU Gospel choir concert and a Rattlers volleyball game.<\/p>\n
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