1969 Buffs made their mark on racism

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I know matt posted this in the news area. But i thought everyone should see this story. Especially because we don't see too many good articles from Woody very often.

1969 Buffs made their mark on racism
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post

The University of Colorado football team had never played behind The Cotton Curtain — the deep South.

None of the young white and black men on the 1969 team had ever played against a Southeastern Conference school.

The Buffaloes knew about legendary coach Bear Bryant and powerhouse Alabama, an eight-time national champion. But all they knew about Memphis, Tenn., was that Elvis lived there, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. died there.

Nobody associated with CU knew what to expect in the Dec. 13, 1969, Liberty Bowl, matching the Buffs and the Crimson Tide.

http://www.denverpost.com/paige/ci_7824612

 

[Mick Ronson]

great article. i'm not a fan of Woody, but i'll give him his props for that one.

people forget Texas won the NC in 1969 with an all-white team.

big ups to Coach Crowder and the 69 Buffs.

 

[IDBUFF]

Times have changed

 

[Bama Charlie]

But Bryant had persuaded a black high school fullback, Bo Matthews, to commit to Alabama — and invited him to Memphis. The kid from Huntsville, Ala., hung out that week with the black players from Colorado. "We worked on him hard and told him to forget being the pioneer at Alabama — to come to Colorado," Collins says.

Matthews changed his mind, picked Colorado, became an All-American and was the No. 2 overall pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 1974 draft.
You guys stole our first AA recruit.

 

[DBT]

But Bryant had persuaded a black high school fullback, Bo Matthews, to commit to Alabama — and invited him to Memphis. The kid from Huntsville, Ala., hung out that week with the black players from Colorado. "We worked on him hard and told him to forget being the pioneer at Alabama — to come to Colorado," Collins says.

Matthews changed his mind, picked Colorado, became an All-American and was the No. 2 overall pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 1974 draft.
You guys stole our first AA recruit.

You lost then and you are going to lose tomorrow!:lol:

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

But Bryant had persuaded a black high school fullback, Bo Matthews, to commit to Alabama — and invited him to Memphis. The kid from Huntsville, Ala., hung out that week with the black players from Colorado. "We worked on him hard and told him to forget being the pioneer at Alabama — to come to Colorado," Collins says.

Matthews changed his mind, picked Colorado, became an All-American and was the No. 2 overall pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 1974 draft.
You guys stole our first AA recruit.

Alabama fans didn't help your cause much either. :huh:

 

[Bama Charlie]

Alabama fans didn't help your cause much either. :huh:

nevermind

 

[DBT]

Alabama fans didn't help your cause much either. :huh:

I hate to see this get political. But racism isn't just a southern thing. After the War against Yankee Agression lol I've read that racism was actually worse in the North. The evolution of blacks in sports was slow not just in the South, but everywhere. I remember a guy named Jerry Levias back in the sixties. He was the first black to play for SMU. That was, like, 1966 or so. In the article, CU had, what, six black players? Not exactly opening the flood gates there. America was guilty. Not just the South.

Do you have those embarrasing moments in your life that you will ever be ashamed of? I do. Lots of 'em. But the one that stands out most, that is burned into my soul, is when our high school had a big game. A black kid on the opposing team broke free and was heading downfield. I was, like, 14. I yelled, "Git that ******!" I looked behind me and there was a black family looking at me. I am now 53 and it still rips my guts out thinking about it.

So, all of us have a lot of changing to do. I would hope that any black Buff fans reading this post, or 'bama fans, would not judge me for a stupid remark made as a teenager in 1968. I was an adolescent. America was an adolescent. I hope we can all get passed that and start to live as a united country, regardless of race.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

Orvis said the Alabama fans at the bowl "spit on us. They treated us like dirt before and during the game. They were screaming racial remarks totally out of line.

"It was all because we had black players on our team."

Alabama had no black players — that season or any season before.

 

[DBT]

Orvis said the Alabama fans at the bowl "spit on us. They treated us like dirt before and during the game. They were screaming racial remarks totally out of line.

"It was all because we had black players on our team."

Alabama had no black players — that season or any season before.

2007 - 1969 = 38 Years! That is a generation.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I hate to see this get political. But racism isn't just a southern thing. After the War against Yankee Agression lol I've read that racism was actually worse in the North. The evolution of blacks in sports was slow not just in the South, but everywhere. I remember a guy named Jerry Levias back in the sixties. He was the first black to play for SMU. That was, like, 1966 or so. In the article, CU had, what, six black players? Not exactly opening the flood gates there. America was guilty. Not just the South.

Do you have those embarrasing moments in your life that you will ever be ashamed of? I do. Lots of 'em. But the one that stands out most, that is burned into my soul, is when our high school had a big game. A black kid on the opposing team broke free and was heading downfield. I was, like, 14. I yelled, "Git that ******!" I looked behind me and there was a black family looking at me. I am now 53 and it still rips my guts out thinking about it.

So, all of us have a lot of changing to do. I would hope that any black Buff fans reading this post, or 'bama fans, would not judge me for a stupid remark made as a teenager in 1968. I was an adolescent. America was an adolescent. I hope we can all get passed that and start to live as a united country, regardless of race.

It was a different time back then, i agree. But Alabama and other southern states have that reputation for a reason. I am not trying to say Charlie is a racist. If it came out that way i apologize.

 

[Bama Charlie]

Orvis said the Alabama fans at the bowl "spit on us. They treated us like dirt before and during the game. They were screaming racial remarks totally out of line.

"It was all because we had black players on our team."

Alabama had no black players — that season or any season before.

I was four. I was not there and didn't do it. Most smack toward Bama football includes a 'that was history-a long time ago'. This was a long time ago.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I was four. I was not there and didn't do it. Most smack toward Bama football includes a 'that was history-a long time ago'. This was a long time ago.

see post # 11

 

[Bama Charlie]

It was a different time back then, i agree. But Alabama and other southern states have that reputation for a reason. I am not trying to say Charlie is a racist. If it came out that way i apologize.

FWIW I grew up in Chicago and Alabama. The most racist person I have ever met was my Polish-Italian uncle on Chicago's south side.

 

[DBT]

It was a different time back then, i agree. But Alabama and other southern states have that reputation for a reason. I am not trying to say Charlie is a racist. If it came out that way i apologize.

Well, black kids flock to those schools, so, apparently, they don't feel too threatened. I'd bet black kids feel more comfortable at 'bama than the do at CU these days. And that really makes me sad because that is not fair either. Their should not be a school in the country that doesn't embrace cultural diversity. I think CU does do that. But idots like mary keenan make it tough. We all, both sides, need to evolve. Hey, I've been alone in Southern black neighborhoods and felt very uncomfortable. Racism goes both ways and is dividing this nation.