Florida A&M University tops the first edition of our Historically Black College and University (HBCU) regular season Top 10 baseball poll in the large school division as announced by Black College Nines on March 14, 2017.
The Rattlers have had some incredible come-from behind walk-off wins this season including a 9-run ninth-inning game tying 12-12 score which went into extras before a 13-12 walk-off win against East Tennessee State. FAMU received the most first-place votes and total points in the “large school” division which is made up of NCAA Division I baseball programs. Right behind Florida A&M is the defending Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion Bethune Cookman University (9-6).
In the “small school” division, made up of NCAA Division II and Division III schools as well as those in the NAIA, Harris-Stowe State University garners the top spot. Harris-Stowe started the season winning nine of its first 12 games including an eight game winning streak. The Hornets, from the American Midwest Conference (AMC), have had solid pitching and hitting while building a 17-5 record. Following Harris-Stowe State is Talladega College.
Black College Nines’ continues the tradition of ranking HBCU baseball polls and is in its third year of existence and is a revitalization of the only previous HBCU baseball rankings, last conducted in 2012 by Ruffin Bell on his Black College Baseball website. The crowning of Black College Nines National Champions will be announced on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 at 10 AM (EST) on the Black College Nines’ website.
The Voting Committee of Black College Nines determines the Top 10 rankings. The group includes college athletic administrators, educators, college baseball writers and other mass media communication sports journalists and broadcasters, former HBCU and other college ballplayers from across the nation. Overall records do not include ties.
The two divisional polls are as follows…
Large School Division
| No. | School | Conference | W-L | Previous |
| 1 | Florida A&M University | MEAC | 11-4 | – |
| 2 | Bethune Cookman University | MEAC | 9-6 | – |
| 3 | Alabama State University | SWAC | 7-9 | – |
| 4 | Jackson State University | SWAC | 10-6 | – |
| 5 | North Carolina Central University | MEAC | 9-6 | – |
| 6 | North Carolina A&T University | MEAC | 9-6 | – |
| 7 | Savannah State University | MEAC | 9-8 | – |
| 8 | Grambling State University | SWAC | 7-9 | – |
| 9 | Alcorn State University | SWAC | 6-8 | – |
| 10 | Norfolk State University | MEAC | 4-10 | – |
Small School Division
| No. | School | Conference | W-L | Previous |
| 1 | Harris-Stowe State University | AMC | 17-5 | – |
| 2 | Talladega College | GCAC | 17-9 | – |
| 3 | Edward Waters College | GCAC | 15-10 | – |
| 4 | Benedict College | SIAC | 7-3 | – |
| 5 | West Virginia State University | MEC | 7-5 | – |
| 6 | Tuskegee University | SIAC | 11-9 | – |
| 7 | Virginia State University | CIAA | 9-7 | – |
| 8 | Jarvis Christian College | RRAC | 11-14 | – |
| 9 | Winston Salem State University | CIAA | 10-11 | – |
| 10 | Miles College | SIAC | 8-7 | – |
2017 Poll Dates:
Week 1 (March 14, 2017)
Week 2 (April 4, 2017)
Week 3 (April 18, 2017)
Week 4 (April 25, 2017)
Week 5 (May 2, 2017)
Week 6 (May 9, 2017)
Week 7 (May 16, 2017)
Week 8* (May 23, 2017)
*Final Poll
FAMU have defined themselves rightfully at the top of the division ratings thus far.
We as Rattlers join the Players and the Coaching and Staff for a job well done.
Our goal is to anoint Coach Shoope with a NCAA baseball Championship and our Alumni will work to reach that end.