FAMU football legend Al Frazier dies

FAMU legend played football for the Rattlers from 1953 to 1956.
Courtesy of FAMU Athletics.

This past Sunday, Florida A&M University lost an important member of the Rattler family. Legendary halfback Adolphus “AL” Frazier, who played for the Rattlers from 1953 to 1956 passed away in Lawrenceville, GA.

During his time at FAMU, Frazier set numerous amounts of school records, many of which still stand today. Weighing at only 165 pounds, Frazier was the perfect complement to College Football Hall of Fame Running back Willie Galimore.

“I would consider as him as one of FAMU’s great athletes,” said Alvin Hollins the Sports Information Director for FAMU athletics. “He was a multi-talented player, he was not only a running back but he was also a placekicker, a punter and he returned kicks.”

Professionally, the running back from Stanton Prep in Jacksonville, FL started out in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts in 1957 and also played with the Ottawa Rough Riders where he won the Grey Cup in 1960.

When he got to the National Football League, Frazier played with the Denver Broncos from 1961-63 where he set franchise rookie records that still stand heading into the 2018 season.

He has the rookie record for most receiving yards in a game with 166, most receiving touchdowns by a rookie in a season with six and the most games with 100 yards or more for a rookie with three.

After his football career, Frazier earned his master's degree from Teachers College, Columbia University and then worked for over 30 years at York College of The City University of New York where he was Assistant Dean of student development later retiring in 2006.

In Frazier’s last two seasons at FAMU in 1955 and 1956, Frazier had run for 1,310 yards on 119 carries averaging 11 yards a carry which is still a school record which culminated for two All-American seasons for Frazier.

“He was almost a (whole) football team rolled into one,” said Hollins. Hollins also explained how  Frazier and Galimore were found by the FAMU football team, saying that “They were playing intramural football and somebody clued the coaches in.”

Even though most of the attention was on Galimore, opposing defense still had to watch out for Fraizer which speaks on how well the two played together.

“They were complementary players. Galimore was the left halfback, Frazier was the right half back. You can almost say the defense were designed to stop Galimore”.

Former teammates spoke glowingly of Frazier, for example former FAMU defensive end and tight end Bobby Lang who also played high school football with Stanton Prep.

“He was a great team player (with a) great attitude,” said Lang. “He was a winner he was a impact guy there was nothing he couldn't do as a player.”

Lang thought the best position that Frazier played after running back was defensive back, and said thought that the FAMU legend could “excel at any position you can put him in.”

When asked what would he say to his friend if he were still alive, Lang talked about Frazier’s character as a man.

“He had a good run, he was a good man and he was a good family man. One of the good friends that I’ve had.”