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Why were OU & Mizzou so far ahead of the rest of the SEC?
Posted on 12/28/25 at 8:50 am
Posted on 12/28/25 at 8:50 am
These two schools accepted their first black football players long before the rest of the conference. I understand racial tensions weren't conducive to integration in the post-WWII era and I'm not stirring up BS, but this is kinda crazy. The majority of the SEC did not have any black players until over 10 years later.
Each school's first black player, by year:
1957: Oklahoma (Texas hated this), Missouri
1965: Kentucky, Arkansas
1967: Tennessee
1969: Florida, Mississippi State, South Carolina
1970: Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Auburn, Georgia, Texas, Alabama
1971: Ole Miss
1972: LSU
I wonder if you older guys knew or realized you were sitting on a stockpile of football talent that was going undeveloped? Was the reasoning solely about racial BS, or was there more to it?
Each school's first black player, by year:
1957: Oklahoma (Texas hated this), Missouri
1965: Kentucky, Arkansas
1967: Tennessee
1969: Florida, Mississippi State, South Carolina
1970: Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Auburn, Georgia, Texas, Alabama
1971: Ole Miss
1972: LSU
I wonder if you older guys knew or realized you were sitting on a stockpile of football talent that was going undeveloped? Was the reasoning solely about racial BS, or was there more to it?
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Posted on 12/28/25 at 8:51 am to Naked Bootleg
I'm sure this thread will go well.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 8:52 am to Naked Bootleg
Why does everything have to be about race?
Posted on 12/28/25 at 8:56 am to Naked Bootleg
It certainly wasn’t because they were less racist.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:00 am to Naked Bootleg
Desperation spurs innovation.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:03 am to Naked Bootleg
unfortunately, this won't help your team win a playoff game
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:06 am to Naked Bootleg
Big 8 teams that weren’t a part of the southeast
Most big8 teams either desegregated in the 1950s, or much earlier (Nebraska, Iowa State)
Most big8 teams either desegregated in the 1950s, or much earlier (Nebraska, Iowa State)
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:13 am to Naked Bootleg
It generally follows the % African-American state population in ascending order. Those with the least amount of black people were the first to desegregate.
This post was edited on 12/28/25 at 9:13 am
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:26 am to BLG
What does this have to do with the topic?
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:34 am to Oklahomey
quote:
What does this have to do with the topic?
The fact that Oklahoma can't win a playoff game in this era is more relevant to this board than 1960's integration would be.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 10:05 am to Naked Bootleg
LSU was 1972! That’s unbelievable.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 10:14 am to BLG
College Football history isn’t relevant? It’s a valid topic of discussion that has no relevance on OU being 0-5 in the CFP; two completely different discussions.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 10:16 am to Oklahomey
A kid is now off their parents insurance and has never seen OU win a title
Posted on 12/28/25 at 10:37 am to Naked Bootleg
quote:
These two schools accepted their first black football players long before the rest of the conference.
Who gives a frick?
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:09 am to Naked Bootleg
Calling nflsu
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:11 am to BLG
quote:
unfortunately, this won't help your team win a playoff game
Too soon!
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:17 am to Naked Bootleg
Got damn yankees!
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:13 pm to Naked Bootleg
quote:
1970: Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Auburn, Georgia, Texas, Alabama
Not that it matters, but Alabama had black players on the team before 1970.
I think you must be talking about scholarship players.
The first walk on was in 1967, and there were multiple of them.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:17 pm to BurgTiger
quote:
LSU was 1972! That’s unbelievable.
Not really....have you seen what they post here?
Maybe they are right....Mizzou may not belong in the SEC.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 12:33 pm to Naked Bootleg
A fun fact is that UF has been a better program than LSU since both integrated 50+ years ago.
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