Chill out: FAMU football becomes first HBCU with coolant trailer at practice facility
Ahead of its first practice next week, Florida A&M football has found a way to combat the parching Tallahassee sun.
The Rattlers unveiled their new climate control trailer Wednesday.
FAMU is the first HBCU to have a coolant system at its practice facility and joins the ranks of Power 5 football programs with one onsite.
"FAMU is always first," University President Dr. Larry Robinson said. "We're the highest ranked public HBCU in the nation, so we deserve to be first and the best.
"I know others will follow. FAMU just happens to be there first."
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220 Quarterback Club provides the trailer
The trailer was manufactured by Boudreaux Athletics, owned by Paul Boudreaux.
The 'Boudreaux Box' was provided to the Rattlers by the 220 Quarterback Club and has been a longtime work in process.
"I went to coach (Willie) Simmons a couple years ago and asked what was his number one priority," 220 Quarterback Club President Eddie Jackson said. "He said a nutrition program and we started it.
"Then he said he doesn't want his players to have health problems because of the sun here in Florida and wanted to prevent that. I started doing some research and read a Sports Illustrated article about this new cooling facility started by Paul Boudreaux in Louisiana and saw that the New Orleans Saints purchased one.
"I found out that Florida State had one so I told the 220 that they were benefitting from it and the Rattlers deserve just as much as the Power 5. They got fired up and we raised the money for it in no time. The FAMU boosters played a role in this too."
The 40-foot trailer holds 40 players and gets as low as 18 degrees.
Athletes will be refreshed within three minutes as it will remain on the practice field until Sept. 20.
A Rattler logo will also be placed on the system.
'Life in the Pit will be so cool'
FAMU Interim Director of Athletics Michael Smith, a former Rattler athlete, was elated for the new cooling facility.
"Life in 'The Pit' will be so cool," he said.
Rattlers coach Willie Simmons expressed his gratitude to the 220 Quarterback Club after taking a stroll through the trailer Wednesday.
He recalled that conversation that he had with Jackson.
"Eddie listens," Simmons said. "When we address the needs of our program, he immediately goes to work.
"This was an idea that he brought to me and he did his research and found Mr. Boudreaux and brought this idea back to me. Words can't describe just how blessed we are to have a guy like Eddie Jackson and the rest of the 220 Quarterback Club that truly cares about this program and the student-athletes.
"Lovers of Florida A&M made this happen."
Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU football installs cooling trailer for players at practice field
