1945 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1945 Florida A&M Rattlers football Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference SIAC 9–1 6–0 Jake Gaither 1st Sampson-Bragg Field SIAC champion Orange Blossom Classic L 6–32 vs. Wiley The 1945 Florida A&M Rattlers football team was an American football team that represented Florida A&M College as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) during the 1945 college football season. In their first season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled an overall record of 9–1 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, winning the SIAC championship.Smith Joel W Surveying The Sports Front; Fla. Rattlers Retain SIAC Crown With Perfect Season; Clark Panthers Second https://www.newspapers.com/article/atlanta-daily-world/194932797/ Atlanta Daily World Atlanta, Georgia November 27, 1945 5 April 5, 2026 Newspapers.com Scott Herman Rattlers Clinch SIAC Crown; Clark Second https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal/194932901/ The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia December 3, 1945 16 April 4, 2026 Newspapers.com The team's sole loss was to undefeated black college national champion Wiley in the Orange Blossom Classic. The Rattlers played their home games at Sampson-Bragg Field in Tallahassee, Florida. After seven years as an assistant coach, Jake Gaither took over as head football coach prior to the 1945 season. It was during the 1945 season that Gaither first adopted the "blood, sweat and tears" motto for his team, taking the phrase from the famous words of Winston Churchill.West Wind Blows Tallahassee Daily Democrat October 12, 1945 8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8865337/gaithers_first_use_of_blood_sweat_and/ Newspapers.com Gaither's assistants in 1945 were Pete Griffin, M.L. Neeley, and Jess Ramsey. Four Florida A&M players were named to the All-SIAC football team selected by the conference coaches: quarterback Leroy Cromartie; halfback Ted Montgomery; end Nathaniel Powell; and tackle Bill Brewington. Two others received honorable mention honors: center Forrest McKinney and fullback Lernard Ingraham.Four Rattlers Picked On All-Conference Team The Tallahassee Daily Democrat C.B. Lindsey December 19, 1945 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39459552/four_rattlers_picked_on_allconference/ Newspapers.com At the team banquet following the season, college president, Dr. William H. Gray Jr., praised the work of his young coach: "Although I value a winning football team, I value Coach Gaither, not because he has coached a championship team, but because he has proved himself to be a great teacher of men, both by precept and by example. The lessons that our boys have learned under the direction of Coach Gaither, if applied throughout life, will bring victory to them, not only on the field of athletic endeavor but also in the greater field that lies ahead." Schedule Eastern y y y October 6 at Wilberforce Wilberforce, OH W 26–20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-st-louis-argus-florida-am-rattle/196051754/ The St. Louis Argus Florida A.&M. Rattlers stop Wilberforce 26–20 October 12, 1945 April 21, 2026 Newspapers.com October 13 at 1945 Alabama State Hornets Alabama State Hornet Stadium Montgomery, AL W 17–2 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-florida-am/196051923/ The Montgomery Advertiser Florida A.&M. whips State, 17–2 October 14, 1945 April 21, 2026 Newspapers.com October 20 1945 Morris Brown Wolverines Morris Brown Sampson-Bragg Field Tallahassee, FL W 39–0 4,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-rattlers-swamp-morr/196052072/ Sunday News-Democrat Rattlers swamp Morris Brown easily, 39 to 0 October 21, 1945 April 21, 2026 Newspapers.com October 27 1945 Knoxville Bulldogs Knoxville Sampson-Bragg Field Tallahassee, FL W 25–0 Rattlers Shut Out Knoxville, 25 to 0 Tallahassee Sunday News-Democrat October 28, 1945 19 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39459090/rattlers_shut_out_knoxville_25_to_0/ Newspapers.com November 3 vs. Tennessee A&I<ncg> Jacksonville Stadium Jacksonville, FL W 20–18 Rattlers Edge Tennessee 20–18 Tallahassee Sunday News-Democrat November 4, 1945 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39458872/rattlers_edge_tennessee_2018/ Newspapers.com November 10 at 1945 Tuskegee Golden Tigers Tuskegee Alumni Bowl Tuskegee, AL W 54–20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-weekly-review-florida-a-and-m-wollop/196052281/ The Weekly Review Florida A and M wollops Tuskegee November 17, 1945 April 21, 2026 Newspapers.com November 17 at 1945 Clark Panthers Clark (GA) Ponce de Leon Park Atlanta, GA W 24–19 https://www.newspapers.com/article/atlanta-daily-world-florida-rattlers-tri/196052413/ Atlanta Daily World Florida Rattlers trip Clark Panthers, 24–19 November 18, 1945 April 21, 2026 Newspapers.com November 24 at 1945 Morehouse Maroon Tigers Morehouse<hc> Harper Field Atlanta, GA W 46–6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal-rattlers-smash-moreh/196052605/ The Atlanta Journal Rattlers smash Morehouse, 44–6 November 25, 1945 April 21, 2026 Newspapers.com December 1 2:30 p.m. Louisiana Normal (Grambling)<ncg> Sampson-Bragg Field Tallahassee, FL W 33–12 Lindsay C B Rattlers to Meet Louisiana Normal Here Saturday https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat/157627128/ Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida November 28, 1945 8 October 22, 2024 Newspapers.com A&M Rattlers Down Louisiana Normal 33–12 Tallahassee Sunday News-Democrat C.B. Lindsay December 2, 1945 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39457671/am_rattlers_down_louisiana_normal_3312/ Newspapers.com December 8 vs Wiley<ncg> Phillips Field Tampa, FL (Orange Blossom Classic) L 6–32 8,000 Wiley Downs Aggies To Win Negro Crown Tampa Sunday Tribune December 9, 1945 1B References Florida AandM Category:Florida A&M Rattlers football seasons Category:Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football champion seasons Florida AandM Rattlers football