---
"title": "Florida A&M QB who led HBCU to Division 1-AA title has passed away"
"description": "Sammy Knight, who led the Florida A&M football team to one of the most memorable wins in school history, died Sunday at age 65. Knight, a Tallahassee native, was the backup quarterback on the Rattlers’ 1978 Division I-AA national championship team. In his junior year of 1979, he led FAMU to a 16-13 upset win […]"
"date": "2025-01-21"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Chris Stevens"
"url": "https://hbcusports.com/2025/01/21/florida-am-qb-who-led-hbcu-to-division-1-aa-championship-has-passed-away/"
"categories":
  - "Football"
  - "News"
"tags":
  - "Florida A&M"
---

# Florida A&M QB who led HBCU to Division 1-AA title has passed away

Sammy Knight, who led the Florida A&M football team to one of the most memorable wins in school history, died Sunday at age 65. Knight, a Tallahassee native, was the backup quarterback on the Rattlers’ 1978 Division I-AA national championship team. In his junior year of 1979, he led FAMU to a 16-13 upset win over Miami, Fla., at Doak Campbell Stadium on Florida State’s campus. Knight was responsible for the game-winning drive, getting the Rattlers close enough for placekicker (and future Major League Baseball All-Star) Vince Coleman to kick the winning field goal from 34 yards out. Florida A&M head coach James Colzie posted the news of Knight’s passing on X, formerly known as Twitter.

> RIP to Rattler Legend Sammy Knight who passed away today. Sammie engineered the Rattlers’ 1979 victory over the University of Miami and was a key contributor on the 1978 National Championship Team. [\#FAMULY](https://twitter.com/hashtag/FAMULY?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 🧡💚🐍 [pic.twitter.com/LbVEt4UtdP](https://t.co/LbVEt4UtdP)
>
> — James Colzie III (@CoachColzie) [January 19, 2025](https://twitter.com/CoachColzie/status/1881063446814572593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

“RIP to Rattler Legend Sammy Knight, who passed away today,” Colzie wrote. “Sammy engineered the Rattlers’ 1979 victory of the University of Miami and was a key contributor to the 1978 National Championship team.” The [popular Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/ghostsoftheorangebowl/posts/pfbid02otq4h8wLZWPeS346NUZZFZWrYNDsGfvPfr8WRXMwPhKEJ9p1FxSVKYWVbgVFE2CSl) Ghosts of the Orange Bowl also paid tribute to Knight on Tuesday.