Fansided

3 HBCU coaches, players and teams that changed football forever

By Dante Pryor

SAN DIEGO, CA - CIRCA 1988:Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins takes the snap against the Denver Broncos at Super Bowl 22 played at Jack Murphy Stadium circa 1988 in San Diego,California on January 31st 1988. He was named MVP of the game. (Photo by Owen Shaw/Getty Images) (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - CIRCA 1988:Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins takes the snap against the Denver Broncos at Super Bowl 22 played at Jack Murphy Stadium circa 1988 in San Diego,California on January 31st 1988. He was named MVP of the game. (Photo by Owen Shaw/Getty Images) (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 18: Rasean McKay #17 hands the ball off to Jalil Core #28 of the Florida A&M Rattlers in the second half against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on September 18, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 18: Rasean McKay #17 hands the ball off to Jalil Core #28 of the Florida A&M Rattlers in the second half against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on September 18, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

The 1978 Florida A&M Rattlers, 12-1, FCS National Champions

There have been many legendary teams in HBCU history. The 1975 Jackson State Tigers featured three future NFL Hall of Famers (Walter Payton, Jackie Slater, and Robert Brazile). FAMU won 11 consecutive SIAC titles from 1952 to 1962. Eddie Robinson had many great teams at Grambling.

However, none of those teams could say they won a National Title. The 1978 Florida A&M Rattlers are the only HBCU team to win a non-black National Title when they won the Division 1-AA (FCS) National Championship.

Fifth-year head coach Rudy Hubbard led the Rattlers. FAMU defeated rival Bethune-Cookman in the Florida Classic and then defeated Grambling State in the Florida Classic to earn a place in the FCS playoffs.

Florida A&M defeated Jackson State and the University of Massachusetts in the Championship game, the Pioneer Bowl in Witchita, Kansas.

That season, the Rattlers were members of the SIAC, a Division II conference. FAMU was granted Division I status after an appeal. Their application was initially denied after a committee ruled the university did not meet scheduling requirements for football and basketball.

The Rattlers would join the MEAC the following season. Running back, Ike Williams led the team in rushing, Albert Chester led the team in passing, and Chris Douglas led the team in receiving. Their kicker, Vince Coleman, would be a multi-time All-Star baseball player with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Don’t miss the all-new CW original series All-American: Homecoming, premiering Mondays at 9/8 central on The CW or stream free the next day on the CW App.

Home/College Football