June 11, 1930 Johnny D. Bright, hall of fame Canadian Football League player, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Bright played college football at Drake University where he led the nation in total offense in 1949 and 1950. On October 20, 1951 in a game against Oklahoma State University, Bright was violently assaulted by white […]
Tag Archives | College Football Hall of Fame
May 30th in African American History – Gale Eugene Sayers
May 30, 1943 Gale Eugene Sayers, hall of fame football player and entrepreneur, was born in Wichita, Kansas. Sayers was a two-time All-American at the University of Kansas where he also earned his bachelor’s degree. Sayers is considered by many to have been the greatest open field runner in college football history. He was selected […]
May 23rd in African American History – Jerome Heartwell “Brud” Holland
May 23, 1985 Jerome Heartwell “Brud” Holland, education administrator and diplomat, posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan. Holland was born January 9, 1916 in Auburn, New York. He graduated from Cornell University, where he was the first African American to play on the football team and an All-American in 1937 […]
May 8th in African American History – Ronald “Ronnie” Mandel Lott
May 8, 1959 Ronald Mandel Lott, hall of fame football player, was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lott player college football at the University of Southern California from 1977 to 1980 and in 1980 was a unanimous All-American. He graduated from USC in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration. Lott was […]
March 26th in African American History – Marcus LeMarr Allen
March 26, 1960 Marcus LeMarr Allen, hall of fame football player, was born in San Diego, California. Allen played college football at the University of Southern California from 1978 to 1981. In 1981, he became the first player in NCAA history to rush for over 2,000 yards in one season. That same year, he won […]
November 1st in African American History – Walter Payton
November 1, 1999 Walter Payton, hall of fame football player, died. Payton was born July 25, 1954 in Columbia, Mississippi. He played college football at Jackson State University where he was a two-time All-American and two-time Black College Player of the Year. Payton graduated from Jackson State with a bachelor’s degree in communications.
October 13th in African American History – Jerry Lee Rice
October 13, 1962 Jerry Lee Rice, hall of fame football player, was born in Starkville, Mississippi. Rice played football for Mississippi Valley State University and in 1984 was named to every All-American team. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1985 NFL Draft and in his first year was named Offensive Rookie […]