1954 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

Last updated
1954 Florida A&M Rattlers football
Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
1954 record8–1 (4–0 SIAC)
Head coach
Home stadium Bragg Stadium
Seasons
  1953
1955  

The 1954 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 1954 college football season. In their 10th season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled an 8–1 record, including a victory over Maryland State in the Orange Blossom Classic. The team played its home games at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

The Pittsburgh Courier selected Florida A&M as Black college national co-champion in a five-way tie with four other teams. [1] The "Pigskin Huddle" rated Florida A&M No. 2 with Tennessee A&I as the national champion. [2]

Key players included Willie Galimore.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 25 Texas College *W 39–143,000 [3]
October 2at Benedict Columbia, SC W 26–6
October 16at Morris Brown Atlanta, GA W 27–7
October 23at Prairie View A&M * Prairie View, TX W 19–7
October 30vs. Xavier (LA) W 25–613,000
November 6 North Carolina A&T *Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 14–712,000 [4]
November 13 Allen
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 68–13
November 20at Southern * Baton Rouge, LA L 23–59 [5]
December 4vs. Maryland State *W 67–1941,179 [6]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming

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References

  1. "Five Teams Claim Nat'l Grid Crown After Gala Season". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 25, 1954. p. 13 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Luix Virgil Overbea (December 25, 1954). "Pigskin Huddle". The Afro-American. p. 16.
  3. "A&M Wins 39-14". Tallahassee Democrat . September 26, 1954. p. 1 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Florida A&M Gets 14-7 Scare". Tallahassee Democrat. November 7, 1954. p. 18 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Southern U. Beats FAMU". Tallahassee Democrat. November 21, 1954. p. 17 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "A&M Romps Over Hawks". Miami Daily News. December 5, 1954. p. 1D via Newspapers.com.