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Why Did Bear Bryant Wait Seven Years to Integrate Bama Football?
Posted on 11/17/13 at 3:58 pm
Posted on 11/17/13 at 3:58 pm
Always struck me as odd.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 3:59 pm to DWag215
He was for it early and pushed for it. Administration was against it.
There's actually a small documentary on the strides he made to make it happen.
There's actually a small documentary on the strides he made to make it happen.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:00 pm to pvilleguru
Bama didn't bring on black players until 1970.
IIRC, Bear had the power to make that move in '63.
IIRC, Bear had the power to make that move in '63.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:01 pm to DWag215
George Wallace didn't allow it
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:01 pm to NATidefan
quote:
There's actually a small documentary on the strides he made to make it happen.
I'd be interested in watching this.
The Bear could do whatever the frick he wanted in that state.
I can't imagine the administration telling him what to do. What would they do, fire the Bear?
El Oh El.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:02 pm to DWag215
Against the Tide
I don't know if the whole thing is on youtube or not.
I don't know if the whole thing is on youtube or not.
This post was edited on 11/17/13 at 4:03 pm
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:02 pm to beaver
quote:
George Wallace didn't allow it
The U.S. Federal Government required it, though.
But even if it didn't, Bear wielded a heavier and sharper sword than Wallace.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:03 pm to DWag215
His first black players were three walkons in the spring of 1966.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:03 pm to DWag215
quote:
The Bear could do whatever the frick he wanted in that state.
No, he couldn't. Timing was everything.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:04 pm to DWag215
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:04 pm to CapstoneGrad06
quote:
His first black players were three walkons in the spring of 1966.
Believe they were cut before the season.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:04 pm to DWag215
He had been recruiting black players for a few years, but couldn't convince any of them to sign. It's not his fault it took so long.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:05 pm to DWag215
quote:
Bryant, the public would learn years after that game, had been pushing for integration of the University of Alabama football team for years but found himself up against a brick wall named Governor George Wallace, a University of Alabama grad famous for his “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door”: an ugly occasion on which he tried to physically block black students from enrolling at the school. Bryant, whose winning teams had made him the most popular person in Alabama, was so determined that he threatened to run for political office—and though he did not say it, insiders were certain he could only have meant running for governor. He even invited Attorney General Bobby Kennedy and his wife for dinner in Tuscaloosa.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:05 pm to Beer Bryant
Because USCw beat the absolute shite out of bama. They had quite a few black players on their team. Sam Bam Cunningham was their star player. That is when bear decided he needed to integrate.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:06 pm to NATidefan
TO be clear, I'm not flaming. A successful flaming of Bear Bryant doesn't exist.
But he was a such a grand and divine figure in the state, that it's difficult to imagine anyone telling him what he could or could not do with his program.
But he was a such a grand and divine figure in the state, that it's difficult to imagine anyone telling him what he could or could not do with his program.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:06 pm to MrAUTigers
quote:Is it possible to be any further from the truth?
Because USCw beat the absolute shite out of bama. They had quite a few black players on their team. Sam Bam Cunningham was their star player. That is when bear decided he needed to integrate.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:06 pm to MrAUTigers
Don't be ignorant of the fact that the 1970 USC game is a myth as it relates to integration.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:07 pm to DWag215
Because cotton was the primary cash crop in the years before and they were needed in the fields?
What kind of question was that anyway? Wait just realize Texas A&M fan asked it
What kind of question was that anyway? Wait just realize Texas A&M fan asked it
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