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African Americans in college football, Part 1: The early years

By Dante Pryor

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 17: Zane Dudek #33 of the Yale Bulldog is tackled during a game against the Harvard Crimson at Fenway Park on November 17, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 17: Zane Dudek #33 of the Yale Bulldog is tackled during a game against the Harvard Crimson at Fenway Park on November 17, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 14: The trophy presented to Quarterback Joe Burrow of the LSU Tigers winner of the 85th annual Heisman Memorial Trophy is seen on December 14, 2019, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 14: The trophy presented to Quarterback Joe Burrow of the LSU Tigers winner of the 85th annual Heisman Memorial Trophy is seen on December 14, 2019, at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

African Americans and the Heisman Trophy

In 1935, Jay Berwanger was the first college football player to win the Heisman Trophy. It would not be until 1961 that an African-American would win the Heisman Trophy. It was “The Elmira Express” Ernie Davis who would be the first black college football player to win the Heisman Trophy while at Syracuse University. The award would not be without controversy.

In 1956, Jim Brown was the best running back in college football and the best player in the country. However, not only did Brown not win the award, he finished fifth in the voting. This was so egregious legendary sportswriter Dick Schaap boycotted the Heisman Trophy voting for 20 years.

It would be 54 years after the inception of the award before we would see a black quarterback win the Heisman Trophy when the University of Houston quarterback Andre Ware would take home the award.

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Before Ware won the award in 1989, the only black quarterbacks to finish in the top 10 were Sandy Stephens of Minnesota in 1961, Chuck Ealey of Toledo in 1971, Dennis Franklin of Michigan in 1974, Doug Williams of Grambling State in 1977, Reggie Collier of Southern Mississippi in 1981, Tuner Gill of Nebraska in 1983 and Don McPherson of Syracuse in 1987.

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