Time to reexamine Bear Bryant and 1970 USC-Alabama myths and fiction

EIGHTH OF AN EIGHT-PART SERIES. The first seven parts are listed at the end of the story. Although no one in the documentary says it, there seems to be a feeling that Southern Cal’s rout of Alabama was the shock that the University and a majority of the fans needed to support integration of the football program. But in fact, that same shock probably came the previous year when the Tennessee Volunteers, the team that Bryant always regarded…

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Part IV: College football integration lore, in the form of traffic, was steered down a fairy tale exit

NOTE: As a Detroit Tigers and Mangum fan, this is my letter to Tom Selleck, admittedly a bit tongue in cheek. The facts vs. fiction I present, though, tell the true story of college football integration’s pioneers in the 1960s. College football integration was fait accompli by 1970, thanks to the price paid by true pioneers. They knocked down the door. Alabama coach Bear Bryant didn’t open the door. He was pointed to it after coaching segregated teams…

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Raleigh Sports Club luncheon video: Honoring Earle Edwards’ legacy and connection to Duffy Daugherty

RSC photo (L-R): Tim Peeler, Charley Young and Tom Shanahan. Visit my website homepage, TomShanahan.Report By TOM SHANAHAN NC State historian Tim Peeler and NC State ground-breaking running back Charley Young joined me to discuss the Wolfpack football legacy that Earle Edwards established as the school’s head coach, 1954-70. The March 8 event was part of the Raleigh Sports Club’s weekly luncheons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsT3MLaZCWE L-R: NC State historian Tim Peeler, NC State pioneer Charley Young and author Tom Shanahan…

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