Every game Saturday, Florida A&M University football fans think and anticipate what the Rattlers will wear on the field.
And the Rattlers answered the call by taking to kickoff in the best uniforms in college football.
Sparkling orange, the fresh greenery of the gardens and sharp shades of white create an eclectic mix that won't disappoint every Saturday at FAMU.
For the most part, the Rattlers come out of the locker room in style and ready to win.
Here are our top five rankings for FAMU's football team.
FAMU football uniform combination ranking: No. 5
Orange, white and orange FAMU football apparel has been a staple for years.
Until the white helmets were introduced into the lineup in 2021, the Rattlers had exclusively used orange helmets for away games for many years.
FAMU will now wear plain orange bottoms instead of the orange pants with “STRIKE” written on them that the Rattlers wore last season for their away game at Mississippi Valley.
Perhaps it's time to bring back the modern look of the “STRIKE” pants to add some extra glamour to an already great look.
FAMU football uniform combination ranking: No. 4
If there's a way to properly incorporate all of FAMU's primary colors, it's this way.
After donning the orange-green-orange uniforms in 2021 against Jackson State in the revived Orange Blossom Classic, the combination was not worn in 2022.
The Rattlers reintroduced the uniforms in their home opener with a win over the West Florida Argonauts.
There shouldn't be a gap year that goes by where the Rattlers don't wear this combo. Make it an annual thing.
FAMU football uniform combination ranking: No. 3
FAMU loved the white-green-white (orange and green stripes) so much that they broke the rule of wearing the same uniform twice in the same season.
The Rattlers shook up that bracket at defining moments in 2023, winning the Black College Football National Championship with a season-opening win over Jackson State in the Orange Blossom Classic and then a win over Howard University in FAMU's Celebration Bowl.
It's a classic style that gives the Rattlers a retro feel, and it was a good move for the Rattlers to bring back white striped pants similar to those worn during their 1978 NCAA Division I-AA championship season.
If the Rattlers were to play in the Celebration Bowl or even the Football Championship Subdivision finals again, they should consider donning orange helmets in honor of the 1978 team.
More importantly, FAMU should win a trophy in any championship game to pay tribute to Rudy Hubbard's Rattlers.
FAMU Football Uniform Ranking: No. 2
Homecoming is the game where everyone knows what the Rattlers will be wearing.
But the lack of surprise doesn't make the bright orange Rush uniforms any less stylish.
FAMU has previously, on and off, begun the annual tradition of wearing orange uniforms for homecoming during a dominant homecoming win over Grambling State in 2021. The Rattlers are 3-0 in the uniforms, with big wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2022 and Prairie View A&M in 2023.
FAMU Football Uniform Rankings: No. 1
The Whiteout uniforms are always saved for FAMU's most important games, where the threads get frayed.
At least, that's what it seems like.
For example, the Rattlers wore all-white uniforms in their historic rivalry games against the Southern Jaguars in Baton Rouge in 2021 and 2023. In 2022, FAMU postponed wearing the uniforms until the 2022 Florida Classic. The Rattlers won all of these games.
Imagine going into enemy territory, into a heated match, and attacking an opponent dressed in all white.
And then we leave victorious, wearing a clean white jersey.
Florida A&M Rattlers 2024 Football Schedule
- Aug. 24 in Atlanta* against Norfolk State in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge at 7:30 p.m., ABC
- Aug. 31 vs. South Carolina State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
- Sept. 7, Miami, 6 p.m., ACC Network
- Sept. 21, Troy, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- Sept. 28 vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m., ESPN+
- Oct. 5, at Alabama, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- Oct. 19, at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Networks
- Oct. 26 vs. Southern, 7 p.m., ESPN Network
- Nov. 2 vs. Texas Southern (Homecoming), 4 p.m., ESPN+
- Nov. 9, Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- Nov. 16 vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m.
- Nov. 23 vs. Bethune-Cookman, Orlando*, 3:30 p.m., ESPN Network
- November 30: FCS playoffs begin
- Dec. 7: SWAC Championship, location/team TBA, ESPN2
- Dec. 14: Celebration Bowl, Atlanta*, team TBA, 12 p.m., ABC
Bold = SWAC
* = Neutral site
Gerald Thomas III covers Florida A&M University sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. He can be reached by email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or via app (formerly Twitter). translation:.
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