Plans to clear parking lots and tailgating spots by 8pm after homecoming game draws criticism

Three Key Takeaways

• An 8 p.m. cutoff sparks outrage: FAMU Police announced that all parking lots, tailgate areas and parking garages must be cleared by 8 p.m. Saturday after the Homecoming football game.
• Alumni question the university’s communication: Major donor and alumnus Rick Kinsey criticized the timing and format of the announcement, calling it unprofessional and questioning why a formal memorandum was not issued.
• Rattlers want answers: Alumni and supporters are questioning the rationale for the deadline, arguing that it could sharply curtail postgame celebrations and the fellowship that makes Homecoming special.

A social media announcement from FAMU’s Police Department has ignited a wave of frustration among alumni, fans and members of the university community, with critics questioning the timing, communication and rationale behind an order requiring all parking lots, tailgate areas and parking garages to be cleared by 8 p.m. Saturday, following the Rattlers’ Homecoming football game.

The announcement, posted Wednesday afternoon, has left some members of the FAMU community asking why a day traditionally associated with football, fellowship and reunions must end so abruptly.

For many, FAMU's Homecoming is more than a football game. It is an annual gathering of generations of alumni, friends and supporters, many of whom travel from across the country to reconnect on the university’s campus. Tailgating is a central part of that experience, extending the celebration beyond the final whistle.

The 8 p.m. deadline, however, has prompted questions about whether the university has adequately considered the expectations of those who make the annual pilgrimage to Tallahassee.

“This isn't excellence with caring,” one frustrated member of the community said, invoking the university’s  motto that emphasizes excellence and concern for its people.

Among the sharpest critics was Rick Kinsey, a FAMU alumnus and major donor who leads the "Rattlers In Arms" charitable giving group, characterized the social media announcement as an unprofessional way to communicate with donors and season-ticket holders and families planning to attend the festivities.

Kinsey questioned why information with such significant implications for Homecoming attendees be distributed the week of through what he described as an AI-generated flyer rather than a formal university communication.

“So you have a game operations meeting on Tuesday and put out an AI generated flyer on Wednesday afternoon to inform us,” he wrote. “Again, a major failure.”

He also challenged the apparent reliance on police staffing constraints as a reason for the deadline, suggesting that additional security personnel could have been contracted if necessary.

“Just because TPD is leaving early, FAMU Police Chief could have contracted additional security,” Kinsey wrote, referring to the Tallahassee Police Department.

Kinsey went further, criticizing the university’s leadership and raising concerns about the role of the FAMU police chief.  It also remains unclear whether additional security options were considered.

Other members of the FAMU community expressed frustration about the limited time they would have to socialize after the game.

“Dang! They ain’t giving no time to hangout after the game,” Michael Reid wrote in a social media comment.

Reid questioned the practical reasoning behind the cutoff, noting that a game scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. could reasonably be expected to conclude closer to 7 p.m., particularly if halftime runs long.  “So If The Game Kicks Off At 3:00,pm ... After A Likely Extended Halftime And The Game ... It Should End 'Reasonably' Closer To 7:00pm Than 6:00pm,” Reid wrote.

Lakeidra Capers also appeared among those engaging with the discussion, reflecting the broader conversation unfolding among members of the university community.

The comments underscore a larger tension between the logistical demands of managing a major university event and the expectations of a community for whom Homecoming carries deep cultural and emotional significance.

Universities must account for security, staffing, traffic and public safety when hosting large gatherings. But for alumni and supporters, the way those decisions are communicated can be nearly as important as the decisions themselves, particularly when visitors have already made travel arrangements and invested time and money in attending.

For FAMU, whose Homecoming draws nearly 100,000 visitors or more to Tallahassee year after year, the dispute touches on more than parking. It raises questions about transparency, planning and the disconnect between FAMU's new administration ', AD John Davis (an FSU grad) , university administrators and the community that sustains the institution. The campus police's ultimatum has landed as an unwelcome reminder that FAMU's administration has no HBCU ties.

The immediate question is whether the 8 p.m. clearance requirement is a firm operational necessity or a decision that could be revisited with additional planning, staffing or communication.

Until university officials explain the reasoning behind the deadline, frustration among some Rattlers is likely to persist. 

Alumni who travel hundreds of miles, spend thousands of dollars on tailgate set ups,  to celebrate their university, the question is not simply when they must leave the parking lot. It is whether the institution has done enough to make them feel welcome while they are there in the first place.

UPDATE: Tailgating lots will now close at 10 pm. FAMU, this more issued the following notice via social media, after stakeholder pushback. "We want to correct an earlier announcement about the tailgate times. Alums reuniting on campus is part of the experience, so we're extending our typical 90-minute post-game tailgate to 10:00 p.m. We’ll see you on the Highest of Seven Hills!

FAMU Extends Homecoming Tailgating Hours to 10 p.m. Saturday."