1952 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

The 1952 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 1952 college football season. In their eighth season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled an 8–2 record, including a victory over Virginia State in the Orange Blossom Classic. The team played its home games at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

1952 Florida A&M Rattlers football
Orange Blossom Classic, W 29–7 vs. Virginia State
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
1952 record8–2 (4–1 SIAC)
Head coachJake Gaither (8th season)
Home stadiumBragg Stadium

Despite its two losses, the Associated Negro Press rated Florida A&M as the black college football national championship by virtue of having played "the nation's most rugged schedule." Lincoln (MO) and Texas Southern were rated second and third, respectively.[1] The Pittsburgh Courier also selected Florida A&M as the national champion under its "Courier DoubleR" rating system, ahead of second-place Virginia State and third-place Lincoln (MO).[2]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 20vs. Texas College*
W 41–13
October 4at BenedictColumbia, SCW 34–7
October 11Fort Valley State
W 51–0
October 18at Morris BrownAtlanta, GAW 27–7
October 25Prairie View A&M*
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 10–7
November 1at Bethune–CookmanDaytona Beach, FLL 7–8
November 8North Carolina A&T*
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 19–12
November 15Allen
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 45–7[3]
November 27at Southern*
L 13–2510,000[4]
December 6vs. Virginia State*
W 29–735,064[5]
  • *Non-conference game

References
  1. "Pigskin Huddle". The Afro American. December 20, 1952. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Florida A. & M. Declared 1952 Nat'l Grid Champs". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 20, 1952. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Florida A.&M. Wins Easily". The Pittsburgh Courier. November 22, 1952. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Southern Whips Famcee, 25-13, in Biggest Upset". The Pittsburgh Courier. November 29, 1952. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Rattlers Win, 29-7, To Gain Negro Title". Miami Daily News. December 7, 1952. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.