Former FAMU coach listed on 2016 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

COACH RUDY HUBBARD

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- If Rudy Hubbard was a little less proactive, he probably never would have had an opportunity to coach at Florida A&M.

Hubbard had applied for the job before the 1974 season, and was never called for an interview. He waited, and then decided to take some initiative to call the Rattlers and ask, "What about me?"

He traveled from Ohio, where he worked as the first black assistant coach on Ohio State's staff under head coach Woody Hayes, and met with a board meant to decide FAMU's next football coach. He asked for a blackboard — there wasn't one in the room — and didn't sit down while giving a presentation.

Hubbard, now 69 years old, said 15 minutes after his presentation was over, and after all other candidates had been interviewed the previous week, he was hired.

"FAMU gave me the opportunity to be a head coach," he said, adding during his presentation, he drew on interview skills he learned from Woody Hayes.

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