What Is 2014 Florida A&M Rattlers football

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2014 Florida A&M Rattlers football team represented Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS season, finishing with a 3-8 overall record under head coach Earl Holmes. They competed in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), where they went 3-5, failing to qualify for the FCS playoffs.

Key Facts

The 2014 Florida A&M Rattlers finished with a 3-8 overall record
They played in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), going 3-5
Head coach Earl Holmes led the team in his second season
Home games were played at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee
The Rattlers failed to qualify for the FCS playoffs in 2014

Overview

The 2014 Florida A&M Rattlers football team represented Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University during the 2014 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) season. Competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), the team struggled to find consistency under second-year head coach Earl Holmes.

The Rattlers played their home games at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, and finished the season with a 3-8 overall record and a 3-5 mark in conference play. Despite flashes of strong performances, the team failed to qualify for the FCS playoffs and ranked near the bottom of the MEAC standings.

Record: The Rattlers finished the 2014 season with a 3-8 overall record and a 3-5 record in MEAC play, placing them in the lower half of the conference.
Head coach: Earl Holmes served as head coach for his second season, overseeing a rebuilding phase after inheriting a program facing NCAA sanctions in prior years.
Home stadium: Bragg Memorial Stadium, located on the FAMU campus, hosted all home games and has a seating capacity of approximately 25,000.
Offensive performance: The team averaged 21.5 points per game, ranking 107th out of 124 FCS teams in scoring offense.
Defensive struggles: Florida A&M allowed 31.8 points per game, placing them 103rd nationally in scoring defense, highlighting challenges on the defensive side.

Season Performance

The 2014 campaign was marked by inconsistency, with the Rattlers winning only three games and suffering multiple lopsided losses. Their schedule included non-conference matchups against FBS teams and key MEAC rivalries.

September 6, 2014: The season opened with a 35-17 loss to the University of South Florida, an FBS opponent, setting an early tone of defensive vulnerability.
Homecoming game: On October 25, FAMU defeated Howard University 31-24 in a close contest, marking one of their most significant wins of the season.
Key victory: A 28-21 win over Delaware State on November 1 demonstrated improved offensive execution and helped boost morale late in the season.
MEAC standings: The Rattlers finished tied for seventh in the MEAC, missing the conference title and playoff qualification by multiple games.
Quarterback play: Senior quarterback Ryan Stanley started most games, throwing for 1,487 yards and 10 touchdowns, but also threw 12 interceptions.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 2014 Rattlers stacked up against select MEAC teams in key statistical categories:

Team	Overall Record	MEAC Record	Points Per Game	Points Allowed
Florida A&M	3-8	3-5	21.5	31.8
North Carolina A&T	9-3	7-1	30.8	19.2
South Carolina State	7-5	6-2	26.7	22.1
Hampton	6-5	5-3	25.3	26.4
Delaware State	3-8	2-6	19.1	30.5

The table illustrates that while Florida A&M’s record was similar to Delaware State’s, they outperformed them slightly in conference play. However, they lagged behind dominant MEAC programs like North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State in both scoring and defense, reflecting broader program challenges.

Why It Matters

The 2014 season was a transitional year for FAMU football, reflecting ongoing recovery from NCAA sanctions and coaching instability. While not a standout year, it provided valuable experience for younger players and laid groundwork for future development.

Program rebuilding: The season was part of a longer-term effort to stabilize FAMU football after APR penalties and scholarship reductions in previous years.
Player development: Several underclassmen gained starting experience, including defensive backs and offensive linemen who would contribute in later seasons.
Recruiting impact: A losing record made recruiting more difficult, but the coaching staff focused on local talent in Florida’s I-4 corridor.
Fan engagement: Attendance remained strong during homecoming and rivalry games, indicating continued community support despite on-field struggles.
Conference competitiveness: The season highlighted the growing gap between top MEAC teams and mid-tier programs like FAMU.
Coaching evaluation: Earl Holmes’ second season was closely watched, and the team’s performance contributed to ongoing scrutiny of the program’s direction.

While the 2014 season did not yield postseason success, it served as a critical step in FAMU’s long-term athletic recovery and provided lessons that influenced future coaching decisions and player development strategies.