Ohio State University honored former FAMU Head Football Coach
Rudy Hubbard during halftime at the university’s gridiron matchup against the
Rattlers on Saturday, September 21.
Hubbard, who coached the Rattlers for 12 seasons, is an Ohio
native who was a Buckeye running back from 1964 until 1968. Just after earning
his degree, he made history by becoming the first black member of Ohio State’s
football coaching staff, working as an assistant coach for six years. Hubbard
left the Buckeyes in 1974 to accept the head coaching job at FAMU.
As the top football coach at FAMU, Hubbard followed in the
tradition of two other Ohio State alumni who had previously held the same
position. They were: William “Big Bill” Bell (1936-1943) and Alonzo Smith
“Jake” Gaither (1945-1969).
The Columbus Dispatch highlighted the long history of Ohio
State and FAMU football connections with a detailed article available here.