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On this date in 1967, the SEC's first black football player took the field
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:13 pm
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:13 pm
September 23,1967. Hard to imagine that about 95% of teams started their seasons so late in that period.Kentucky lost 12-10 in Bloomington to Indiana. While Kentucky finished 2-8, Indiana went 9-1 earning their one and only Rose Bowl bid.
Kentucky's Nat Northington, a sophmore started a defensive back.A week later vs Ole Miss,his playing time became the first time an SEC conference game featured a black player.
Northington
Sad story,really. Northington came to Lexington in the fall of 1966 (remember, freshmen couldn't play varsity until the fall of 1972). Northington was part of a freshman class that included another black player,Greg Page.
Page
Headed into the 1967 season, Northington and Page both looked to be starters.But a few weeks into fall camp in a rather basic drill, Page took a hit and fell awkwardly and was paralyzed.Sadly, he died a month later. So distraught over Page's death, Northington withdrew from UK shortly thereafter transferring to Western Ky.
Kentucky's Nat Northington, a sophmore started a defensive back.A week later vs Ole Miss,his playing time became the first time an SEC conference game featured a black player.
Northington
Sad story,really. Northington came to Lexington in the fall of 1966 (remember, freshmen couldn't play varsity until the fall of 1972). Northington was part of a freshman class that included another black player,Greg Page.
Page
Headed into the 1967 season, Northington and Page both looked to be starters.But a few weeks into fall camp in a rather basic drill, Page took a hit and fell awkwardly and was paralyzed.Sadly, he died a month later. So distraught over Page's death, Northington withdrew from UK shortly thereafter transferring to Western Ky.
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Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:16 pm to I-59 Tiger
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:17 pm to I-59 Tiger
JT Reynolds and Sam Williams were the first black players at A&M, in 1967. Hugh McElroy (not really me) was the first black man to start at A&M (in 1970), and he caught a game winner against LSU - a 79 yard TD pass with 13 seconds left.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:21 pm to I-59 Tiger
quote:
A week later vs Ole Miss
Ole Miss saw their once proud program start #tDecline.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:23 pm to DaleDenton
quote:
Ole Miss saw their once proud program start #tDecline
you just have to inject your stupidity into every thread,don't you?
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:30 pm to I-59 Tiger
Love the insight and historical perspective you bring to the board.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:39 pm to I-59 Tiger
1967 - I thought this was surely a typo, and that Arkansas had to have beat that!
I was sadly proven wrong on all accounts. There has been quite a bit of progress over the last 45 years in the SEC
I was sadly proven wrong on all accounts. There has been quite a bit of progress over the last 45 years in the SEC
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:39 pm to blacknblu
Tell it to the Alabama sorority group
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:43 pm to JEAUXBLEAUX
quote:
Tell it to the Alabama sorority group
There's certainly more to be done, not just in the SEC
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:44 pm to I-59 Tiger
Posted on 9/23/13 at 2:01 pm to Hugh McElroy
quote:
Hugh McElroy
On this date in 1967, the SEC's first black football player took the field
JT Reynolds and Sam Williams were the first black players at A&M, in 1967. Hugh McElroy (not really me) was the first black man to start at A&M (in 1970), and he caught a game winner against LSU - a 79 yard TD pass with 13 seconds left.
I thought Carl Roaches caught that pass from Lex James? Maybe I'm mistaken...
Posted on 9/23/13 at 2:04 pm to I-59 Tiger
LSU's was TB Lora Hinton in 1971, then DB Mike Williams in '72. First black QB was Carl Otis (K-O) Trimble in '74.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 2:11 pm to I-59 Tiger
Greg Page was also from here in Louisville. I'm not old enough to remember but my Dad saw him play HS ball. There's still a memorial up for him here and his family is still very active in raising money for paraplegics in the area.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 3:41 pm to MetryTyger
It was McElroy.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 3:45 pm to blacknblu
Us and Texas were late to the party.. (1969)
This post was edited on 9/23/13 at 3:48 pm
Posted on 9/23/13 at 4:16 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
Greg Page was also from here in Louisville. I'm not old enough to remember but my Dad saw him play HS ball. There's still a memorial up for him here and his family is still very active in raising money for paraplegics in the area.
I assume that is the same person the apartment complex is named for over by Commonwealth...
Posted on 9/23/13 at 4:18 pm to kywildcatfanone
Yes indeedy.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 4:28 pm to BluegrassBelle
We're proud of the role UNC played in integrating major southern sports. Charles Scott, in 1966, became the first black athlete to participate in a major southern sport when Dean Smith forced the administration to allow him to join the basketball team. He was the Jackie Robinson of his era, handling insults and name calling in a professional, classy manner.
Scott went on to have a wildly successful career, and the rest is history. His success, and the manner in which he seamlessly fit into the team, helped the rest of the South integrate their sports teams. Plus, it didn't hurt that he was a fabulous player and other coaches soon wanted "their Charlie Scott's" for their teams.
Scott went on to have a wildly successful career, and the rest is history. His success, and the manner in which he seamlessly fit into the team, helped the rest of the South integrate their sports teams. Plus, it didn't hurt that he was a fabulous player and other coaches soon wanted "their Charlie Scott's" for their teams.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 5:10 pm to dlc83
quote:
We're proud of the role UNC played in integrating major southern sports. Charles Scott, in 1966, became the first black athlete to participate in a major southern sport when Dean Smith forced the administration to allow him to join the basketball team. He was the Jackie Robinson of his era, handling insults and name calling in a professional, classy manner.
Still, it seems almost unfathomable that it took TWENTY YEARS from Jackie Robinson to integrate southern college football. Wow. It's a different world today.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 5:13 pm to Mizz-SEC
In southern football's defense it was incredibly hard to convince a young black man to subject himself to what he would've faced at that time in the South. It's pretty well known here that even before Payne played basketball for UK, Rupp recruited several local (especially Louisville) black players but they had no desire to travel to the South based on perception alone. Especially when they could join something like the Metro and rarely have to cross the Mason-Dixon Line.
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