Also in that game USC fielded the first all-black backfield in college football with Cunningham, quarterback Jimmy Jones and halfback Clarence Davis. Davis has his place in history as catching the game winning TD in the 1974 Raiders-Dolphins “Sea of Hands” playoff game
@@josephbennett728 Zzzzzz..... another story for another time. Bama did beat USC a year later. Surprising USC by switching to the Wishbone instead of the 2 back passing attack that Bryant had run for years.
Bryant wanted to recruit black players. He bought USC in to show the Alabama administration why he want to and why they should too. That’s the Politics of it.
Actually, Bryant had already signed John Mitchell and Wilbur Jackson several months prior to this game. He had had black players on the '67 team, but all left for various reasons. One was going to start but his father or mother died and he left just before the start of the season.
@@kennethmotolenich9820 for your information there was already a black player on the Alabama team named Wilbur Jackson but he was a freshman and Bryant tried to bring in black players in 1967
I remember this game very well. I was a teen selling cokes in the stadium for many games at Legion Field. The score was not that close, but the students had a ball. I joined them in 1971 as a student athlete. In 1972 our Homecoming Queen was a talented and beautiful sister from B'ham. My years at Bama were outstanding, many wonderful people supported the students in every way. Roll Tide! ☺
Perhaps, but Tennessee, and others, already had black players on their rosters. I believe Tennessee had Lester McClain in 1967, and Jackie Walker was a starting linebacker in 1970, then became the SEC’s first black all-American football player in ‘71. The Alabama-USC game was extremely significant for Bama, however other SEC schools had already recruited black student-athletes.
It's lucky this game didn't occur in 1967--Alabama would have been facing O.J. Simpson, who was one of the best running backs in USC history, no matter how he ruined his own life with his troubles...
@controlvoice it changed everything, Alabama and Bear Bryant was going to get left behind if it didn't recruit the blk players. Take all of the blk players off Alabama and it's a terrible team today. They couldn't compete today with that good ole boy confederate flag waving George Wallace mindset
@@nedstewart1 who cares, let's not forget Alabama had Good ole George Wallace standing on campus protesting Blk students arrival. Alabama had no other options but to allow blk players on the team are get left behind. They wouldn't win a game if they refused to recruit blk players today
It’s funny, but as an Alabama resident, I don’t appreciate the hate towards the South that he portrays. I grew up in Tuscaloosa. The people here are mostly just as intelligent and open minded as any other state in the Country. There’s a very small minority of racists no doubt.
I've heard about this game before. They didn't say it here, but the Alabama Crimson Tide went on to be one of the best college football programs of the 1970s, winning 28 games in a row and back-to-back national championships by the end of the decade.
Unfortunately one byproduct of this game was the loss of talent at the Historical Black Colleges and Universities. Imagine what power houses Alabama A&M and Alabama State would be if the top Black players in the state of Alabama went to those schools and not Alabama and Auburn. I guess this is what we call "progress". 🤷🏾♂️
Years ago I asked asked a young man why not go to a hbcu he said his chances of making it to the NFL are greater somewhere else not going to say his name ,but yeah SMH
But it is progress. It doesn't take away from black colleges at all. Those institutions proved the resilience of the black community while facing some of the harshest adversity anyone can face in their lifetime. The problem is building a program guys want to play for. I get your point but this is def progress in the right direction.
I've always said this whole story has been overblown. An ex Bama asst from the time lived behind me and we talked about this one afternoon and it's full of holes. Bryant had already recruited Wilbur Jackson and was recruiting John Mitchell and Conredge Holloway, notably, to come to Bama. When Bama went to Los Angeles the next season Bama defeated USC with only Wilbur Jackson on the varsity. Now, Bryant knew he had to get the BEST football players regardless of color and had already started doing that but the whole notion that Bama lost to get black players to come to Bama is erroneous. Bama went 6 -5 in 1970 losing 4 other games to all white southern teams. USC beat Bama this night because USC was far superior. Bama won the next season because they were the best team. Bryant had started recruiting black players well before this game. Bryant going to wishbone had as much to do with Bama becoming dominant again as anything but he had to have athletes to run the wishbone. Make no mistake, without Tony Nathan, Wilbur, Sylvester Croom, Johnny Davis and Ozzie Newsome Bama doesn't return to glory but to say Sam Cunningham convinced Bama to recruit blacks is not correct. This was in motion already.
