1978 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1978 Florida A&M Rattlers football Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference SIAC 12–1 5–0 3 Rudy Hubbard 5th Fred Goldsmith 5th Bragg Memorial Stadium NCAA Division I-AA championBlack college national championSIAC champion NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game W 35–28 vs. UMass The 1978 Florida A&M Rattlers football team represented Florida A&M University in the 1978 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Rattlers had an overall record of 12–1 and were the NCAA Division I-AA champions.https://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/17/archives/umass-toppled-in-bowl-3528-angelo-state-34-elon-14.html UMass Toppled in Bowl, 35-28 AP The New York Times December 17, 1978 May 13, 2019 The Rattlers were led by fifth year head coach Rudy Hubbard; they played some home games at Bragg Memorial Stadium on their own campus, and other home games at the larger Doak Campbell Stadium on the campus of Florida State University. They finished their regular season with a 9–1 record, including a win over Bethune–Cookman in the Florida Classic rivalry game. The Rattlers then beat Grambling State in the Orange Blossom Classic to secure a spot in the I-AA playoffs. In the playoffs, the Rattlers won on the road against Jackson State, then beat UMass in the championship game, the Pioneer Bowl played in Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1978, Florida A&M was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), an NCAA Division II conference. The university had successfully petitioned the NCAA for NCAA Division I classification (NCAA Division I-AA in football), which took effect on September 1, 1978.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31514902/florida_am_granted_divison_1_status/ Florida A&M granted Division 1 status Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 1B August 31, 1978 May 13, 2019 newspapers.com The Rattlers captured the SIAC title in 1978,https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31574367/jackson_state_opens_iaa_title_bid_today/ Jackson State opens I-AA title bid today Art Magee Hattiesburg American Hattiesburg, Mississippi 11 December 9, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com going undefeated in five conference games. This was the Rattlers' last season as a member of SIAC, as they joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) the following year.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31576033/meac_gets_boost_with_addition_of/ MEAC gets boost with addition of Florida A&M, Bethune-Cookman Jack Ireland The News Journal Wilmington, Delaware 16 October 24, 1979 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com Statistical leaders for the season included Ike Williams (1,274 yards rushing), Albert Chester (1,088 yards passing), Chris Douglas (228 yards receiving), and Mike Solomon (12 touchdowns).http://www.famuathletics.com/attachments1/433934.pdf Florida A&M Football Media Guide 2015 Florida A&M University 80–81 May 14, 2019 famuathletics.com A notable member of the team was placekicker Vince Coleman, went on to play 13 seasons in Major League Baseball, well known for his time with the St. Louis Cardinals.https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-05-12-8501290837-story.html Cards' Rookie Looks Like a Steal Jody Homer Chicago Tribune May 12, 1985 May 14, 2019 Schedule 1978 NCAA Division I-AA Associated Press Eastern September 16 1:30 p.m. w y 1978 Albany State Golden Rams Albany State Mills Memorial Stadium Albany, GA 21–7 11,501 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31571868/can_rattlers_keep_longest_stream_alive/ Can Rattlers Keep Longest Stream Alive? Eddie Jackson The Tampa Tribune 8-C September 16, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31572347/florida_am_opens_at_albany/ Florida A&M opens at Albany Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 3B September 16, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31571967/defensive_effort_aids_famu_win/ Defensive Effort Aids FAMU Win Eddie Jackson The Tampa Tribune 9-D September 17, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com September 23 7:00 p.m. w y Delaware State Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL 7 37–0 17,532 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585054/rattlers_rally/ Rattlers rally Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 1A September 23, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585074/famu_rattles_by_delaware_st/ FAMU Rattles By Delaware St. Eddie Jackson The Tampa Tribune 5-D September 24, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.com September 30 7:00 p.m. w y Howard Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL 7 28–7 11,882 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585113/extra_incentive_for_famu/ Extra incentive for FAMU Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 4B September 30, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585143/famu_rips_howard_for_no_15/ FAMU rips Howard for No 15 Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 1C October 1, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.com October 7 7:30 p.m. w y Maryland Eastern Shore Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL 7 45–0 30,100 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585182/famu_meets_determined_hawks_tonight/ FAMU meets determined Hawks tonight Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 3B October 7, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585203/famu_makes_it_16_in_a_row/ FAMU makes it 16 in a row AP The News-Press Fort Myers, Florida 4C October 8, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.com October 14 1:30 p.m. w y 1978 Morris Brown Wolverines Morris Brown Herndon Stadium Atlanta, GA 7 56–0 12,776 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585256/famu_routs_morris_brown/ FAMU Routs Morris Brown Associated Press The Palm Beach Post Palm Beach, Florida E8 October 15, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.com October 21 7:00 p.m. l y Tennessee State Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL 4 21–24 29,820 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585283/tsu_747_will_try_to_bomb_rattlers/ TSU, '747' will try to bomb Rattlers Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 4B October 21, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585361/tsu_halts_am_streak_2421/ TSU Halts A&M Streak 24-21 David Climer The Tennessean Nashville, Tennessee 1-D October 22, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.com October 28 7:00 p.m. w 1978 Tuskegee Golden Tigers Tuskegee Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL 5 41–13 11,793 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585428/rattlers_hit_comeback_trail_tonight/ Rattlers hit comeback trail tonight Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 2B October 28, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31585447/florida_am_overwhelms_tuskegee_4113/ Florida A&M Overwhelms Tuskegee 41-13 Associated Press The Palm Beach Post Palm Beach, Florida E4 October 29, 1978 May 15, 2019 newspapers.com November 4 1:30 p.m. w 1978 Alabama A&M Bulldogs Alabama A&M Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL 3 42–0 21,637 y https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31580381/rattlers_put_420_bite_on_bulldogs/ Rattlers put 42-0 bite on Bulldogs Horace Gosier St. Petersburg Times St. Petersburg, Florida 7c November 5, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com November 18 4:10 p.m. w y y Southern Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA ABC 3 16–12 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31580023/southernflorida_am/ Southern-Florida A&M The Town Talk Alexandria, Louisiana B-1 November 18, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31580178/famu_rolls_past_southern/ FAMU rolls past Southern AP The News-Press Fort Myers, Florida 4C November 19, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com November 25 1:30 p.m. w y 1978 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats Bethune–Cookman Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL rivalry 3 27–17 40,868 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31579802/famu_fans_get_win_run_to_remember/ FAMU Fans Get Win, Run To Remember Larry Mlynczak The Palm Beach Post Palm Beach, Florida E5 November 26, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com December 2 7:30 p.m. w y y Grambling State Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Blossom Classic 3 31–7 35,499 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31578534/rattlers_ramble_past_grambling_317/ Rattlers ramble past Grambling 31-7 Mike Tierney St. Petersburg Times St. Petersburg, Florida 7c December 3, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com December 9 1:30 p.m. w y y 3 Jackson State 2 Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal ABC 15–10 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31577796/sports_on_the_air/ sports on the air Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 6B December 9, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31578011/rattlers_win_a_title_eye_another/ Rattlers Win A Title, Eye Another (cont'd) Eddie Jackson The Tampa Tribune 3-D December 10, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com December 16 1:30 p.m. w y y 3 UMass T–4 NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game—Pioneer Bowl Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, TX ABC 35–28 13,604 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31547045/famu_captures_a_national_title/ FAMU captures a national title Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 1A December 17, 1978 May 13, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31547114/famu_contd/ FAMU (cont'd) Barry Cooper Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee, Florida 7A December 17, 1978 May 13, 2019 newspapers.comhttp://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_champs_records/2012/d1/2012FCSfbchamp.pdf Division I Championship NCAA 2013 14 May 11, 2019 ncaa.org http://cfbinfo.com/team/florida-am-rattlers/1978 Florida A&M Rattlers 1978 Schedule cfbinfo.com May 13, 2019 April 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230408025933/http://cfbinfo.com/team/florida-am-rattlers/1978 dead https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31572704/78_rattler_schedule/ '78 Rattler Schedule The Tampa Tribune 9-K September 3, 1978 May 14, 2019 newspapers.com Roster thumb|right|upright=.75|Head coach Rudy Hubbard 1978 Florida A&M Rattlers f 87 Sr David Greene TE *Rudy Hubbard References Further reading https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/famu/2018/06/22/famu-documentary-celebrates-1978-championship/723104002/ Rattler Redux: FAMU documentary celebrates 1978 championship Rory Sharrock Tallahassee Democrat June 22, 2018 May 12, 2019 https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/famu/2018/09/16/rattlers-title-season-never-repeated/1318544002/ FAMU's 1978 national title: The first and last of its kind Rory Sharrock Tallahassee Democrat September 16, 2018 May 12, 2019 Florida AandM Category:Florida A&M Rattlers football seasons Category:NCAA Division I Football Champions Category:Black 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