Prior to the NFL, in 1949 Willie Irvin attended Florida A& M University (then known as Florida A & M College) on a football scholarship where he was coached by the legendary Jake "The Snake" Gaither, one of the most winning coaches in the history of college football.
Coach Gaither was known for not playing freshmen, however, during his freshman year Willie Irvin was sent into a game to replace an injured end by Assistant Coach Hansel "Tootie" Tookes. Known by the nickname "Big Train", on his first play, Willie Irvin made an interception, ran 55 yards to score a touchdown and was a starter for that time on. In 1995, Wilie Irvin was inducted into FAMU's Sports Hall of Fame for football.
Although he attended FAMU on a football scholarship, Willie Irvin also played on the basketball team. He and three teammates Thomas "Butch" Hogan, Charles "Trick Shot" White, and John "Turk" Culyer made FAMU history by defeating Alabama State in the 1952 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament. Due to FAMU players having fouled out, Willie Irvin (who had four personal fouls himself) and his three teammates played for more than 13 minutes with only four men on the court. After playing into double overtime, the four-man team defeated Alabama State 71–67. Willie Irvin and his three teammates were inducted into FAMU's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 as the "Famed Final Four of 1952," at which time Jake Gaither stated that "this was the greatest display of determination by any Rattlers squad."
For his athletic achievements, Willie Irvin was also inducted into the Palm Beach County, Florida Sports Hall of Fame.
Upon graduating from FAMU in 1953, Willie Irvin was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles where he played as a defensive back until he was drafted by the Army.
After being honorably discharged from the Army, Willie Irvin got his master's degree and became a coach, teacher and eventually a career school administrator at Twin Lakes High School, later retiring from the school system after 34 years.
Today, Willie Irvin enjoys being retired and spending time with his two daughters and granddaughter in South Florida.
Michael Jerome Irvin is an American sports commentator and former professional football player. He played his entire 12-year career as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). In 2007, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American professional football defensive tackle who played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). Buchanan was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Buchanan was massive for his era, standing at 6'7", and weighing 270 lbs. His height gave him a big advantage against lineman in the trenches.
James Houston Davenport was an American Major League Baseball infielder, primarily a third baseman, who played his entire career—over 1,500 games—with the San Francisco Giants (1958–1970). He also managed the Giants (1985), served as a coach for them for nine years over three different terms, and spent 51 years in all with the San Francisco organization. The right-handed batter and thrower, nicknamed "Peanut" or "Peanuts" as a child by his grandfather, was listed as 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and 170 pounds (77 kg).
Ositadimma "Osi" Umenyiora is a British-Nigerian former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans and was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. Umenyiora was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and holds the Giants franchise record for most sacks in one game. He is one of five British-born players to have won a Super Bowl, joining Marvin Allen, Scott McCready, former Troy and Giants teammate Lawrence Tynes, and Jay Ajayi. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons.
Earl L. Holmes is a former American football linebacker and former head coach at Florida A&M University. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 4th round of the 1996 NFL draft 126th overall out of Florida A&M University. Holmes was inducted into the FAMU Hall of Fame in July 2005 to join the likes of Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither and FAMU'S "Famed Final Four of 1952."
Samuel Ray Graves was an American professional football player and college football coach. He was a native of Tennessee and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he was the starting center and team captain for the Volunteers under head coach Robert Neyland. After playing in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons, he returned to Tennessee to serve as an assistant football coach, then left for a longer stint as an assistant at Georgia Tech under head coach Bobby Dodd. He was the head football coach at the University of Florida from 1960 until 1969, where he led the Gators to their most successful decade in program history up to that point. While at Florida, he recruited and coached Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Steve Spurrier, who often praised Graves as a role model and mentor during his own successful coaching career. Graves also served as Florida's athletic director from 1960 until his retirement in 1979.
Kenneth Jerome Riley was an American professional football cornerback who spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Bengals, first in the American Football League (AFL) in 1969 and then the National Football League (NFL) from 1970 through 1983. Riley recorded 65 interceptions in his career, which was the fourth most in NFL history at the time of his retirement. Despite his accomplishments, he was never an exceptionally well-known or popular player. Riley was never once selected to play in the AFL All-Star Game or the Pro Bowl, but he was selected to three All-Pro teams.
Lee Harold Carmichael is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles (1971–1983) and one year for the Dallas Cowboys (1984). Carmichael was the director of player development and alumni for the Eagles from 1998 to 2014, and a fan engagement liaison from 2014 to 2015.
Maxie Callaway Baughan Jr. was an American football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and the Washington Redskins. Baughan played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Alonzo Smith "Jake" Gaither was an American college football coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU) for 25 years, from 1945 to 1969, compiling a record of 204–36–4. His won–loss record is among the best of any college football coach.
Irvin Acie Cross was an American professional football player and sportscaster. He played cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Philadelphia Eagles. Working with CBS, Cross was the first African-American sports analyst on national television. He was an initial co-host of The NFL Today, which became the pregame show standard for all television networks.
Richard Barry Krauss is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Jeff Sylvester Herrod is an American former professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles. He was selected by the Colts in the ninth round of the 1988 NFL draft. He played college football for Ole Miss.
Willie Bernard Jackson Jr. is an American former professional football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Florida. As a football coach, he was the wide receivers coach for the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football (AAF).
Roger Lewis Finnie was an American football former offensive tackle and defensive tackle who played eleven professional seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Finnie played college football for Florida A&M University.
Edward Michel "Eddie" Khayat is a thirty-five year National Football League (NFL) veteran, ten years as a player and twenty-five as a coach. He was a starting defensive tackle for the victorious Philadelphia Eagles in the 1960 NFL Championship Game and later their head coach in 1971 and 1972. He has been inducted into six Halls of Fame. Currently he serves on the Former Players Board of Directors of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).
John Richard Symank was an American college and professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1950s and 1960s. Symank played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL. He was later the head coach for Northern Arizona University and the University of Texas at Arlington football teams.
John Thurman "Red" Cochran Jr. was an American football cornerback and later an assistant coach and scout in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wake Forest University.
The Florida A&M Rattlers represent Florida A&M University (FAMU) in college athletics. Florida A&M is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and participates in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). FAMU offers men's sports in baseball, basketball, football, golf, and track and field. It offers women's sports in basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball.
Rudy Hubbard is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida from 1974 to 1985, compiling a record of 83–48–3. Hubbard led the Florida A&M Rattlers to the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship, in 1978, and consecutive black college football national championships, in 1977 and 1978. Hubbard played college football at Ohio State University, lettering from 1965 to 1967. Following his graduation from Ohio State in 1968, he remained with the Buckeyes for six seasons as an assistant coach under Woody Hayes. In 2008, Hubbard returned to coaching the high school level, serving as head football coach at James S. Rickards High School in Tallahassee for four seasons.
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