Bryant was already recruiting blacks, just as you say. Just not very many of them. To me, the point of this video is that Cunningham and USC convinced the average Alabamian that the Tide needed to recruit black players. Bryant said many times " I won't be the first SEC coach to recruit black players. And I won't be the last one, either."
> Bryant had already recruited Wilbur Jackson and was recruiting John Mitchell and Conredge Holloway, notably, to come to Bama. This game was Bryant's way of achieving the buy-in from the Alabama public (and politicians) to move forward with integrating the team.
@@dantesinfernopurgatory7826 It is known as the Sam Bam game. Clarence Davis got over a hundred yards, was great, just overshadowed. More to the point, Clarence was from Birmingham Alabama. This was a local kid who could have easily been recruited by the tide. This fact was not lost on the coaching staff and school officials who all knew who Clarence Davis was.
In the 80's, Dallas Cowboys had Danny White as qb. He struggled with a weak arm, and with not seeing open receivers. They did a flea flicker play, where Drew Pearson threw a pass to Danny White. The pass was like 80 yards! Why can't Drew Pearson be the quarter back then???
Because thers more to being a great qb Than throwing the ball. You have to be doing 5 or 6 things at once. I have always said that its true that almost all blacks can't play QB. IT is also true that almost all whites can't play it either! There are only 3 or 4 REAL QBS IN WHAT PASSES FOR THE "NFL". FOUR, REALLY GOOD Qbs these days. The stupid NFL insisted on dumbing down all the play books to give you the illusion that you are seeing good football. Well you aren't.
Ironically, as a junior, Drew Peason succeeded Joe Theismann as the starting QB while both played for South River High School (NJ) in the late 1960s, early 1970s.
I was so proud of USC in that game. Yes, Alabama was a tough team. No doubt about it. But, USC was on a different level and that was due to having so many talented black players. I am from Minnesota, but USC was my college team back then. Glad that Alabama finally decided to wise up.
The USC athletic department had its own issues with racism going way back. Brice Taylor, a Black man who was born without a left hand, was named to the All American team in 1925, much to the displeasure of the top athletic admins at the time. USC's football remained mostly White until the 1960s with John McKay as HC. It was Bear Bryant who saw the handwriting on the wall. He initiated the meeting with McKay at LAX. Bryant was no dummy and deserves credit for integrating the game in the South. Without Bryant shepherding in the change, I doubt the SEC would be as dominant as it is today.
This is one reason I'm not an Alabama fan ... the governor standing in front of the school denying Black students to enter and the team not having or recruiting any Black players until after this game.
You cant let the past in the past? Its not like that anymore, hasnt been like that for a long time now. So you are going to blame people of today, many of whom were not even alive in 1970 for what happened back then? Thats just sad.
@@loyevangelists regardless of how much time that past. He may have family members that were directly affected by the actions of the past. He may have had a family member killed by a white racist back then…His great grandparents may have lost out on generational wealth by the policies them while a white counterpart is living lavishly because his great grandfather wasn’t able to thrive economically. Understand that actions from the past ripple in the present.
@@allensaunders449 it diesnt really matter anyway they could even put usc as #1 Clemson Bama Oklahoma pretty much the sec west could beat usc ohio state ECT ECT usc wouldn't END UP STAYING #1
It's not Bear Bryant who looks bad because this happened in 1970, it's the entire Southern culture that looks bad. Ohio State started having black guys on their football team in the 1950s. Michigan in the 1930s. What it took to defeat racism in Alabama was the state's "official religion" - football!
What this game did for the black people of Alabama and other southern states was the best part of it. The story of the Trojan team bus riding through the black neighborhood near Legion Field and being greeted like freedom riders is very moving.
Many people have said that Sam Cunningham did more for integration in 60 minutes than MLK ever did. It is not fair to portray Bryant as not wanting to recruit black players. He said many times: I won't be the first SEC coach to recruit blacks. And I won't be the last one, either. Bryant was dealing with a Governor and state legislature that were extreme racists. It is worth noting that just about all the blacks that played for Bryant loved him.
