PHOTO: Rolesville High 4-star edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes decommitted from North Carolina after Mack Brown was let go as coach, but new Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick is trying to lure him back.

Visit my website homepage: TomShanahan.Report

Click here for review and purchase link: THE RIGHT THING TO DO, The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s.

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By TOM SHANAHAN

Few big-name head coach hires have been met with the skepticism North Carolina football encountered when announcing Bill Belichick’ hiring in December. It was understandably difficult to imagine the laconic coach patiently visiting high schools and family living rooms.

After all, the six-time Super Bowl champion coach of the New England Patriots spent 24 years in the cushy NFL, presenting a stoic-to-gruff personality through TV and radio interviews. He patronized the media. He doesn’t suffer fools.

How was a 72-year-old man going to transition from talking with Tom Brady, to chit-chatting with a teenager he met for the first time?

Well, there was Belichick on the Rolesville High School campus shortly after 7 a.m. on Jan. 6, the first day college coaches could visit high school athletes. He arranged the visit through Rolesville head coach Ranier Rackley to gain an introduction to the Rams’ 4-star prospect, defensive end Zavion Griffin-Haynes. …

PHOTO: Rolesville High’s Zavion Griffin-Haynes is one the nation’s top prospects as an edge rusher.

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Click here for the remainder of my story in the News & Observer:

UNC football, Bill Belichick recruit Zavion Griffin-Haynes | Raleigh News & Observer

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Tom Shanahan is an award-winning sportswriter and frequent contributor to Spartanmag.com in addition to posting on his website. His new book on Michigan State leading college football integration is, “THE RIGHT THING TO DO, The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s.” His first book was “RAYE OF LIGHT, Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the Integration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans.”

I invite you to follow me on Twitter @shanny4055

Below are links to click on to purchase my books focused.

My books tell the true story of college football integration in the 1960s and address the myths and fiction that allowed a false narrative surrounding the 1970 USC-Alabama game to usurp the credit from the true pioneers. As I said when I spoke at the National Sports Media Association book festival, no two books provide an accurate portrayal more than RAYE OF LIGHT and THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I’ll put my facts up against anybody, anytime, anywhere. Watch here.

Click here for my story on the 1962 Rose Bowl and Segregation awarded first place by the Football Writers Association of America. I tell untold stories on Michigan State’s leading role and the true pioneers of college football integration. Click here to read the summary as a first-place story.

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Click here to purchase The Right Thing To Do

THE RIGHT THING TO DO

The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s

Foreword by Ruffin McNeill

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Click here to purchase Raye of Light.

RAYE OF LIGHT

Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the 1ntegration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans

Foreword by Tony Dungy

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Click here to purchase my children’s book, Bubba’s Dad, Duffy and College Football’s Underground Railroad

The book for now is only a Kindle version on Amazon. Print and audio platforms available soon.