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re: The SEC Big Six vs. The SEC Big Six in the Modern Era
Posted on 6/5/12 at 11:08 pm to Tammany Tom
Posted on 6/5/12 at 11:08 pm to Tammany Tom
quote:
Bama's first black player played in 1971. For, LSU it was 1972. That is the beginning of the modern era of SEC football.
But Kentucky and Arkansas had them sooner. Alabama had black walk-on as early as 1967. That isn't exactly the best standard to have a cut-off for the "modern era". It's going to be different for most every program.
2
Posted on 6/5/12 at 11:23 pm to CapstoneGrad06
quote:
But Kentucky and Arkansas had them sooner. Alabama had black walk-on as early as 1967. That isn't exactly the best standard to have a cut-off for the "modern era". It's going to be different for most every program.
Exactly. College football is constantly changing, and is marked by various milestones that become arbitrary in that each milestone seems to be a significant improvement upon the older system. There will always be a more "modernizing" event. You have to find the point in time which two different periods have a marked differential in the way in which the game was played or the equipment that was used, and the ways in which the changes started laying the groundwork for future milestones. The natural break is the 50's. If you want to be technical, you could pick 1960. That would include integration amongst some college teams, the incorporation of the Back Judge, a uniform 10 game season, a 2-point conversion rule, the alignment of jerseys and the numerals that were eligible to receive a forward pass, and dedicating players to offense or defense.
Posted on 6/6/12 at 12:12 am to CapstoneGrad06
You guys get my point (or should). With black players accounting for 80% of the starters in the SEC last year, their integration into the game is the single biggest factor in ushering football into the modern game that we all watch today.
I think any discussion of "modern college football" has to include the race that currently represents 80% of the participants starting the game. The athleticism and speed brought by blacks to the game of college football changed it forever.
Yes, Kentucky was the first SEC team to play a black player in 1967. Tennessee followed in 1968. Florida first played a black player on their varsity team in 1970. Bama, Auburn, and Georgia followed in 1971. LSU and Ole Miss first played a black player in 1972.
With the list above, you get a good idea that the early 70's were the dawn of the game that now represents modern football. If you want to use 1970 as a good, round number, then so be it. But, anything prior to 1970 is not modern football. It was a game played by players in most cases would never even see the field, much less excel in it with the addition of black athletes.
For anyone to say that football played in 1958 or 1965 represents what we watch today is lying to themselves.
I think any discussion of "modern college football" has to include the race that currently represents 80% of the participants starting the game. The athleticism and speed brought by blacks to the game of college football changed it forever.
Yes, Kentucky was the first SEC team to play a black player in 1967. Tennessee followed in 1968. Florida first played a black player on their varsity team in 1970. Bama, Auburn, and Georgia followed in 1971. LSU and Ole Miss first played a black player in 1972.
With the list above, you get a good idea that the early 70's were the dawn of the game that now represents modern football. If you want to use 1970 as a good, round number, then so be it. But, anything prior to 1970 is not modern football. It was a game played by players in most cases would never even see the field, much less excel in it with the addition of black athletes.
For anyone to say that football played in 1958 or 1965 represents what we watch today is lying to themselves.
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