And the next year, Alabama fielded the same team and traveled to Los Angeles and returned the favor! Roll Tide! In 1977 Bama returned to LA and beat USC in the Colosseum. The next season USC returned to Birmingham’s Legion Field and I’m proud to say I was in attendance and was able to witness Charles White run student body right and student body left for maybe 150 yards in the first half alone. He was unbelievable that day. Young people don’t realize that in the 1960s and 70s USC played some serious Smash Mouth football. I believe they had four Heisman Trophy winning running backs in that period as well. Amazing!
@ Charles White won the Heisman during my Freshman season in 1979. We had Marcus Allen playing fullback. Many historians consider that team to be the greatest college team of all time (even though they finished #2 at 11-0-1) We had 2 Heisman winners, multiple All-Americans, NFL Hall of Famers such as Ronnie Lott, Anthony Munoz and 45 NFL draft picks on the roster!
@ That’s so neat! I live out in Washington now. But, I was born in Tuscaloosa and went to almost every Bama game from the late sixties to the early eighties, when I joined the Marine Corps. USC was always so much fun to watch and that 1979 team was absolutely amazing. The four players you mentioned are some of my all-time favorite players. I never realized Marcus Allen played fullback. I’m assuming he was just waiting his turn to play tailback at Southern Cal. As a young kid, I was all about Namath to Maynard and OJ Simpson with the Buffalo Bills. Still remember watching him break the 2,000 yard mark against the New York Jets in the snow, if I remember correctly. Great memories of a wonderful era in college and pro football. When the marching band was the only music in the stadium and they served watered down cokes and hotdogs.
Instead of giving Bryant credit for being dragged to the realization that he needed to recruit black players, more emphasis should be placed on those SEC schools that already had black players starting on their teams. Tennessee had the first SEC starting black player in 1968 (Lester McLain), the first SEC black team captain in 1971 (Jackie Walker) and the first SEC starting quarterback in 1972 (Condredge Holloway). When Holloway was being recruited out of high school in Huntsville Alabama, Bryant told him he could not play quarterback for Alabama because the fans would not accept it. He picked Tennessee because they recruited him to play quarterback.
I remember this game because of my father who was not that big of a sports fan kept saying "black power, black power" everytime Sam Cunningham touched the ball.
AUBURN, didn't need a black RB from USC to integrate its program. James Owens (AU 1st black Football player) scored a 89 yd punt return against Florida on Oct. 1970.
If anyone thinks that Coach Bryant scheduled this game for ant reason other than McKay was his best friend is crazy. He had already signed black players and had no intention of losing. Scott Hunter said that if Bryant brought Cunningham to the locker room after the game he must have been sitting in the wrong room because he didn’t see him.
Better late than never but Bryant ALWAYS had the power to integrate but didn't want to ruffle feathers. It was desperation time to remain relevant. Again, it is better he did it but don't treat Bear like he was the 2nd "Great Emancipator". It was the 1970s, for God's sake! His career would have gone down the toilet. He wasn't a "visionary". He was a coach, trying to win.
This was how blacks was amended to play in the big game against white players in with them because of Bear Bryant breaking color boundary expressing his thoughts to a bunch of white who did not see the need for a black player to play with them but this change the game forever in college football
Thing to remember is that to me, in NE, watching college ball on Saturday TV, the race thing was NOT an issue. Up here and out there in SC at OSU MICH Penn State etc, black players were on teams- But down there it still was. I never noticed it that much .I never realized ALA was til now. Honestly they weren't that good then anyway. USC and OU MICH NEB ND ruled then
Alabama was the only unbeaten,untied team in 1966 coming off 2 straight National Championships in 64 and 65. Once tied ND was crowned NC in 1966. Bama had beaten Nebraska in the Orange Bowl Game on Jan 1 1966 and destroyed Nebraska in the Jan 1 1967 Sugar Bowl. 8-2 in 1968 losing by two vs Ole Miss and by 1 vs Tenn. Two 6 win seasons in 69 and 70 and then dominated the 1970s. Its not like all Northern teams were loaded with black players and not like some of those players in the north didn't have complaints
A lot of people miss that Bryant had already recruited black players, but was kept from playing them or having them stay on the team, by those in charge of the university at the time. He always knew it was wrong and scheduled that USC game, and led his troops out to pasture in hopes of changing minds.
