Over nearly two seasons as head coach, Holmes had amassed a record of six wins against 16 losses.
Holmes' firing comes at an odd time with the Rattlers showing steady improvement, winning two out of their last three games, and with homecoming just four days away.
The Rattlers, seventh place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), have just four games remaining on the season. With two conference losses, the team is an extreme long shot in the race for the conference championship. FAMU is also ineligible for post season play due to National Collegiate Athletic Association Academic Progress Rate sanctions.
Following the news of Holmes' termination, a group of FAMU football players went to Winslow's office and demanded an immediate meeting with him.
According to Tallahassee Democrat, Winslow met the student athletes outside where he told them to leave and asked them: "Don't y'all have a book to read?"
Winslow eventually agreed to meet with the team’s seniors,
who asked him to permit Holmes to stay on until the end of the season. The
athletic director told them "No."
FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman Chuck Badger said he understood why the student athletes might be upset about how the coaching shakeup took place.
FAMU Board of Trustees Chairman Chuck Badger said he understood why the student athletes might be upset about how the coaching shakeup took place.
"I don't think anybody expected there to be any kind of
disruption during homecoming," Badger told the Democrat. “I hope the students and
alumni and fans still have a homecoming experience. Changing the coach the day
before homecoming. I guess I can understand but I can also understand some
disgruntlement by players and students.”
Holmes personally apologized to the players for the way in which they learned about the coaching change.
"I apologized to the players. I apologized on behalf of
FAMU. I wanted them to see the FAMU I grew up it. This isn't the FAMU I grew up
in. I apologize to everybody on behalf of FAMU," Holmes said.