2004 Florida A&M Rattlers football team

2004 Florida A&M Rattlers football
2004 Florida A&M Rattlers football
Conference	Independent
Record	3–8
Head coach	Billy Joe (11th season);
Offensive coordinator	Donnie Duncan (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Gulf Coast
Defensive coordinator	Derek Hill (2nd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Bragg Memorial Stadium

2004 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

Team	W		L	W		L
No. 24 Navy		–		10	–	2
Notre Dame		–		6	–	6
		–		3	–	8

Rankings from AP Poll

The 2004 Florida A&M Rattlers football team represented Florida A&M University as an independent during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season.^[1] Led by 11th-year head coach Billy Joe, the Rattlers compiled an overall record of 3–8.

Florida A&M competed as an independent for the season after a failed attempt to move up to Division I-A.^[2] They returned to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for the 2005 season.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 4	6:00 p.m.	at Illinois	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	ESPN Plus	L 13–52	46,106	^[4]
September 11	7:00 p.m.	at Tulane	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA		L 19–39	23,214	^[5]
September 18	2:00 p.m.	at Temple	Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA		L 7–38	17,104	^[6]
September 25		vs. Tennessee State	Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA (Atlanta Football Classic)		W 21–15	67,712	^[7]
October 2		Virginia Union	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL		W 35–10		^[8]
October 9	7:00 p.m.	Nicholls State	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL		L 25–42	8,196	^[9]
October 16	1:00 p.m.	at Virginia Tech	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA		L 0–62	65,115	^[10]^[11]^[12]
October 23		Savannah State	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL		W 50–14	24,163	^[13]
October 30	4:00 p.m.	Florida Atlantic	Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL	CSS	L 8–38	13,436	^[14]
November 20		vs. Bethune–Cookman	Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL (Florida Classic)		L 52–58 ^OT	71,153	^[15]
November 27	1:00 p.m.	at FIU	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL		L 23–40	21,010	^[16]
Homecoming All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

At Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rattlers	0	0	0	13	13
Fighting Illini	7	24	21	0	52

Statistics	FAMU	ILL
First downs	21	26
Total yards	358	554
Rushing yards	71	296
Passing yards	287	258
Turnovers	3	0
Time of possession	29:26	30:34

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	22/34, 144 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Josh Driscoll	8 rushes, 40 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Derek Williams	3 receptions, 59 yards
Illinois	Passing	Jon Beutjer	16/18, 228 yards, TD
	Rushing	Pierre Thomas	14 rushes, 143 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Kendrick Jones	3 receptions, 101 yards

At Tulane

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rattlers	6	7	0	6	19
Green Wave	6	19	7	7	39

Statistics	FAMU	TULN
First downs	23	23
Total yards	388	457
Rushing yards	74	233
Passing yards	314	224
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	30:42	29:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	17/22, 177 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Rashard Pompey	16 rushes, 59 yards
	Receiving	Roosevelt Kiser	8 receptions, 96 yards, TD
Tulane	Passing	Lester Ricard	12/16, 174 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Jovon Jackson	19 rushes, 134 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Carl Davis	3 receptions, 40 yards, TD

At Temple

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rattlers	7	0	0	0	7
Owls	17	7	7	7	38

Statistics	FAMU	TEM
First downs	19	25
Total yards	347	477
Rushing yards	118	255
Passing yards	229	222
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	26:00	34:00

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	22/43, 181 yards
	Rushing	Rashard Pompey	8 rushes, 56 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ronnie Thomas	7 receptions, 76 yards
Temple	Passing	Walter Washington	16/26, 222 yards, TD
	Rushing	Walter Washington	21 rushes, 119 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Ikey Chuku	5 receptions, 115 yards, TD

Vs. Tennessee State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	13	0	2	15
Rattlers	0	6	0	15	21

Statistics	TNST	FAMU
First downs	17	25
Total yards	324	403
Rushing yards	161	63
Passing yards	163	340
Turnovers	3	2
Time of possession	27:24	32:36

