Snake ID please (1 Viewer)

While out on my work route today I was suprised to run across a snake. I thought they would be in hibernation by now. The snake I ran acorss was around 4 ft long crossing a road at night in the rain. My best guess is a Mud Snake. It was dark, So I couldnt really tell what color it was. It was black or dark brown with alternating black squares on its belly, Or sides of it belly. At first it reared its head like a cobra and began striking at me. It then balled up in perfect concentric circles with its head tightly buried in the middle while vibrating its tail. It refused to release this posture even after I picked it up and sat it in the grass on the shoulder of the road. What kind of snake do yall think this is? Im in middle Tennessee. Lastly, Is that normal for a snake to be active this late in the year? Thanx.

no

Now that ive looked around at some pics, Its not a mud snake, But the coloration was very similar, Especially the alternating black scales on the belly.

Here's a good site with all the native snakes of Tenn. You might find your snake in here. The Black & Speckled Kingsnake has some of those markings you described.
http://frogsandsnakes.homestead.com/snakes.html