Chin up, Rattler Nation.

There’s no reason to hold your heads down because of the departure of Willie Simmons.

Instead, celebrate the joy the former Florida A&M head football coach returned to the Highest of Seven Hills.

During his six year-tenure, he galvanized the football team, fanbase, and community to enjoy FAMU football again. The program hadn't enjoyed a winning season since 2011 before his 2018 arrival.

Five seasons later, Rattler football is 45 wins richer has claimed its first Southwestern Athletic Conference and HBCU Celebration Bowl titles during Simmons' tenure.

Simmons went out with the confetti falling, and he’s leaving FAMU football better than he found it.

So, congratulate him as he joins Duke’s staff as the running backs coach.

The national championship-winning Simmons is dream chasing as he aspires to become a Power 5 head coach.

And in the never-ending coaching carousel, it’s the matter of opportunity that will allow him to continue to elevate and reach his career aspiration.

So, the move to Durham, North Carolina, is necessary to turn his dream into reality.

Willie Simmons created life-changing opportunities for more than his players

Three players during the FAMU-Simmons era are in the NFL ― linebacker Markquese Bell (Dallas Cowboys), defensive end Isaiah Land (Indianapolis Colts), and wide receiver Xavier Smith (Los Angeles Rams).

Simmons tapped into their potential and with his nearly two decades of coaching connections, his alums playing on a national stage while making life-changing money for them and their families.

Simmons has also impacted my career.

He’ll always be connected to my first Division I sports beat as I began covering FAMU in 2022.

During that time, Simmons has always been gracious enough to take my interview requests, absorb the questions that I ask, and keep it real with me in his answers.

I’ve sweated it out with the team during scorching summertime practices. And I attended 6 a.m. in-season practices.

Due to FAMU football’s success, I’ve ridden the coattails of the program’s success for first-time experiences.

I covered my first Pro Day. I covered my first SWAC and Black College Football National Championship.

I also was able to cover games in some monolithic stadiums such as Hard Rock in Miami for the Orange Blossom Classic, Camping World in Orlando for the Florida Classic, Raymond James in Tampa for FAMU versus South Florida, and lastly but certainly not least (I’m a Georgia Boy), Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta for the Celebration Bowl.

None of those things would have been possible without the restoration of FAMU football under the leadership of Simmons.

For that, I’m thankful for Willie Simmons, and it’s been a pleasure to work with him for these last two seasons.

Willie Simmons will forever revert to his time at FAMU in his path to achieve his dreams

It still hasn’t sunk in to say “former FAMU head football coach Willie Simmons.”

But it probably hasn’t registered yet for him either.

Regardless, the ‘Willenium Era’ has closed on the Highest of Seven Hills.

The Quincy native is about to embark on a journey requiring him to leave a community he’s been engulfed in all his life.

He was born into the FAMULY as his mother and relatives all earned their degrees from the illustrious institution.

And Rattler Nation has done nothing but support Simmons during his successful tenure on the sidelines.

So, rest assured, knowing that ‘Shotgun’ will forever remember FAMU, Rattler Nation, the 850, and the tune of “I’m So Glad I’m from FAMU” will play in the back of his mind wherever life takes him.

Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: Departed Coach Simmons leaving on high note | G. Thomas