Members of the Florida A&M University (FAMU) 220 Quarterback Club gathered for the first time in more than a year on Wednesday morning at the Galimore-Powell Field House to donate three large-screen televisions to the athletic program.
President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., head football coach Willie Simmons, Director of Sports Performance Cole Forney, and 220 Quarterback Club President Eddie Jackson provided remarks at the large gathering in the foyer of the field house.
“We really appreciate your support of this institution and the athletic program,” said Robinson. “We’re transferring to a new conference this year, and we’ve got to be ready. Your support has made a lot of this possible, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
Simmons said the program realized the three televisions needed to be replaced, he called Jackson to see if the 220 Quarterback Club could help.
“This is a testament to the work that you guys do and the support you have for this program. It truly does not go unnoticed,” said Simmons. “We are very excited about this building. The upgrades we made is the testament to the support of our president, our athletic director and really all of you.”
Forney said he will be able to use the televisions as a resource in the weight room, whether it is to show presentations about nutrition, sleep and hydration or to display GPS systems, which track a student-athletes speed.
“All the changes they’ve made here and striving to keep making will help so much,” said Forney. “You want to be able to be on the same level as the SEC (Southeastern Conference) and to see us trending toward that with the technology we are getting shows the promise of us climbing to where we want to be.”
The 220 Quarterback Club was started by Jackson, a retired vice president of University Relations at FAMU, to raise money for the Athletic Department.
Jackson said the 220 Quarterback Club had not met in over a year, but with the anticipation of the University beginning play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on July 1, the group plans to hold its first in-person meeting in the upcoming weeks.
“We are looking to getting back to our meetings and hopefully we will be able to bring in the SWAC Commissioner (Charles McClelland) for our first meeting back,” Jackson said. “I am glad to see a lot of people showed up and that we were able to get a tour of the new renovations.”
The 220 Quarterback Club wrapped up the morning with a tour of the renovated field house, which featured an expanded locker room with new graphics, lockers and finishes to prove more adequate space, expanded weight, training and equipment rooms. In addition, the renovation also included the football foyer and coaches’ office along with upgraded lighting and security.
