Columbus connections cultivated Florida A&M

HEAD COACH RUDY HUBBARD IN 1986
FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It’s ancient history to most, but the golden age of Florida A&M football traces its roots to the very city and stadium the Rattlers will visit for the first time on Saturday.

The name of A.S. “Jake” Gaither, who won six black college national championships during his career at the school, is as synonymous with Florida A&M football as Eddie Robinson’s is with Grambling. Gaither entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

But the man who gave Gaither his start in coaching, and who led the Rattlers to their first two national titles, was William “Big Bill” Bell, a standout tackle at Ohio State from 1929 to ’31.

Bell became coach at Florida A&M in 1936, and in seven seasons, had a record of 47-9-5 and won two national titles.

Bell and Gaither met after the ’36 season while completing master’s degrees at Ohio State. Gaither would have been the logical successor when Bell left in 1943 to serve in World War II, but the previous year had undergone brain surgery.

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