This is a big sports weekend and MSM will not cover some of it. Let's start with last night's nationally televised match-up of Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina A&T in Daytona on ESPN-U. As expected, Cookman slaughtered A&T 67-17 and the Wildcats have already proclaimed themselves MEAC champs and victors over my alma mater, Florida A&M, in the upcoming Florida Classic in Orlando. Speaking of FAMU, it's Homecoming Weekend 2010 and that means lots of folks headed to Tally to see the Marching 100 (At HBCUs, half-time is game time!) and partake in Homecoming festivities.

Locally, the sports focus is of course on the season home opener of the Miami HEAT. LeWadeBosh is front and center in the minds of sports fanatics who love the Dream Team and the Heat haters also. It will truly be a circus with the high profile entertainment and let's hope there are no issues because of the protest of City of Miami budget cuts by police and firefighters. Congrats to local hero, Udonis "UD" Haslem who was named team captain along with Dwayne Wade.

Don't forget high school football as the Miami Central Rockets, my Alma mater also, face some team from Prattville, AL at TPS. Central is one of the top rated high school teams in the USA so that game will surely be watched by fans, sports enthusiasts and college recruiters.

Whatever you choose to do this weekend, make sure you vote in the General Election and be safe out there.

Abbreviations:
MSM - mainstream media
HBCU - historically-black college or university
MEAC - Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
TPS - Traz Powell Stadium

As predicted, Bethune-Cookman wasted no time in firing head football coach Alvin Wyatt after the embarrassing 42-6 loss to Florida A&M at the Florida Classic in Orlando on Saturday.

Wyatt, a BCU alum, has coached the Wildcats football team for the last 13 years. His termination is really not just about the string of losses to FAMU but a less than stellar start to this season and three of the last four losing seasons. There have been complaints about depth in recruiting, lack of discipline and academic focus under his leadership but Wyatt produced players that made it to the professional football ranks.  

Coach Wyatt had become an entity in and of himself with his trash-talkin' and the highly anticipated good taste challenged outfits he wore. He kept the rivalry going even if you didn't like what he said; he understood showmanship even if you didn't like the show.

Remember that Kenny Rogers song, The Gambler? "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away..." It was past time for Wyatt to exit stage left. For sure he can leave with his head up because he is the winningest coach in BCU history and he will be missed.

Meanwhile, Bethune-Cookman alumni and supporters should be prepared to pay more for a quality coach to enhance their football program.

© 2009, Blogging Black Miami, www.bloggingblackmiami.com

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“Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn.” ~ Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Before a crowd of 59,418 in Orlando’s Florida Citrus Bowl, the Florida A&M Rattlers beat the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats by a resounding 42 - 6. The game was pretty much over at the half when the score was 35 – 0. The Rattlers were generally projected to win but not by such a large margin especially after suffering a 25 – 0 shellacking at the hands of Hampton the week before.

Other than the obvious half-time show performances by the marching bands, the highlight of the game was the performance of FAMU’s freshman, third-string quarterback, Martin Okpai. He demonstrated amazing, leadership, execution, and ball control in his showing at the Classic as Coach Joe Taylor wisely sidelined starting quarterback Curtis Pulley as the Rattlers held on to wildcard playoff hopes.

Speaking of half-time, the arguments continue about which marching band won the show. The Marching Wildcats inarguably had the best sound though their precision and execution was not up to their recent standards. The Marching 100 cannot be topped on precision, execution and showmanship but fans expected a new show rather than the already seen before tribute to Michael Jackson.

The Rattlers learned that they would not be invited to the playoffs so their season ends at 8 - 3 and the Wildcats , 5 – 6.

The Florida Classic attracts one of, if not the largest crowds in HBCU football. Not to mention all of the other activities surrounding the game.

It's Florida Classic Weekend! If you are not in the Land of Mickey, check out the game on ESPN Classic. You know the main drawback to not being there live is missing the half-time show!

The winning team will have bragging rights until next year and if Cookman doesn't win this year it could be curtains for Coach Wyatt. Y'all know we're looking forward to the spectacular outfit he will be sporting in the Florida sunshine. So let's get ready to rumble!

Florida Classic To Air On ESPN Classic

Thurs. 10/15/2009

Sat. 10/17/2009

It appears that BCU president Dr. Trudie Kibbe Reed and Daytona Beach Chief of Police MIke Chitwood have declared a truce in the war of words and threats of investigation in the wake of the aftermath of a brawl on the campus. Florida NAACP President Adora Obi Nweze had already reached out to the White House for intervention in the racially-tinged situation. Some BCU staff were fired and students arrested.

MyFoxOrlando.com

Leaders of Daytona police, B-CU declare truce in aftermath of campus brawl

Orlando Sentinel - ‎Oct 14, 2009‎

The chief of the Daytona Beach police department and the president of Bethune-Cookman University declared a truce today in the aftermath of last month's ...

BCU and police chief to hold conference MyFoxOrlando.com

Police chief, B-CU president end rift over campus brawl Daytona Beach News-Journal

BCU President, Police Chief Hold Joint Conference WESH.com

MyFoxOrlando.com - WESH.com

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Orlando Sentinel

Riot breaks out at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach

WPEC - ‎Sep 29, 2009‎

Several students were injured Tuesday in a large disturbance at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, according to police. Daytona Beach Police Chief ...

2 workers terminated after Bethune-Cookman brawl MiamiHerald.com

2 Bethune-Cookman employees fired for roles in brawl Orlando Sentinel

Two fired after Bethune Cookman mayhem MyFoxOrlando.com

Daytona Beach News-Journal - Central Florida News 13

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Police chief, B-CU president end dorm fracas rift

Daytona Beach News-Journal - Lyda Longa, Mark Harper - ‎Oct 14, 2009‎

"We have withdrawn that (the letter) now that we have corrected the misinformation about Bethune-Cookman University," Reed said. ...

Campus News

Ripon College Days - ‎Oct 14, 2009‎

A fury of anger erupted at Bethune-Cookman University on Tuesday when an activated sprinkler system flooded rooms, causing many students to lose laptops and ...

MyFoxOrlando.com

· NAACP calls for investigation of Daytona police chief

Daytona Beach News-Journal - Lyda Longa, Mark Harper - ‎Oct 7, 2009‎

... chief's "misconduct" and "racially tinged" comments after students and dormitory workers clashed on the Bethune-Cookman University campus last week. ...

NAACP Calls For Federal Investigation Of BCU Brawl WFtv.com

NAACP calls for probe into Bethune-Cookman disturbance, reaction Orlando Sentinel

Police Subpoena Video Of BCU Brawl WESH.com

Central Florida News 13 - MyFoxOrlando.com

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MyFoxOrlando.com

War of words between BCU and top cop

MyFoxOrlando.com - Melissa Dipane - ‎Oct 8, 2009‎

(WOFL FOX 35) - The board president of Bethune-Cookman University has escalated the war of words between the school and Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike ...

B-CU fight aftermath heats up Daytona Beach News-Journal

Chief: Police Did Not Inflame BCU Situation WESH.com

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University fires workers in dorm mishap

Times of the Internet - ‎Oct 1, 2009‎

Bethune Cookman University President Trudie Kibbe Reed told a gathering of 200 students Wednesday that students acted appropriately when one dorm resident ...

B-CU served with subpoena for video of disturbance

Daytona Beach News-Journal - Lyda Longa - ‎Oct 2, 2009‎

DAYTONA BEACH -- Police served a subpoena on Bethune-Cookman University officials this afternoon, demanding that the college turn over all ...

B-CU served with subpoena for video of disturbance Daytona Beach News-Journal

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