USC was THE team to watch.always looked forward to the Rose Bowl. Bam went on to the Pats where he and Andy Johnson(former UGA QB) RULED as the Pats backfield
I was there as an 11 year old, and 'SC had several chances to score more than 10 points, but they didn't as I recall😑 You're correct, it was no drubbing.
This is revisionist history. Alabama had a great black running back on the 1970 team , Wilbur Jackson. He was a freshman that year and watched the game from the stands as freshmen were ineligible to play varsity ball at that time. This game had nothing to do with integrating the Alabama football team.
Bama upset USC in LA the first game of the following season by surprising them with the wishbone offense, which they had learned from the Texas coaches during the off-season. Bama would later get smoked by Nebraska in the defacto national championship game.
I read about this in elementary and it stuck with me. Why I'm a proud HBCU graduate. Tennessee State University ✊🏾 keep the racist SEC. Soo proud of the young man going to JSU
@@marcelmiller7551yup, and left for one of the whitest colleges in the nation. You know, the state with more restrictive and “racist” voting laws than another Deep South state.
The Afro American Student Association fell for the banana in the tail pipe. With the exception of slavery, Integration was the worst thing to happen to the black communities
Only fools believe this game integrated Alabama football. Alabama already had black kids on the team. Plus 3 years before this Alabama had black players in spring practice.
Then why did it take a lawsuit in 1969 to change things? And how many "black kids" were able to attend the games at Legion Field to see ALL these black kids playing for Bama in 1970?
They had a six foot eleven, 3 hundred 70 pound, black defensive tackle in in 72, but he he was going to need A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE HE DIDN'T MOOVE WELL AS USUAL, RACISM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
@@kenperkins7921 I would amend your comment to "Racism not sports" In that we could go back and forth about player's positions based on race and or skin color for instance. What I mean is; I can remember a #10 Walter Lewis (?) starting at QB for Ala. in the early 80's. Was he the first Black QB of competence to tryout there? Probably not. When and who was the first Black MLB at Ala.? And what about captaincy?
Blacks would have killed each other then as they do now and we would be back to all white teams which had many great players too, guess you racists won't acknowledge that.
Cunningham, Clemons and Bryant were so successful, the Crimson Tide will forevermore exploit black athletes as long as college football continues to exist.
If not for playing football, many players wouldn't have gotten a college degree. Many of them would never have gotten to take care of their families by playing professional football. Ask any of them if they feel they've been exploited. When are you planning to quit your job, because you generate more money for the company you work for than you're getting paid. Wouldn't you rather be unemployed than feel exploited?
Always finds a reason or victim mentality. First, the complaint was segregation. Now, exploitation. We're white athletes being exploited before blacks were allowed to play? Why not just highlight the exploitation of all athletes if that's your point. Continuing to focus on race is why racism still persists.
@@slin2678 Racism morphs into all different ways of exploitation. First they were scared to educate black people, then they were forced to but only a few and only with rules they could control / limit them. As for victim mentality, the fact that legions of black athletes have become millionaires and established careers after being exploited for so long is a testament that the victims are now the victors. Just because you fail to understand what exploitation looks like doesn't mean they didn't experience it and overcome it.
@@kylecruel we might have different definitions of victim and exploit then. If one were to become successful, how were they exploited? Are you confusing exploitation with hard work. In life, nothing of value us obtained without cost. For some, the cost is their bodies and labor. It's only exploitation if one party enters the agreement under threat or manipulation. The victim mentality comes into play when one believes they were exploited when they entered into an agreement willingly with full knowledge, came out millionaires, and still believe they were wronged.
@@slin2678 You know children can become successful DESPITE being exploited right??? They were still victims who overcame their victimization although it is a more difficult path. Just like black athletes. Sigh....
IT WAS 1971, PEOPLE! DONT TRY TO PAINT BEAR BRYANT AS A NON RACIST. HE BASICALLY GOT DESTROYED AND SAID WE NEED BLACKS TO COMPETE. IT WAS 1971, PEOPLE !
I love how everyone gives credit to "the bear" for integrating college football in the south. Seven other SEC schools were already integrated and had black players on the roster by the time this game took place. Even cross state rival Auburn already had black players. Just like Alabama to try and change historical facts to make themselves look better. Goes right in line with their fictitious national championships too.
