UL's First Integrated Football Team (Merged)

[cajun_lannister]

Anyone know the first Cajun's football team to be integrated

https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comment...lege_football/

[wcd35]

1968 - Godfrey White.

He's only listed for 1968 in media guides. Listed as a Sophomore in the 1968 roster on the link below:

http://www.athleticnetwork.net/site525.php

Couldn't have been much earlier. Shipley's integrated 1966 team was the first major sports team in the deep south public school

Small blurb here too:

White was the first African American to play and letter in football at the University of Southwestern Louisiana and the first Black to be elected to the student Government Association.

Along with many other "firsts," White says he is proudest to be known as the first African American student athlete to graduate from the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

[31Ragin97]

I heard this morning on the radio that Bear Bryant "integrated football"

[Bankruptcyman]

He was instrumental in getting black athletes to play at the football schools in the South. In the late 60's or early 70's there were still no black football players at the power football programs in the South and Alabama in particular. Bear Bryant grew up in rural Arkansas on a tenant farm working along side black farmers. He wanted to recruit black athletes but the powers at Alabama (remember George Wallace) did not want to do that. He scheduled Southern California (with a fully integrated roster) to come to Birmingham with the hidden agenda of showcasing the talent of some of the black athletes. Sam "Bam" Cunningham had a field day and USC beat Alabama. Bear Bryant then was able to convince the Alabama faithful that he needed to be able to recruit blacks in order to compete on the field. Whatever the Bear needed to win football championships, the Bear got. No one was going to question the Bear and soon after he was able to recruit players like Sylvester Croome and others. Once Alabama started recruiting blacks, other southern football powers had to follow suit.

[31Ragin97]

thanks. I remember hearing about the USC game, so made me think the statement was false, since USC was clearly integrated sooner, but thanks for clarifying and adding south. makes sense, very good to know and happy to hear. never thought about it that way, that Bear was ok with losing to make a more important point.
but was it before or after USL?

also I thought he started at Kentucky, do you know how things were there between him and Rupp (if same time)??

[Arkstfan]

I heard this morning on the radio that Bear Bryant "integrated football"

False.
Bama football integrated for the 1971 season.
Iowa State integrated their team in 1923, their stadium is named for their first black player. In his second game he was gang tackled and allegedly stomped on by Minnesota players a died a day later from internal injuries.
Black player at Drake led the nation in major college offense in 1949 and 1950 and was considered the leader for the Heisman until an Oklahoma State player broke his jaw (pre-face mask)
There were black first team all-americans as early as 1938.

Black players in the south generally either stayed home and played for HBCU's or they went north and played in the Big 10 or in the Northeast.

UNT integrated in 1957 with Abner Hays
Houston integrated in 1964 (pre-SWC)
SMU integrated the SWC in 1965
Kentucky integrated SEC football in 1967.
AState integrated its football team in 1970
Arkansas and Texas integrated in 1970 though both had previously had black walkons who never got a scholarship and were never suited up for a game.
Bama, and LSU integrated their teams in 1971.

So if by closing the door by being basically the last to integrate Bama integrated college football, then the premise is true.

[cajunhawk]

False.
Bama football integrated for the 1971 season.
Iowa State integrated their team in 1923, their stadium is named for their first black player. In his second game he was gang tackled and allegedly stomped on by Minnesota players a died a day later from internal injuries.
Black player at Drake led the nation in major college offense in 1949 and 1950 and was considered the leader for the Heisman until an Oklahoma State player broke his jaw (pre-face mask)
There were black first team all-americans as early as 1938.

Black players in the south generally either stayed home and played for HBCU's or they went north and played in the Big 10 or in the Northeast.

UNT integrated in 1957 with Abner Hays
Houston integrated in 1964 (pre-SWC)
SMU integrated the SWC in 1965
Kentucky integrated SEC football in 1967.
AState integrated its football team in 1970
Arkansas and Texas integrated in 1970 though both had previously had black walkons who never got a scholarship and were never suited up for a game.
Bama, and LSU integrated their teams in 1971.

So if by closing the door by being basically the last to integrate Bama integrated college football, then the premise is true.

I wonder why we have never heard about a black player literally being murdered on the football field. Even though it happened in 1923, you would think Spike Lee would have made a movie about it.

[31Ragin97]

False.
Bama football integrated for the 1971 season.
Iowa State integrated their team in 1923, their stadium is named for their first black player. In his second game he was gang tackled and allegedly stomped on by Minnesota players a died a day later from internal injuries.
Black player at Drake led the nation in major college offense in 1949 and 1950 and was considered the leader for the Heisman until an Oklahoma State player broke his jaw (pre-face mask)
There were black first team all-americans as early as 1938.

Black players in the south generally either stayed home and played for HBCU's or they went north and played in the Big 10 or in the Northeast.

UNT integrated in 1957 with Abner Hays
Houston integrated in 1964 (pre-SWC)
SMU integrated the SWC in 1965
Kentucky integrated SEC football in 1967.
AState integrated its football team in 1970
Arkansas and Texas integrated in 1970 though both had previously had black walkons who never got a scholarship and were never suited up for a game.
Bama, and LSU integrated their teams in 1971.

So if by closing the door by being basically the last to integrate Bama integrated college football, then the premise is true.

thank you sir! excellent summary! Turbine please put this in the archive

[Turbine]

False.
Bama football integrated for the 1971 season.
Iowa State integrated their team in 1923, their stadium is named for their first black player. In his second game he was gang tackled and allegedly stomped on by Minnesota players a died a day later from internal injuries.
Black player at Drake led the nation in major college offense in 1949 and 1950 and was considered the leader for the Heisman until an Oklahoma State player broke his jaw (pre-face mask)
There were black first team all-americans as early as 1938.

Black players in the south generally either stayed home and played for HBCU's or they went north and played in the Big 10 or in the Northeast.

UNT integrated in 1957 with Abner Hays
Houston integrated in 1964 (pre-SWC)
SMU integrated the SWC in 1965
Kentucky integrated SEC football in 1967.

UL integrated it's football team in 1968

AState integrated its football team in 1970
Arkansas and Texas integrated in 1970 though both had previously had black walkons who never got a scholarship and were never suited up for a game.
Bama, and LSU integrated their teams in 1971.

So if by closing the door by being basically the last to integrate Bama integrated college football, then the premise is true.

Made a small adjustment for you.

...Kentucky integrated SEC football in 1967.

UL integrated it's football team in 1968

AState integrated its football team in 1970...

Godfrey White was the first player, he was also involved with Student Government.

[31Ragin97]

Made a small adjustment for you.

... Kentucky integrated SEC football in 1967.

UL integrated it's football team in 1968

AState integrated its football team in 1970 ...

Godfrey White was the first player, he was also involved with Student Government.

thank you, who was the first of any sport?

[Turbine]

thank you, who was the first of any sport?

Basketball 1966 Elvin Ivory and Marvin Winkler.

[Swamphound]

Asked this question on Twitter. So far nobody knows the answer. Who was the first African American football player to play for SLI/USL/UL? To be transparent, I don't know the answer but would love to know. @VermilionNWhite