African Americans and College Football, Part 3: Integration

Key moments in integration

The integration of college football existed based on a simple premise, the program with the best players wins. Institutional racial segregation is based on an unproven idea that skin color breeds inferiority.

White coaches — during the time before legislated desegregation — did not go to black neighborhoods and black high schools to investigate whether or not black football players were the equal of their white counterparts. Therefore the only way to prove your worth was on the field in the few places where a black player could enroll in school and play football.

These players proved they were every bit as good — and better in some instances — than their white counterparts.

Early stars of the gridiron

• Fritz Pollard, Brown University (1915-1917), HB/QB

We wrote about Fritz Pollard in more detail in part one of this series, however, he fits here because Pollard is one of the greatest players in Brown football history. His narrative is the archetype of early black football players as well. He had to earn the respect of his teammates by proving his worth on the field.

Upon earning that respect, his white teammates would attempt to protect him since he was the only black player on the team. There was a team that refused to play them because they were integrated. All common tropes of the experience of black football players during this time through the 1980s.

• Jackie Robinson, UCLA (1939-1941), HB/QB

The Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey and Major League Baseball were the beneficiaries of professional baseball’s popularity. By many accounts, Jackie Robinson was a better football player than baseball player. In 1940, Robinson led the Bruins in passing, rushing and scoring. It was the 1939 team that was the hallmark of Robinson’s UCLA career. They finished seventh in the AP with a 6-0-4 record, and Robinson earned All-Pac-10 honors. The team-which featured four black players — was the most integrated team in college football in 1939.

• Willie Thrower, Michigan State (1949-1951), QB

Nicknamed “Mitts” for his large hands and strong throwing arm, Willie Thrower became the first black quarterback to win a national championship backing up  All-American Tom Yewcic for the Michigan State Spartans on their 1952 title team.

• Sandy Stephens, Minnesota (1959-1961), QB

Sandy Stephens came to Minnesota in 1959 because head coach Murray Warmath wanted better athletes than he could recruit around the state of Minnesota. It paid off as Stephens became the leader of a revival of Golden Gophers football which included being the first black player to win a Rose Bowl, the first black quarterback to earn All-American honors, and the first starting quarterback to win a national title. He was also Rose Bowl MVP and finished fourth in the Heisman (1962 vs. UCLA) Trophy voting in 1961.

• Condredge Holloway, Tennessee (1972-1974), QB

Nate Northington was the first black football player to play in the SEC while a member of the Kentucky Wildcats and the first athlete of any kind to participate in sport in the SEC. However, the first quarterback to play in the SEC was Condredge Holloway. Both men are important because the SEC was one of the final hold outs post the Brown case and many of their universities are in the deep south. Holloway’s place is important because he played quarterback, and that was the position blacks weren’t “smart” enough to play. “The Artful Dodger” as we was known as led the Vols to three bowl games and went 25-9-2 as a starter.