Bear Bryant does deserve some credit but you have to ask why would Bear Bryant schedule USC in the first place? Bear Bryant's not a dumb guy and knew how much of a powerhouse that USC team was. So what was his motive
Are you aware that Coach Saban has won 6 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT BAMA? YES, THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. HE WON ONE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT LSU TOO. THOSE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE MORE THAN MOST OTHER COLLEGES CAN EVER CLAIM. IT ALSO MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT BEAR WON SEVERAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AS WELL. NOTRE DAME AND ALABAMA ARE THE TWO MOST SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS THUS FAR IN OUR HISTORY. IN FACT DID YOU SEE THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WATCHED THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BETWEEN BAMA AND GEORGIA? IN 1926 BAMA WAS THE FIRST SOUTHERN TEAM TO PLAY IN THE ROSE BOWL; AND, THIS YEAR WILL ONCE AGAIN PLAY IN THAT FAMOUS/HISTORIC STADIUM. IN FACT WHEN PLAYS MICHIGAN THE GAME MAY BE THE MOST WATCHED GAME EVER IN RATINGS!! QUESTION: ARE YOU JEALOUS OF THE SUCCESS OF BAMA IN WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS? IF SO, I AM SORRY THAT YOU HAVE ILL WILL IN YOUR HEART FOR BAMA, BUT THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM CANNOT BE DENIED. WOULD YOU SHARE WITH US WHICH COLLEGE IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL SCHOOL/TEAM? IF THEY ARE A SEC TEAM, I ROOT FOR THEM WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE, WISH THEM ONLY GREAT SUCCESS. PERHAPS, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER DOING THE SAME. BAMA DOES NOT HAVE TO INVENT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEY EARN THEM--AND, HAVE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE ALONG WITH THE BELOVED IRISH OF NOTRE DAME. ROLL TIDE!
Nice story but some factual errors. Bama had recruited black players BEFORE the USC game. Wilbur Jackson was a recruit and John Mitchell was on the team. I believe Wilbur still holds the record for yards per rush. Roll Tide!
Racism is still in Alabama Texas Tennessee Louisiana and it's all over I'm not saying all black people are right 3:29 no sir but they want our black sons to play for there Racist school and that is nothing but the truth
The story is somewhat stretched. Alabama got whipped by Ole Miss and Tennessee even worse that year on thir way to loosing to VANDERBILT Among others. Bama just wasn't any good. But if that makes people more happy, good for you.
The white fan base ALWAYS thought that a white Alabama team was inferior to any team that had black players on it…Understand the concept of the overall theme.
@@Benita399He did not, he had been coaching there for years and was the God of football in that State, nobody played for Bama unless Bear Bryant said so, no administration told him what to do, he brought USC there to humiliate them and it didn't work, Bear Bryant's history is documented, the black students at Alabama knew too, dude came from UK for goodness sake, Lexington, Kentucky, he was the football coach and Adolph Rupp coached basketball 😏
Thank U Shane Gillis
Yup! Thats why I am here 2!😂😅
Thank you Godfrey
I came looking for this comment.
Lmao me too
Same I was like whaaaa 1971 tafak? Hahahahha
Rest in Peace Sam.
He gained 132 yards. Seems like how they are talking he had 250. Gals it happens though
Also in that game USC fielded the first all-black backfield in college football with Cunningham, quarterback Jimmy Jones and halfback Clarence Davis. Davis has his place in history as catching the game winning TD in the 1974 Raiders-Dolphins “Sea of Hands” playoff game
They had the basically the same team the next year and got beat
@@josephbennett728 Zzzzzz..... another story for another time. Bama did beat USC a year later. Surprising USC by switching to the Wishbone instead of the 2 back passing attack that Bryant had run for years.
@@yeildo1492 didn’t really score that many points the defense played really well
Bryant wanted to recruit black players. He bought USC in to show the Alabama administration why he want to and why they should too. That’s the Politics of it.
exactly. Somehow that point seemed muddled AF here
Actually, Bryant had already signed John Mitchell and Wilbur Jackson several months prior to this game. He had had black players on the '67 team, but all left for various reasons. One was going to start but his father or mother died and he left just before the start of the season.