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tennessee State	Passing	Bryson Rosser	10/20, 122 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Charles Anthony	31 rushes, 155 yards, TD
	Receiving	Kevin Hollis	3 receptions, 70 yards
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	30/47, 340 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Rashard Pompey	16 rushes, 67 yards
	Receiving	Roosevelt Kiser	13 receptions, 181 yards, 2 TD

Virginia Union

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	3	0	0	10
Rattlers	6	8	7	14	35

Statistics	VUU	FAMU
First downs	17	23
Total yards	325	415
Rushing yards	117	150
Passing yards	208	265
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	33:27	26:33

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Virginia Union	Passing	Micha Henderson	9/14, 106 yards, TD
	Rushing	Cordell Roane	10 rushes, 53 yards
	Receiving	Michael Dolby	5 receptions, 75 yards
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	20/31, 265 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Rashard Pompey	14 rushes, 65 yards, TD
	Receiving	Roosevelt Kiser	4 receptions, 102 yards, TD

Nicholls State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colonels	7	14	21	0	42
Rattlers	0	13	6	6	25

Statistics	NICH	FAMU
First downs	20	31
Total yards	313	511
Rushing yards	313	221
Passing yards	0	290
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	34:27	25:33

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Nicholls State	Passing	None
	Rushing	Broderick Cole	17 rushes, 97 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	None
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	16/29, 175 yards, INT
	Rushing	Rashard Pompey	19 rushes, 110 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Rod Miller	8 receptions, 132 yards

At Virginia Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rattlers	0	0	0	0	0
Hokies	24	24	14	0	62

Statistics	FAMU	VT
First downs	13	29
Total yards	199	483
Rushing yards	60	310
Passing yards	139	173
Turnovers	5	1
Time of possession	29:07	30:53

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida A&M	Passing	Josh Driscoll	8/12, 77 yards
	Rushing	Ben Dougherty	20 rushes, 45 yards
	Receiving	Ronald Wright	5 receptions, 47 yards
Virginia Tech	Passing	Bryan Randall	9/14, 115 yards, 4 TD
	Rushing	Cedric Humes	17 rushes, 120 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	David Clowney	2 receptions, 34 yards, TD

Savannah State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tigers	0	0	6	8	14
Rattlers	6	30	14	0	50

Statistics	SVST	FAMU
First downs	29	28
Total yards	493	626
Rushing yards	164	257
Passing yards	329	369
Turnovers	4	2
Time of possession	35:46	24:14

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Savannah State	Passing	Clyde Tullis	22/38, 329 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Myshun McAlpine	21 rushes, 76 yards
	Receiving	Khalil Haskin	7 receptions, 114 yards, TD
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	14/19, 260 yards, 4 TD
	Rushing	Rashard Pompey	5 rushes, 65 yards
	Receiving	Rod Miller	5 receptions, 105 yards

Florida Atlantic

	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	7	10	14	7	38
Rattlers	0	0	0	8	8

Statistics	FAU	FAMU
First downs	25	21
Total yards	591	342
Rushing yards	276	103
Passing yards	315	239
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	32:03	27:57

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida Atlantic	Passing	Jared Allen	9/20, 224 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Doug Parker	18 rushes, 79 yards, TD
	Receiving	Anthony Crissinger-Hill	6 receptions, 163 yards, 2 TD
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	20/36, 194 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Ben Dougherty	11 rushes, 55 yards
	Receiving	Rod Miller	8 receptions, 82 yards

Vs. Bethune–Cookman

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Rattlers	21	17	14	0	0	52
Wildcats	7	14	17	14	6	58

Statistics	FAMU	BCU
First downs	30	29
Total yards	598	554
Rushing yards	136	229
Passing yards	462	325
Turnovers	2	3
Time of possession	28:32	31:28

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	25/46, 462 yards, 6 TD, INT
	Rushing	Rashard Pompey	19 rushes, 86 yards, TD
	Receiving	Roosevelt Kiser	5 receptions, 197 yards, 2 TD
Bethune–Cookman	Passing	Jimmie Russell	17/26, 325 yards, TD
	Rushing	Jimmie Russell	23 rushes, 101 yards, TD
	Receiving	Eric Weems	9 receptions, 116 yards

