2001 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

2001 Florida A&M Rattlers football
Black college national champion MEAC champion
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 35–60 vs. Georgia Southern
Conference	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 22
Record	7–4 (7–1 MEAC)
Head coach	Billy Joe (8th season)
Home stadium	Bragg Memorial Stadium

2001 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 22 Florida A&M $^		7	–	1					7	–	4
Hampton		6	–	2					7	–	4
North Carolina A&T		5	–	3					8	–	3
Bethune–Cookman		5	–	3					6	–	4
South Carolina State		5	–	3					6	–	5
Delaware State		3	–	5					5	–	6
Norfolk State		3	–	5					5	–	6
Howard		1	–	7					2	–	9
Morgan State		1	–	7					2	–	9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2001 Florida A&M Rattlers football team represented Florida A&M University as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Billy Joe, the Rattlers compiled an overall record of 7–4, with a mark of 7–1 in conference play, and finished as MEAC champion. Florida A&M finished their season with a loss against Georgia Southern in the Division I-AA playoffs. At the conclusion of the season, the Rattlers were also recognized as black college national champion.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 1	Delaware State	No. 12	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	W 35–17	11,421	[1]
September 8	Morgan State	No. 11	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	W 21–12	18,821	[2]
September 15	vs. No. 15 Grambling State*	No. 9	Paul Brown Stadium Cincinnati, OH (Riverfront Classic)	Canceled		[3]
September 22	vs. Tennessee State*	No. 9	Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA (Atlanta Football Classic)	L 7–27	61,052	[4]
September 29	at Howard	No. 18	William H. Greene Stadium Washington, DC	W 53–20	4,421	[5]
October 6	vs. South Carolina State	No. 17	Alltel Stadium Jacksonville, FL (Orange Blossom Classic)	W 33–27		[6]
October 13	at North Carolina A&T	No. 16	Aggie Stadium Greensboro, NC	L 23–55		[7]
October 20	Norfolk State	No. 25	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	W 47–9		[8]
October 27	at Hampton	No. 23	Armstrong Stadium Hampton, VA	W 47–35	5,331	[9]
November 3	Southern*	No. 20	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	L 14–17 ^OT		[10]
November 17	vs. Bethune–Cookman*		Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL (Florida Classic)	W 31–21	70,112	[11]
December 1	at No. 2 Georgia Southern*	No. 22	Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 35–60	9,884	[12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "Out of gas; DSU competitive, but Rattlers pull away late". The News Journal. September 2, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Morgan gives FAMU fight, but ends up short, 21–12". The Baltimore Sun. September 9, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "River Front Classic canceled". The Cincinnati Post. September 14, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "TSU's quick start sends Florida A&M reeling". The Tennessean. September 23, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Florida A&M defense makes Howard miserable". The Orlando Sentinel. September 30, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Mistakes trip up S.C. State". The State. October 7, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "A&T rolls over Florida A&M". The News and Observer. October 14, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "FAMU routs Norfolk St., readies for playoff push". South Florida Sun Sentinel. October 21, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Fla. A&M ousts HU from chase". Daily Press. October 28, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Florida A&M falters in OT". The Miami Herald. November 4, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "FAMU handles Bethune". St. Lucie News Tribune. November 18, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Eagles better by half". The Atlanta Constitution. December 2, 2001. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.