1938 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

The 1938 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 1938 college football season. In their third season under head coach William "Big Bill" Bell, the Rattlers compiled a perfect 8–0 record, defeated Kentucky State in the Orange Blossom Classic, outscored opponents by a total of 189 to 7, and were recognized as the black college national championship.[1] The Rattlers played their home games at College Field in Tallahassee, Florida.[2][3]

1938 Florida A&M Rattlers football
Black college national champion
SIAC champion
ConferenceSouthern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
1938 record8–0 (6–0 SIAC)
Head coachWilliam M. Bell (3rd season)
Home stadiumCollege Field

The team gained acclaim for not allowing a single point by opponents during the regular season. In seven regular season games, the Rattlers outscored opponents by a total of 180 to 0. Hailing the team as the pride of Florida, one sports writer observed: "The brand of football these colored lads have been turning out is so good that 'white folks' have been flocking to their games this year throughout the south."[4]

The team's acclaimed backfield, made up of quarterback Henry Butler, fullback Stanley Strachan, and halfbacks John D. Harris and Tom "Tank" Jones, was known as the "Four Ghosts".[5][6]

The line, known as the "Seven Rocks",[7] did not allow a first down against Tuskegee.[8] Defensively, the team still holds school records for both fewest yards allowed (951 yards in eight games) and fewest first downs allowed (53 in eight games).[9]

Jake Gaither, who later led the Rattlers from 1945 to 1969, was an assistant coach for the 1938 team.[10][7][11]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 30at North Carolina A&T*Greensboro, NCW 13–0
October 15Alabama State
W 17–0[12]
October 22Clark (GA)
  • College Field
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 33–0[13]
October 29at Morris Brown
W 16–0[14]
November 5Tuskegee
  • College Field
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 40–0[8]
November 12South Carolina State
  • College Field
  • Tallahassee, FL
W 41–0
November 19at KnoxvilleKnoxville, TNW 20–0[11]
December 3vs. Kentucky State*
W 9–7[15]
  • *Non-conference game
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References
  1. "Florida A&M Yearly Results (1935-1939)". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  2. "A.&M., Tuskegee To Play Saturday". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. November 3, 1938. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Rattlers Play Here Saturday". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. November 11, 1938. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Rattlers Unknown In Own Backyard Gain High Honors". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. November 23, 1938. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Florida Rattlers To Play Kentucky In Final Battle". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. November 27, 1938. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Rattlers Leave For Big Battle With Kentucky". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. December 2, 1938. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Rattlers Ready For Tuskegee Go". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. November 4, 1938. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Florida Rattlers Smother Tuskegee Under 40-0 Score". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. November 6, 1938. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Florida A&M Rattler Football Media Guide" (PDF). Florida A&M University. 2015. p. 75.
  10. "Rattlers Play Clark Saturday". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. October 21, 1938. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Rattlers Retain Southern Crown; Beat Knoxville". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. November 20, 1938. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Rattlers Smother 'Bama State, 17-0". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. October 16, 1938. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Rattlers Crush Clark Team, 33-0". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. October 23, 1938. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Morris Brown Defeated, 16 to 0". The Atlanta Constitution. October 30, 1938. p. 5B – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Florida Rattlers Beat Kentucky, 9-7, For National Title". The Tallahassee Daily Democrat. December 4, 1938. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
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