At FIU

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rattlers	6	0	8	9	23
Golden Panthers	2	24	7	7	40

Statistics	FAMU	FIU
First downs	31	14
Total yards	546	279
Rushing yards	110	98
Passing yards	436	181
Turnovers	6	0
Time of possession	30:50	29:10

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida A&M	Passing	Ben Dougherty	45/60, 436 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Ben Dougherty	20 rushes, 87 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Ronald Wright	10 receptions, 136 yards
FIU	Passing	Josh Padrick	13/26, 181 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Rashod Smith	25 rushes, 109 yards, TD
	Receiving	Cory McKinney	4 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD

References

^ ^a ^b Connelly, Bill (May 4, 2016). "That time FAMU nearly made it in college football's top level, but the timing was all wrong". SB Nation. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
^ "FAMU, MEAC differ on return". The Orlando Sentinel. February 13, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Florida A&M set to rejoin MEAC". News and Record. July 23, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Illini back in win column". The Rock Island Argus. September 5, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "More tough going". Tallahassee Democrat. September 12, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Rattlers crumble to Owls". Florida Today. September 19, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "FAMU rallies for win". The Miami Herald. September 26, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Panthers' offense shows potency but can't finish". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 3, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Nicholls St. uses run to rout FAMU". Tallahassee Democrat. October 10, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Hokies get to catch breath: {VT... builds} 48–0 halftime lead and managing to go without a punt". The Roanoke Times. October 17, 2004. p. 25. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Kahn, Chris (October 17, 2004). "Virginia Tech smacks Florida A&M". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Hokies devour a treat: A Division I-AA team, Florida A&M is served as homecoming fare". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 17, 2004. pp. C1. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "FAMU racks up 626 yards". Tallahassee Democrat. October 24, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Owls rip Rattlers". The Miami Herald. October 31, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "B–CC wins in OT". The Orlando Sentinel. November 21, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "FIU's 'D' rattles FAMU". The Palm Beach Post. November 28, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[SB_Nation-1] Connelly, Bill (May 4, 2016). "That time FAMU nearly made it in college football's top level, but the timing was all wrong". SB Nation. Retrieved July 30, 2025.

[2] "FAMU, MEAC differ on return". The Orlando Sentinel. February 13, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Florida A&M set to rejoin MEAC". News and Record. July 23, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Illini back in win column". The Rock Island Argus. September 5, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] "More tough going". Tallahassee Democrat. September 12, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[6] "Rattlers crumble to Owls". Florida Today. September 19, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "FAMU rallies for win". The Miami Herald. September 26, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Panthers' offense shows potency but can't finish". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 3, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] "Nicholls St. uses run to rout FAMU". Tallahassee Democrat. October 10, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[10] "Hokies get to catch breath: {VT... builds} 48–0 halftime lead and managing to go without a punt". The Roanoke Times. October 17, 2004. p. 25. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] Kahn, Chris (October 17, 2004). "Virginia Tech smacks Florida A&M". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] "Hokies devour a treat: A Division I-AA team, Florida A&M is served as homecoming fare". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 17, 2004. pp. C1. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] "FAMU racks up 626 yards". Tallahassee Democrat. October 24, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[14] "Owls rip Rattlers". The Miami Herald. October 31, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[15] "B–CC wins in OT". The Orlando Sentinel. November 21, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[16] "FIU's 'D' rattles FAMU". The Palm Beach Post. November 28, 2004. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

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Florida A&M Rattlers football
Venues	Sampson-Bragg Field (1942–1946) Bragg Stadium (1947–1956) Doak Campbell Stadium (1974–1980; entire 1980 season) Bragg Memorial Stadium (1957–1979, 1981–present)
Bowls & rivalries	2023 Celebration Bowl Bethune–Cookman: Florida Classic Jackson State: Orange Blossom Classic
Culture & lore	"Rattler Orange and Green" Marching 100
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1907 1908 1909 1910–1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
National championship seasons in bold