By Sylvester āNunnieā Robinson
The Westside Gazette has been diligent in promoting the first annual Florida Beach Bowl featuring CIAA representative Johnson C. Smith of Charlotte, N.C. vs. Fort Valley State University of SIAC renown.Ā It is a time to spotlight HBCUs and the Broward community. The gameās venue, the beautifully, remodeled Drive-Pink Stadium, home of Miami FC, will be contested on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. The kickoff is set for 7:00pm. See you there!
In the state playoffs, the Monarch Knights, the last remaining Broward public school in the state playoffs, was defeated handily by Jacksonville Mandarin 51-21, Plantation American Heritage shockingly loss a close battle to Tampa Berkeley Prep., St. Thomas Aquinas ran roughshod over the Gaither Gators from Tampa, and Chaminade defeated Miami ArchBishop Carroll 47-7.
Miami Norland stormed its way to a fifth state final by virtue of its 28-7 defeat of Jacksonville Bolles.Ā Homestead won a close one against Orlando Jones 42-35, and Christopher Columbus sent Tampa Plant packing 27-7. All state finals will be played at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee, home of FAMU Rattlers. The very best to all Broward and Miami-Dade state finalists.
The expected controversy over the exclusion of FSU from the FBS final four and the right to compete for a national championship shouldnāt have come as a surprise to anyone. Youāve read or heard all the arguments, pros & cons, from the sports pundits, selection committee members and coaches. No matter who was chosen, as in the past, someone was going to be left out, angry and frustrated. The real problem is the system itself, something that can only be rectified by adding more slots, thus widening the scope of eligible teams, which will occur next year. Keeping the major bowls like the Rose, Sugar, Cotton, and Orange Bowl aligned with the selection process was always the elephant in the room. All true championships should be decided on the field of play.
FAMU won the SWAC Championship by defeating Prairie View at home in a torrential downpour that caused several delays. Now they will face Howard University in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta to determine the Black College Football champion. I believe FAMU will win a landslide.
