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re: Why Did Bear Bryant Wait Seven Years to Integrate Bama Football?
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:30 pm to DWag215
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:30 pm to DWag215
quote:
The next season Alabama started recruiting African American athletes to play football and short after them so did every other college of the south.
hmmmm, interesting.
LINK
Owens was the first African-American football player on scholarship at Auburn. He arrived on Auburn’s campus as a freshman in 1969.
LINK
It said Henry Harris, the basketball player who was the school's first black scholarship athlete in 1968, had died.
The truth is, Alabama was one of the last SEC schools to start recruiting black players.
1
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:30 pm to DWag215
34 pages
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:30 pm to CapstoneGrad06
quote:
People actually were calling for his head after the average years of 1969 and 1970.
This
Alabama was already used to playing successful football after Wallace Wade and Frank Thomas. A championship winning coach wasnt some unreachable thing to alabama fans, and when Coach Bryant had a few down years, his light flickered a bit. Of course we know that he righted the ship and became the greatest coach to ever live before it was over with but his career wasnt without some rocky moments.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:30 pm to CapstoneGrad06
DP 
This post was edited on 11/17/13 at 4:31 pm
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:30 pm to DWag215
quote:
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.
He was by the mid-70's, but at the time of the integration debate he didn't have as much power/clout. He still had a lot of both, but still met resistance with the administration.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:30 pm to DWag215
I don't think you understand the political atmosphere of the Deep South in the early 1960s. Feelings didn't really start to change until Southerners saw their dispicable acts being chronicled by news outlets, for the world to see.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:32 pm to CapstoneGrad06
Rupp recruited black players on the basketball end of things in the 60s but most didn't want to travel to the Deep South to play. I have no reason to believe it wasn't the same for Bryant.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:32 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
Take a poll of citizens in Alabama in 1963 and you'll probably get about 75-80% of them responding in favor of segregation.
I definitely agree that immediate integration in '63 would not have been feasible.
Bear had what, one title? That wouldn't have done it. Seems like the power would have began to emerge after the back-to-back champtionships, though.
And if what I'm reading is true, that's when Bear began to make a push. It does seem like his efforts were calculated to avoid any perceived public backlash. I think he might have underplayed his hand beginning in '67.
Just an opinion.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:34 pm to CapstoneGrad06
quote:
Feelings didn't really start to change until Southerners saw their dispicable acts being chronicled by news outlets, for the world to see.
Totally fair observation.
The only thing I suggested is perhaps Bear could have done a little more to further the cause. Is that really far-fetched?
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:35 pm to DWag215
quote:
Seems like the power would have began to emerge after the back-to-back champtionships, though.
Which, incidentally enough, is about the time he started to push for integration on his football team.
1966 saw two black walk on players join the team, just one year removed from the 64 and 65 championships.
This post was edited on 11/17/13 at 4:37 pm
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:36 pm to RollTide1987
Which I noted.
I'm not out to "get" the Bear in this thread, man.
I just think it's an interesting topic.
I'm not out to "get" the Bear in this thread, man.
I just think it's an interesting topic.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:37 pm to MrAUTigers
Are you here to spout as much bullshite as possible? Of the ten SEC schools at the time of integration, virtually all did so between 1967-1971. LSU and Ole Miss were the last in 1972.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:39 pm to CapstoneGrad06
Right, the only reason I limited the topic to Bryant is because of his status at the time.
Not sure what bullshite I've spouted. Do you think I've intentionally mischaracterized something?
Not sure what bullshite I've spouted. Do you think I've intentionally mischaracterized something?
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:40 pm to DWag215
I wasn't responding to you.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:41 pm to DWag215
Looks like he was talking to the Auburn cat.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:43 pm to RollTide1987
Let's see Alabama's racist history.....
Why does'nt Alabama ever have an African American QB today?
Why does'nt Alabama ever have an African American QB today?
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:44 pm to MrAUTigers
I've already proven you wrong twice, but you're still holding into propaganda?
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:45 pm to bayoubreeze
quote:
Why does'nt Alabama ever have an African American QB today?
Blake Sims isn't black? That's news to me.
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:45 pm to bayoubreeze
Why were LSU and Mississippi the last two programs to integrate?
Posted on 11/17/13 at 4:45 pm to bayoubreeze
quote:Because the ones we get end up sucking.
Let's see Alabama's racist history.....
Why does'nt Alabama ever have an African American QB today?
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