Florida A&M & Southern Renew Their Rivalry

By Alvin Hollins, Jr.

One of the most enduring Black College Football rivalries of all time, Florida A&M-Southern will enjoy its 60^th renewal September 24^th, when the two schools meet in the Bank of America Atlanta Football Classic in the Georgia Dome.

Considered a literal Clash of the Titans, the FAMU-Southern series features programs that have won a combined 20 Black College National Championships (FAMU 11, Southern 9), while producing three College Football Hall of Fame coaches (Arnett Ace Mumford, Southern; Jake Gaither, Billy Joe, FAMU), two College Hall of Fame players (Tyrone McGriff, 1996, Willie Galimore, 1999, FAMU) and two NFL Hall of Famers (Mel Blount, Southern; Bob Hayes, FAMU).

At one point, the two schools played 56 straight games between 1946 and 2001, but have played just twice since (2007, 2008) splitting the two games.

FAMU won the last meeting in 2008, a 52-49 thriller in Baton Rouge, for their fifth win in the last seven games. Southern edged the Rattlers, 33-27 in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Birmingham, Alabama in 2007.

Last Time They Met

2008: The two schools played another video game shootout, with 995 total yards 44 first downs piled up in a 52-49 FAMU victory in A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge.

It was the third straight time that FAMU scored 50 or more point in the games in Baton Rouge. The Rattlers led 14-8 after the first period and 31-21 at the half, but the fireworks were far from over, as Southern outscored the Rattlers, 28-21 in the second half.

WR Del Roberts took a pass from QB Lee Bryant and dashed 29 yards to the FAMU 1-yard line, where Rattler DB Fabian Wilson stripped Roberts of the ball just inches short of the end zone.

Wilson recovered the ball at the FAMU 3-yard line and the Rattlers ran out the final 3:28 to escape with the win.

QB Curtis Pulley sparked the Rattlers with 290 total yards, passing for three scores and 172 yards (13 of 17). Adrian Smith had six catches for 134 yards and 2 TDs, including a 71-yard TD pass from Eddie Battle in the second quarter and a 39-yard TD strike from Pulley with 9:57 left in the game to stake the Rattlers to a 52-42 lead.

Return ace LeRoy Vann proved to be the catalyst for the FAMU win, raced 66 yards with an SU punt for a touchdown to put FAMU ahead for good at 38-35 with 1:47 left in the third period. Vann finished the night with 203 return yards on punts and kickoffs.

Series Scorecard (FAMU leads 34-24-1)

2008 FAMU 52, Southern 49		1974 Southern 24, FAMU 8
2007 Southern 33, FAMU 27		1973 Southern 14, FAMU 10
2001 Southern 17, FAMU 14, OT		1972 FAMU 27, Southern 13
2000 FAMU 50, Southern 49		1971 Southern 13, FAMU 9
1999 FAMU 65, Southern 18		1970 Southern 40, FAMU 19
1998 FAMU 50, Southern 48		1969 FAMU 10, Southern 7
1997 FAMU 33, Southern 3		1968 FAMU 33, Southern 25
1996 Southern 21, FAMU 17		1967 FAMU 36, Southern 25
1995 Southern 30, FAMU 25 (Heritage Bowl)		1966 Southern 17, FAMU 13
1995 Southern 52, FAMU 38		1965 FAMU 41, Southern 38
1994 FAMU 16, Southern 14		1964 Southern 43, FAMU 20
1993 Southern 26, FAMU 4		1963 FAMU 37, Southern 0
1992 FAMU 16, Southern 6		1962 FAMU 25, Southern 0
1991 FAMU 24, Southern 20		1961 FAMU 46, Southern 0
1990 Southern 48, FAMU 30		1960 Southern 14, FAMU 6
1989 FAMU 21, Southern 13		1959 FAMU 21, Southern 14
1988 FAMU 45, Southern 20		1958 Southern 35, FAMU 6
1987 FAMU 24, Southern 17		1957 FAMU 32, Southern 6
1986 Southern 30, FAMU 14		1956 FAMU 34, Southern 6
1985 Southern 38, FAMU 27		1955 FAMU 51, Southern 0
1984 Southern 28, FAMU 18		1954 Southern 59, FAMU 20
1983 FAMU 31, Southern 14		1953 FAMU 33, Southern 25
1982 Southern 24, FAMU 21		1952 Southern 25, FAMU 13
1981 FAMU 41, Southern 14		1951 FAMU 36, Southern 6
1980 FAMU 13, Southern 7		1950 FAMU 0, Southern 0
1979 FAMU 18, Southern 6		1949 Southern 31, FAMU 13
1978 FAMU 16, Southern 12		1948 Southern 32, FAMU 12
1977 FAMU 19, Southern 6		1947 FAMU 13, Southern 9
1976 Southern 24, FAMU 6		1946 Southern 39, FAMU 19
1975 FAMU 10, Southern 0		1941 FAMU 10, Southern 7

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References

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