Florida A&M makes a highly controversal decision weeks before the football season

Florida A&M was making a controversial decision ahead of the football season. Per a report by Gerald Thomas III of the Tallahassee Democrat, the athletics department will no longer be providing radio broadcasts of the games. The move ends a long-standing tradition for Rattler football, as well as a valuable access point for Florida A&M fans and the broader Tallahassee community.

The decision to no longer broadcast Florida A&M football comes after the athletics department concluded its deal with Cumulus Media, which owns and operates 96.1 Jams. The decision to no longer broadcast Florida A&M football comes after the athletics department concluded its deal with Cumulus Media, which owns and operates 96.1 JAMZ.

The departure of radio broadcasts signals that the main media focus for Florida A&M will be television and streaming via HBCU GO, SWAT TV, and the various ESPN networks.

“The athletic department expressed that they are shifting focus to the media aspects of the SWAC,” former Eddie Jackson 220 Quarterback Club Vaughn Wilson said in a quote obtained by Tallahassee Democrat. “And radio is just not a part of that package.”

Florida A&M legend Albert Chester Sr., A key member of the Rattler 1978 Division I-AA football championship win, reacted to the news on his Facebook account. He was a broadcaster of Rattler’s football on 96.1 alongside O&G Strike Zone’s Bryan Fulford.

“RattlerNation..I have some very DISAPPOINTING news. I was just advised by the athletic department that the 2026 FAMU Football season WILL NOT, I repeat WILL NOT be broadcast via radio. Sad day,” he posted.

Florida A&M is set to have three games streamed on SWAC TV and eight games broadcast across ESPN’s family of networks and HBCU GO.