Florida A&M Rattlers football

The Florida A&M Rattlers football team represents Florida A&M University in the sport of American football. The Rattlers compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the south division of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). They play their home games at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee. The Rattlers have won 15 black college football national championship, 29 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) titles, eight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles and one I-AA national title in the history of their football program. During the 2004 season, the Rattlers briefly attempted to move up to Division I-A (now known as the FBS) and become the only HBCU at college football's highest level, but the team was forced to abort its bid.[2]

Florida A&M Rattlers football
2020 Florida A&M Rattlers football team
First season1907
Head coachWillie Simmons
2nd season, 15–7 (.682)
StadiumBragg Memorial Stadium
(Capacity: 25,500)
Field surfaceAstroTurf
LocationTallahassee, Florida
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceMEAC
All-time record567–274–23 (.670)
Bowl record28–21–2 (.569)
Claimed national titles15
(Div. I FCS): 1978
(Black College): 1938, 1942, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1959, 1961,1962, 1977, 1978, 1998, 2001, 2019
Unclaimed national titles1
(Div. II): 1962
Conference titles37
RivalriesBethune-Cookman (rivalry)
ColorsGreen and Orange[1]
         
Marching bandMarching 100
WebsiteFAMUAthletics.com

History

Classifications
  • 1952–1972: NCAA College Division
  • 1973–1977: NCAA Division II
  • 1978–2003: NCAA Division I–AA
  • 2004: NCAA Division I–A
  • 2005–present: NCAA Division I–AA/FCS

Conference memberships

In 1978, FAMU was a member of SIAC, a Division II conference. FAMU had successfully petitioned the NCAA for Division I classification (Division I-AA in football), which took effect on September 1, 1978.[4]

Annual Classic

Championships

National, Black College

The Rattlers claim 15 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) championships:[5]

  • 1938
  • 1942
  • 1950
  • 1952
  • 1953
  • 1954
  • 1957
  • 1959
  • 1961
  • 1962
  • 1977
  • 1978
  • 1998
  • 2001
  • 2019

National, Division I–AA/FCS
Year Association Division Coach Selector Record Opponent Score
1978NCAADivision I–AARudy HubbardPlayoffs12–1Massachusetts35–28

National, Division II/College Division

One Florida A&M team has been awarded a national championship from NCAA-designated designated major selector, as they were declared Associated Press (AP) small college national champion for the 1962 season. While the school holds the distinction of being the first HBCU to win NCAA football title, the championship is not claimed by the university.

Year Association Division Coach Selector Record
1962NCAACollege DivisionJake Gaither Poll9–1

Conference championships

Florida A&M has won 37 conference championships, 30 outright and 7 shared.

Year Coach Conference Record
1937William M. BellSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference7–1–1
1938William M. BellSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–0
1942William M. BellSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference9–0
1943Herman NeilsonSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference7–3
1945Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference9–1
1946Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference6–4–1
1947Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference9–1
1948Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–2
1949Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference7–2
1950†Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–1
1952†Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–2
1953Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference10–1
1954Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–1
1955Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference7–1–1
1956Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–1
1957Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference9–0
1958Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference7–2
1959Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference10–0
1960Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference9–1
1961Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference10–0
1962†Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference9–1
1963†Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–2
1964Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference9–1
1965Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference7–3
1967Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–2
1968Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–2
1969Jake GaitherSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference8–1
1977Rudy HubbardSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference11–0
1978Rudy HubbardSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference12–1
1988†Ken RileyMid-Eastern Athletic Conference6–4–1
1990Ken RileyMid-Eastern Athletic Conference7–4
1995Billy JoeMid-Eastern Athletic Conference9–3
1996Billy JoeMid-Eastern Athletic Conference9–3
1998†Billy JoeMid-Eastern Athletic Conference11–2
2000Billy JoeMid-Eastern Athletic Conference9–2
2001Billy JoeMid-Eastern Athletic Conference7–3
2010†Joe TaylorMid-Eastern Athletic Conference8–3

† Co-champions

Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results

The Rattlers have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs seven times with a record of 5–6. They were I-AA National Champions in 1978, the first year of Division I-AA.

Year Round Opponent Result
1978Semifinals
National Championship Game		Jackson State
Massachusetts		W 15–10
W 35–28
1996First RoundTroy StateL 25–29
1997First RoundGeorgia SouthernL 37–52
1998First Round
Quarterfinals		Troy State
Western Illinois		W 27–17
L 21–24
1999First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Appalachian State
Troy State
Youngstown State		W 44–29
W 17–10
L 24–27
2000First RoundWKUL 0–27
2001First RoundGeorgia SouthernL 35–60

College Football Hall of Fame members

Alumni in the NFL

Over 60 Florida A&M alumni have played in the NFL,[6] including:

References
  1. FAMUAthletics.com Style Guide (PDF). Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  2. Powell, Robert Andrew (October 9, 2004). "Florida A&M Tries to Recover From Failed Bid". New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  3. Connelly, Bill (May 4, 2016). "That time FAMU nearly made it in college football's top level, but the timing was all wrong". SB Nation.
  4. Cooper, Barry (August 31, 1978). "Florida A&M granted Division 1 status". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. p. 1B. Retrieved May 13, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  5. "FAMU to join Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2021".
  6. "Florida A&M Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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