1954 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

1954 Florida A&M Rattlers football
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record8–1 (4–0 SIAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBragg Stadium
Seasons
← 1953
1955 →
Nineteen lettermen returned from the 10–1 1953 squad to play for the 1954 Rattlers team.

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 three-time All-American and future National Football League star, left halfback Willie Galimore.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 25Texas College*
W 39–143,000[3]
October 2at BenedictColumbia, SCW 26–6
October 16at Morris BrownAtlanta, GAW 27–7
October 23at Prairie View A&M*
W 19–7[4]
October 30vs. Xavier (LA)
W 25–613,000
November 6North Carolina A&T*dagger
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 14–712,000[5]
November 13Allen
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 68–13
November 20at Southern*Baton Rouge, LAL 23–59[6]
December 4vs. Maryland State*
W 67–1941,179[7]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

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 trips Prairie View, 19–7". The Birmingham News. October 24, 1954. Retrieved September 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Florida A&M Gets 14-7 Scare". Tallahassee Democrat. November 7, 1954. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Southern U. Beats FAMU". Tallahassee Democrat. November 21, 1954. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "A&M Romps Over Hawks". Miami Daily News. December 5, 1954. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.