FAMU legendary head football coach Rudy Hubbard selected to 2021 NFF Hall of Fame class
Photo courtesy FAMU
By Brian J. Howard
Office of Communications
Florida A&M University legendary head football coach Rudy Hubbard was among former coaches and ex-players selected to the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class, announced last Monday by the National Football Foundation.
“I was so excited to receive the news and it truly caught me by surprise,” Hubbard said. “They sent me a letter welcoming me to the club and I just didn’t want it to be a mistake.”
Hubbard is among 11 former players and two retired coaches selected to the 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Class. Seventy-eight All-American players and seven coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision are on the ballot. In addition, 99 All-America players and 33 coaches were nominated from the divisional ranks.
Hubbard, a native of Hubbard, Ohio, lettered as a running back at Ohio State from 1965 to 1967. Following his graduation from Ohio State, he remained with the Buckeyes for six seasons as an assistant coach under the legendary Woody Hayes. Hubbard was the position coach for two-time Heisman Trophy Award winner Archie Griffin.
Hubbard served as FAMU’s head football coach from 1974 to 1985, compiling a 83-48-3 record. He coached his team to an 11-0 unbeaten season and a Black College Football National Championship in 1977.
The following year, Hubbard guided the Rattlers to a 12-1 record and wrapped up the season winning the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship — the only HBCU to have won the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.
One year after winning a national title, Hubbard’s Rattlers claimed another monumental victory as FAMU defeated the University of Miami.
