1959 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

The 1959 Florida A&M Rattlers football team was an American football team that represented Florida A&M University as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) during the 1959 NCAA College Division football season. In their 15th season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled a perfect 10–0 record, including a victory over Prairie View A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic for the black college football national championship. The team was ranked No. 14 in the final UPI coaches small colleges poll. The team played its home games at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

1959 Florida A&M Rattlers football
Black college national champion
SIAC champion
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
1959 record10–0 (5–0 SIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBragg Memorial Stadium

The team's statistical leaders included Clarence Childs with 537 rushing yards, Theodore Richardson with 354 passing yards, and Williams Barber with 116 receiving yards.[1]

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 3Benedict
W 74–0[2]
October 10Wiley*
  • Bragg Memorial Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 64–0[3]
October 17Morris Brown
  • Bragg Memorial Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 6–0[4]
October 24vs. Bethune–CookmanJacksonville, FLW 68–6[5]
October 31South Carolina State
  • Bragg Memorial Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 34–12[6]
November 7at North Carolina A&T*Greensboro, NCW 28–16[7]
November 14AllenNo. 20Columbia, SCW 52–8[8]
November 21Southern*
  • Bragg Memorial Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 21–14[9]
November 28at Texas Southern*No. 14Houston, TXW 36–8[10]
December 5vs. Prairie View A&M*No. 14
W 28–743,645[11]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References
  1. "Florida A&M Rattler Football Media Guide" (PDF). Florida A&M University. 2015.
  2. "Florida A&M Stomps Benedict, 74-0". Tallahassee Democrat. October 4, 1959. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Florida A&M Runs Past Wiley, 64-0". Tallahassee Democrat. October 11, 1959. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Florida A&M Rattlers Whip Stubborn Morris Brown 6-0". Tallahassee Democrat. October 18, 1959. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Rattlers Whip Bethune 68-6". Tallahassee Democrat. October 25, 1959. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "A&M Powers Past South Carolina State". Tallahassee Democrat. November 1, 1959. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Rattlers Win Sixth Straight". Tallahassee Democrat. November 8, 1959. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Florida A&M Wins Over Allen Club". Tallahassee Democrat. November 15, 1959. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "A&M Scores Late For 21-14 Win". Tallahassee Democrat. November 22, 1959. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Rattlers Finish Strong For Win". Tallahassee Democrat. November 29, 1959. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "A&M Rips Panthers, 28-7". Tallahassee Democrat. December 6, 1959. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
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