Patrick Crarey III blames himself for Grambling’s loss to Florida A&M

Florida A&M protected its home court, beating Grambling 91-84 in a high-scoring affair. The game was on Patrick Creray III returns to Tallahassee for the first time since coaching the Rattlers last season. And, according to Crary, he thinks his emotions got the better of him as he prepared his team to win this season-defining game.

“The moment I got Tallahassee, it was tough. I wasn’t myself all weekend. I think I let my team down,” Crary said of the loss in a quote obtained from Democrat from Tallahassee. “It’s 100 percent on me. They played a lot better than we did tonight. I think they were more prepared than us. It was tough.”

The game was one of the most anticipated on the HBCU basketball calendar, as Crary became the head coach at Florida A&M and then Grambling State last season. Tiffany Dawn-Sykes hired Crary in April 2024 to lead the Rattlers men’s basketball team, drawing skepticism from the Florida A&M Board of Trustees.

Concerns over Crary’s initial firing of 16 players from the team and his adherence to NCAA policy led to significant debate within university leadership about his viability as a coach. Despite early misgivings, Crarey formally assumed his role on a one-year, $150,000 contract that began in August after the Board of Trustees voted by a 6-2 majority. And he led the Rattlers to one of their more successful seasons in recent years.

Florida A&M finished with a 13-15 record and a 10-8 conference record in the 2024-25 season. The team’s record was a huge improvement over the 2023-2024 season, where Florida A&M finished 6-23 and 4-14 in the conference. Florida A&M reportedly offered Crary a two-year extension that would keep him at the institution until 2027. But the domino effect caused by Donte Jackson leaving Grambling to coach Alabama A&M led to Crary becoming Grambling’s new head coach. The Rattlers turned to Florida State legend Charlie Ward as Crary’s successor.

Although Crarei implies that his emotions left his team underprepared for the match, his Tigers competed well. Jameel Mutilib finished the game with 22 points, three steals and two 3-pointers, and Darius Ward logged 40 minutes and finished with 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and one steal while making two 3-pointers and making seven of his eight free throws. Grambling also increased their scoring in the second half, scoring 48 points in the final 20 minutes to Florida A&M’s 52.

Now, all eyes turn to Feb. 28 as Ward’s Rattlers travel to Grambling for the rematch.