re: The SEC Big Six vs. The SEC Big Six in the Modern Era

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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.

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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.