1957 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

The 1957 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 1957 college football season. In their 13th season under head coach Jake Gaither, the Rattlers compiled a perfect 9–0 record, including a victory over Maryland State in the Orange Blossom Classic for the black college football national championship. The team played its home games at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida.

1957 Florida A&M Rattlers football
Black college national champion SIAC champion
Orange Blossom Classic, W 27–21 vs. Maryland State
Conference	Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	9–0 (5–0 SIAC)
Head coach	Jake Gaither (13th season)
Home stadium	Bragg Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1956 1958 →

The team's statistical leaders included Lewis Johnson with 627 rushing yards, James Williams with 383 passing yards, and Alvis Chavis with 146 receiving yards.^[1]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 12	at Fort Valley State	Fort Valley, GA	W 74–0		[2]
October 19	Morris Brown	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	W 27–0	9,000	[3]
October 26	at Bethune–Cookman	Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL	W 45–6		[4]
November 2	at Benedict	Columbia, SC	W 40–2		[5]
November 9	at North Carolina A&T*	Greensboro, NC	W 42–6	6,000	[6]
November 16	at Allen	Columbia, SC	W 42–0		[7]
November 23	Southern*	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	W 32–6	6,000	[8]
December 7	North Carolina College*	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	W 14–0		[9]
December 14	vs. Maryland State*	Burdine Stadium Miami, FL (Orange Blossom Classic)	W 27–21	37,000	[10]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[11]

References

1. "Florida A&M Rattler Football Media Guide" (PDF). Florida A&M University. 2015.
2. "A&M Mauls Ft. Valley". Tallahassee Democrat. October 13, 1957. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Rattlers Dump Morris Brown". Tallahassee Democrat. October 20, 1957. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "A&M Rips B-C By 45-6". Tallahassee Democrat. October 27, 1957. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "A&M Tromps Benedict". Tallahassee Democrat. November 3, 1957. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Rattlers Stop Aggies, 42-6". Tallahassee Democrat. November 10, 1957. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Rattlers Cop SIAC Crown". Tallahassee Democrat. November 17, 1957. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Rattlers Post 32-6 Triumph". Tallahassee Democrat. November 24, 1957. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Carolina Foe Proves Tough But Rattlers Triumph, 14-0". Tallahassee Democrat. December 8, 1957. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Rattlers Pound Out 27-21 Classic Win". Tallahassee Democrat. December 15, 1957. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved June 18, 2023.