1955 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

The 1955 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 1955 college football season. In their 11th season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled a 7–1–1 record, won the SIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 369 to 94. The team played its home games at Bragg Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

1955 Florida A&M Rattlers football
SIAC champion
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
1955 record7–1–1 (6–0 SIAC)
Head coachJake Gaither (11th season)
Home stadiumBragg Stadium

The Rattlers' sole loss was to undefeated Grambling in the Orange Blossom Classic. Florida A&M had been favored prior to the game, but Grambling upset the Rattlers to win the black college football national championship.[1] Florida A&M was ranked No. 3 in the final rankings of black college football times issued by the Pittsburgh Courier.[2]

The team's statistical leaders included Willie Galimore with 780 rushing yards, Lawrence Williams with 299 passing yards, and Al Frazier with 258 receiving yards and 78 points scored.[3] Galimore later played seven years with the Chicago Bears and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 1Benedict
W 80–6
October 8at Fort Valley StateFort Valley, GAW 49–0
October 15Morris Brown
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 14–6
October 22vs. Bethune–Cookman
W 32–018,214[4]
October 29at Xavier (LA)New Orleans, LAW 60–19
November 5at North Carolina A&T*Greensboro, NCT 28–28
November 12at AllenColumbia, SCW 34–7
November 19Southern*
  • Bragg Stadium
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 51–09,000[5]
December 3vs. Grambling*
L 21–2840,319[1]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

References
  1. "Grambling's Eddie Murray Rattles Florida A&M 28-21". The Miami Daily News. December 4, 1955. pp. 1D, 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Final National Football Rating". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 10, 1955. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Florida A&M Rattler Football Media Guide" (PDF). Florida A&M University. 2015. pp. 80–81.
  4. "A&M Triumphs Over Bethune In Gator Bowl". Tallahassee Democrat. October 23, 1955. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Rattlers Trample Southern, 51-0". The Orlando Sentinel. November 20, 1955. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
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