The Game of the Century in College Football

These flashcards provide key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to the historical, cultural, and social aspects of college football in the South, particularly focusing on racial segregation and integration.

Wake Forest vs UNC (1888)

• The first college football game in the South, ending with Wake Forest 6 and UNC 4.

Southern Obsession for College Football

• The cultural phenomenon in the South where football was associated with honor and redemption post-Civil War.

• The south started to realize that southern men could redeem their loss in the civil war by engaging in football to demonstrate their strength and manhood

1926 Rose Bowl

• A significant college football game where Alabama defeated Washington, symbolizing Southern pride.

• Brought football to like in the South

• White southern people celebrated

• Alabama won for the south

Frank Porter Graham

• UNC President from 1930-1949, known for his progressive stance on integrating Black players.

• approved UNC to play NYU with their black player

1954 Brown v Board of Education

• A landmark Supreme Court ruling that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

• Caused resistance in the south especially on the football field

Bobby Grier Affair

• Incident during the 1956 Sugar Bowl highlighting racial tensions, centered around the sole Black player for Pittsburgh.

• Bobby Grier was black football player for Pittsburgh.

• Governor of Georgia announced that the game would not be played because of Bobby Grier (Georgia Tech v. Pitt)

• Game still happened, Georgia Tech won due to terrible call against Bobby Grier

James Meredith at Ole Miss (1962)

• The first Black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, facing severe opposition.

• Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett famously tried to block his enrollment, leading to riots and federal intervention.

• Governor waved confederate flag at football games

Ole Miss Riot (1962)

• Violent protests that occurred following the enrollment of James Meredith

Texas vs Arkansas (1969)

• Known as 'The Game of the Century', notable for being one of the last games between two all-White teams.

• The last major American sporting event played between two all White teams

• Richard Nixon also attended the game for political reasons to grab the Southerners vote

• Arkansas Black student was shot and killed ahead of the game in midst of protests

Southern Cal (USC) vs Alabama (1970) Football

• Integrated USC vs all White Alabama

• Alabama coached by legend Paul “Bear” Bryant

• Integrated USC defeated Alabama 42-21

• The game proved football had to be integrated in the South

• If Alabama wanted to compete in college football, they must consider all players for their team

• The game really illustrated to Alabama people they must consider desegregation

• 1967-1972 era of desegregation in the SEC

Era of Desegregation in the SEC (1967-1972)

A significant period marked by the gradual integration of college football in the Southeastern Conference.