FMU Kicking Off 2021 Season Saturday, Renewing Rivalry With EWU

AT A GLANCE
FMU Lions (0-0) at Edward Waters University Tigers (0-0)
When: Saturday, August 28, 2021
Where: Edward Waters University, Jacksonville, Fla. | Community Field & Stadium
Kickoff: 4 p.m.
Last Meeting: First Meeting* (Modern Era)
Live Stream: Link
Live Stats: Link

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – For all the pomp and circumstance that surrounded Florida Memorial University's "rebirthed" football program this past year – as it was playing its first football games in 62 years – there was an insufficient amount of time for the team to focus on "the work" in 2020.

The work of building up the program through spring practices, which were cut short due to the onset of the COVID pandemic, and summer workouts, which never happened because large gatherings were out of the question during that time. Even the 2020 fall camp leading up to the season was shortened and conducted under the constant threat of losing multiple days on the field due to the slightest misstep in COVID protocol.

Still, the Lions went out and played three games in 2020 before their season was shut down for health and safety reasons.

As 2021 brought COVID vaccines and fewer restrictions, it also brought an opportunity for FMU to get back to work. The Lions went through a full set of spring practices – including the program's first intrasquad game – and had summer conditioning before going into a nearly month-long fall camp.

Florida Memorial now hopes that "the work" will lead to "the win" as it prepares to open the 2021 season on the road, traveling to Jacksonville, Florida to face Edward Waters University Saturday at EWU's new Community Field & Stadium.

Not only will it be the season-opener for both teams, but Saturday's game – which is set for a 4 p.m. kickoff – will also be the opening salvo in what is being dubbed the "Big Cat Rivalry" – between the Lions and the Tigers – an annual football showdown between the programs similar to that of other storied and celebrated rivalry games between other historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU's).

While FMU and EWU have squared off in just about every other sport that the programs have in common, Saturday's meeting on the gridiron will be the first in the modern era.

Fans will be welcome to attend the game and tickets will be available for purchase at the ticket centers outside the Tigers' stadium. The game will also be streamed live and can be viewed for free on the Edward Waters athletics YouTube channel.

Florida Memorial enters its season opener with both increased confidence and a chip on its shoulder. The confidence from the benefits of true preparation time and the chip from the hunger that comes from a team that is still looking to taste victory for the first time.

Lions head coach Tim "Ice" Harris Sr. said that he and his team have been anticipating Saturday's game for quite a while.

"We've been looking to get to this point since this past October," Harris said. "We were faced with a lot of obstacles that first year, which we did our best to overcome, and I feel like we were made stronger and wiser because of it all. But the difference between this year and last year is so abundant…we've had the opportunity to teach and develop guys, see guys get better because they were able to get reps in practice, go watch film to see what they needed to correct, then go practice again to correct it."

"We are a much better football program now and we're ready to prove that in the way that we go out and execute this season," Harris added.

In facing the Tigers, Florida Memorial will be taking on an Edward Waters team with a first-year head coach in Toriano Morgan – a South Florida native – and one that has compiled just a 7-29 record over the past four seasons. Still, EWU will have the advantage of having 26 upperclassmen – either seniors or juniors – on its roster compared to just five – all juniors – for the Lions.

Youth aside, does have playmakers on both sides of the ball. 6-foot-3 sophomore quarterback Antoine Williams will be the trigger man for the Lions' offense, and he has a full complement of weapons to distribute the ball to – namely running back George Young and receivers Markell Lee, who recorded the first touchdown for FMU this past season, and sophomore transfer receiver Christian Edgerson.

The Lions' defense also has difference-makers at each level; with defensive lineman Anthony Harris, linebacker Joshua Mimms, and defensive back Marcell Blocker all anchoring their respective units.

For Harris, the outcome of Saturday's game will come down to his team's ability lock in on the task at hand.

"We have to focus on the job in front of us…focus on the things that we can control," Harris said. "We can't get caught up in what somebody put on social media or in some music video, we have to lock in and be about the business of football and all that other stuff will work itself out."

Follow Florida Memorial University Athletics on social media
Instagram: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | Twitter: @GoFMULions/@FMULionsFB | YouTube: Official FMU Lions

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Players Mentioned

#1 Anthony Harris: DL; 6' 0"; Freshman

#2 George Young: RB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#2 Marcell Blocker: DB; 6' 2"; Freshman

#8 Joshua Mimms: LB; 5' 11"; Freshman

#11 Markell Lee: WR; 6' 1"; Freshman

#12 Antoine Williams: QB; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#41 Christian Edgerson: WR; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#1 Anthony Harris
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: DL

#2 George Young
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: RB

#2 Marcell Blocker
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: DB

#8 Joshua Mimms
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: LB

#11 Markell Lee
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: WR

#12 Antoine Williams
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: QB

#41 Christian Edgerson
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: WR

Florida Memorial University Athletics

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned