Sports and Society Test #4
Jake Gaither
- FAMU's head coach - manipulator of white governmental power on Florida to serve FAMU's needs. - stayed quiet about civil rights to make white Board of Regents happy for more funding
Peter Griffin
- FAMU's track coach (helped train Bob Hayes to become an Olympic gold medalist in the 1964 Olympics) - FAMU's unquestioned interim replacement for Gaither after he broke his leg - friends since 1938 when Gaither was an assistant coach and Griffin was FAMU's starting center. - more of a strategist than a motivator - 8-1 season while Gaither was out
Eldridge Dickey
- Tennessee State's QB. - also team's best punter/kicker, IQ over 130
Fran Curci
- University of Tampa's coach who approached Gaither about playing an integrated game - 1962 he joined the University of Miami as an assistant coach (segregated until 1967)
How was Gaither's heath negatively impacted?
- after being misdiagnosed and encountering refusal to be seen by white doctors, Gaither was diagnosed with 2 brain tumors in 1941 - White neurologist, Cobb Pilcher, successfully removed the tumors but recovery took years, became coach again in 1945
Orange Blossom Classic
- big game in black college football - platform for top teams to show they were as good as the best white teams in the country - many NFL scouts - unofficial holiday for black Americans
Grambling vs. FAMU game
- day before game, FAMU's team taunts Grambling while practicing - everything about Miami was new and foreign to Grambling players - Grambling won
Why would Robinson never let Harris be timed in the 40 yard dash?
- he knew that Harris was exceptionally fast and feared that NFL teams would use that information to force him to change positions.
Who won the Grambling vs. FAMU game?
Grambling
Who were the co-captains of the 1967 FAMU football team?
Ken Riley and Elroy Morand, both starting QB's- complementary contrasting styles
Who won the FAMU vs. Southern game in 1967?
- FAMU
What did Gaither say to Bear Bryant after he criticized Gaither's offensive scheme?
"I'll take my players and beat you with it, and I'll take your players and beat mine with it." - the 2 teams couldn't play bc football was still segregated
Jake Gaither
- FAMU football coach - Came from non-hostile Negro Elite - transformed FAMU's football program - intended to be a lawyer but started coaching after dad died - Retired as a coach in 1969
The Board of Regents
- 9 members, all of whom were white - Served the Governor - Had complete control over the budget for public higher education - after much resistance, finally let FAMU play an all white team in 1967
Eddie Robinson
- Grambling's head football coach, hired in 1941 - transformed their football program - from Baton Rouge, LA - gifted athlete - never let racism get to him - good father & husband, man of God - In 1968 Grambling played Morgan State in Yankee Stadium - more than 200 of his players went on to play professionally - retired in 1997
Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones
- Grambling's president since 1936 - also coached Grambling's baseball team to just short of 700 wins
What made Gaither so successful when it came down to recruiting players?
- dominated in recruiting black athletes in Florida - huge advantage because FSU, UF, and UM were white and segregated - many of his former players became coaches and helped him recruit
FAMU vs. University of Tampa
- Robinson was Gaither's guest - dramatic game - FAMU won, 34-28 - Gaither announced his retirement after the game - Later he admitted that the game was the most important of his career.
James Harris
- Star QB for Grambling - served as coach on off season when NCAA prohibited practicing - drafted by the Buffalo in the 8th round. - Harris rookie season was a harsh experience (racism) - cut by the Bills before the start of his third season, traded to LA Rams - During 1974-76, he was arguably the best QB in the NFL - The played for SD Chargers for 5 years before retiring
What was the Informers' plan?
- hijack the homecoming game to make their point - gathered 800 students (20% student pop) & blockaded Jones' administrative building, Zanders had lists of demands but Jones declined - Jones finally called National Guard to end the standoff
Willie Zanders
- leader of the Informers - student body president.
Jerry Izenberg
- led ABC's film crew - covered the Informers' protest
What brought doubts for Gaither as a coach in 1967?
- losing recruits to other programs - whispers that he had slipped and might be replaced as coach - realized that he needed to modernize his offense and pass more - generation gap between him & players
Collie J. Nicholson
- marine veteran in WWII, first black combat correspondent in marine history - formed a chapter of the NAACP at Grambling - wanted Grambling to be for blacks what Notre Dame has been for whites - in charge of media relations for Grambling
Why was there so much tension in the Grambling vs. Tennessee State game one Oct 7, 1967?
- rival coaches and QB's - Grambling was underdog, but won
the Informers
- student protesters at Grambling - spread flyers throughout campus complaining about the conditions at Grambling, attacked prez Jones for racial cowardice
Protest at SC State
- students angry about unequal distribution of resources bc they were an integrated school - started when president fired 2 white professors for complaints about not enough funding - resulted in a 2 week boycott of over 90% of students, including many SCSU football players - drew National attention, prez was fired
Howard Cosell
-arranged funding to have an ABC film crew shoot a documentary about the game (although he would not join the film crew). - also radio show host
What were Robinsons's 2 goals for 1967?
1. restore prestige to his program, 2. put Harris on a path to a professional career.
When was the first HBCU founded?
1837, by Quakers in Philadelphia - most HBCU's were established by legislatures in the South as a means of keeping White universities separated
When was Grambling University founded?
1901 - no running water, indoor plumbing, or Brick buildings until 1941 -lack of resources and employment opportunities post grad
How many times did FAMU win the black college championship??
7 times
Why didn't Gaither ever have to cut players from his team?
Because practices were so tough, they quit on their own
Why did Gaither create his own coaching clinic in 1950?
Because racial segregation prevented him from attending those held by white coaches. - his clinics were open to whites and blacks and attracted many of the top coaches of the day.
Lovie Smith
Coach of the Chicago Bears when they played in the 2007 Super Bowl - both coaches were Black
Tony Dungy
Coach of the Indianapolis Colts when they played in the 2007 Super Bowl - both coaches were Black
Who helped promote Tank Younger's career?
Collie J. Nicholson
Who said this quote: "This is a great country. If you are willing to pay the price, you can be anything you want here, even if it comes slow sometimes."
Eddie Robinson
Ken Riley
FAMU's co-starting quarterback - raised by single mom & grandparents - emphasis on religion and education - grew up in racist Bartow, FL - worked his way up to starting - played in NFL for Cincinatti Bengals
Who won the Sept.23, 1967 game of FAMU vs. South Carolina State?
FAMU, 25-0 - proved Gaither wasn't past his time
Who played in the 1967 Orange Bowl Classic football game?
Grambling University and FAMU - Orange Bowl Classic= championship game for HBCU
How did Gaither cope with having no children of his own?
He treated his players as if they were his own kids
What was the Split Line T offense?
It was run oriented and very successful. - Created by Gaither
Who was FAMU's president in 1967, when Gaither joined the team?
J.R.E. Lee - born into slavery and later trained by Booker T. Washington - strong advocate of civil rights - fought against prejudiced white men who controlled FAMU's funding
Who was Grambling's star QB and team leader in 1967?
James Harris - served as their surrogate head coach during summers when the NCAA prohibited holding practices - His goal was to be the first starting African American QB in professional football
What was the NAACP?
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Did Eddie Robinson let racism interfere with his personal and/or professional life?
No
Where is Grambling University located?
Northern Louisiana - unsafe for AA's (lynching mobs)
Texas Southern vs. Grambling, 1967
Protest ended, game was not hijacked - Grambling won, 20-0
Who was UM's first black player?
Rey Bellamy
Oree Banks
SC State's head coach and former assistant to Robinson - very active in civil rights (created friction with white schools) & allowed his players to join the movement as well
Approaching the Sept.23, 1967 game of FAMU vs. South Carolina State, who had the upper hand?
South Carolina State
How was Gaither injured in the FAMU vs. Southern game in 1967?
Southern player ran into him on the sideline - Gaither knew he was hurt but he continued to coach. - later diagnosed with a broken leg, needed surgery that compromised his ability to return to coaching before season ended
John Merritt
Tennessee State's coach - greatly disliked by Robinson - not ethical coaching methods - job was to find the best players he could and raise money for his team and himself. - his team reflected his attitude
Cat Coleman
Tennessee State's offensive coordinator
What kind of coach was Gaither?
he never yelled or insulted his players, he was a delegator who relied on his assistant coaches to manage their position players
Why was football suspended in 1943-1944?
WWII - Robinson aggressively recruited players once they were allowed to play again - targeted Black veterans who could now play because of the GI Bill
Did Gaither have good relations with many governors and state officials?
Yes
Were Gaither and Robinson equally successful?
Yes
Did any of Grambling's players end up going professional?
Yes. By the 1960s Grambling's players were regularly drafted by NFL and AFL teams.
What made Robinson want to train an NFL QB?
a radio interview with Howard Cosell
Joe Gilliam
actually ran Tennessee State's team - great defensive strategist - son was one of NFL's first starting black QBs, played for the Steelers in the early 70s - noticed corruption and bribery within team, white agents were giving gifts to players who signed with them - daughter committed suicide just days before Grambling game
Why did James Harris choose to play football at Grambling?
because he knew it was his best chance to play in the NFL
Tank Younger
first player from a black college to sign with an NFL team (and only the second player overall). - Went to Grambling
Claude Kirk
governor of Florida - visited FAMU's games/practices - close ties to Gaither
How did Robinson reform his offensive schema?
he enlisted the help of his former NFL players to provide NFL playbooks and tips on how on how the NFL game was played.
What were Gaither and Robinson's short-term and long-term goals?
short-term: winning football games long-term: racial equality
What did Eddie Robinson expect of his players?
to work hard, go to church, & graduate
What athletic ability did Gaither want in his players?
valued speed over size - he wanted sprinters at skill positions and fast lineman