Oh wow yeah he took the L with a big smile on his face. I guess he was humbled yet proven right at the same time ?
He was far from a dumb guy. Genius move on his part to show everyone that black players made a big difference!!
He had the power to do it beforehand because blacks had played for the tide before. This would be the only way to change such an ignorant mindset
Need make this a 30 for 30
ABSOLUTELY!!
Racists (still to this day) Alabamans losing versus integrated and progressive USC
And I’m an ND fan
Fight On
Beat the racists
@@kennethmotolenich9820 for your information there was already a black player on the Alabama team named Wilbur Jackson but he was a freshman and Bryant tried to bring in black players in 1967
Yes
Nothing less
I remember this game very well. I was a teen selling cokes in the stadium for many games at Legion Field. The score was not that close, but the students had a ball. I joined them in 1971 as a student athlete. In 1972 our Homecoming Queen was a talented and beautiful sister from B'ham. My years at Bama were outstanding, many wonderful people supported the students in every way. Roll Tide! ☺
Mister Hobson you sold cocaine in the stands, and they allowed this😮 I am shocked this happens in bible country
cool story ...did you stay in alabama , what did you end up doing for a career?
@@4465Vmannothing! He kept covering his head with white sheets
This game is as significant as Texas Western beating Kentucky in 1966 National Championship
Perhaps, but Tennessee, and others, already had black players on their rosters. I believe Tennessee had Lester McClain in 1967, and Jackie Walker was a starting linebacker in 1970, then became the SEC’s first black all-American football player in ‘71. The Alabama-USC game was extremely significant for Bama, however other SEC schools had already recruited black student-athletes.
@@Southernforlife60 There were some Northern teams not much integrated by that time
Glory Road is about that team. Great film.
There should be a movie made about this game
There is it call against the tide
@@arthurvaldepena4514 That's a documentary. I think the OP meant a 'docudrama'
All day...FIGHT ON!! ✌✌
It's lucky this game didn't occur in 1967--Alabama would have been facing O.J. Simpson, who was one of the best running backs in USC history, no matter how he ruined his own life with his troubles...
He’s chilling now.
Nah he was the best. My pops says he’s the best player in usc history
USC is lucky they didn't play Bama in 1966
@@josephbennett728 😂
@@josephbennett728OJ would have ran over them
This is the game that changed college football in the deep south
What about that Washington-Bama Rose Bowl?
@controlvoice it changed everything, Alabama and Bear Bryant was going to get left behind if it didn't recruit the blk players. Take all of the blk players off Alabama and it's a terrible team today. They couldn't compete today with that good ole boy confederate flag waving George Wallace mindset
@@lilcourtny08 Why is it not mentioned that Alabama beat USC the next year in the Colosseum?
@@nedstewart1 who cares, let's not forget Alabama had Good ole George Wallace standing on campus protesting Blk students arrival. Alabama had no other options but to allow blk players on the team are get left behind. They wouldn't win a game if they refused to recruit blk players today
@@lilcourtny08 Alabama did beat Nebraska in1966 for the national championship and USC in L.A. lost to Alabama.
Everybody should watch the Shane Gillis stand up special. His stuff on this was hilarious
They had white cornerbacks
agreed hes awesome
It’s funny, but as an Alabama resident, I don’t appreciate the hate towards the South that he portrays. I grew up in Tuscaloosa. The people here are mostly just as intelligent and open minded as any other state in the Country. There’s a very small minority of racists no doubt.
@@hunterbooth8578that is statistically untrue.
@@Zac_bynxbets show me the stats
I've heard about this game before. They didn't say it here, but the Alabama Crimson Tide went on to be one of the best college football programs of the 1970s, winning 28 games in a row and back-to-back national championships by the end of the decade.
I've been waiting for 20 years for this story to be made into a major motion picture.
Unfortunately one byproduct of this game was the loss of talent at the Historical Black Colleges and Universities. Imagine what power houses Alabama A&M and Alabama
State would be if the top Black players in the state of Alabama went to those schools and not Alabama and Auburn. I guess this is what we call "progress". 🤷🏾♂️
We as black people don't see it that way at least a good number of us don't and it's a crying shame
That’s a deep deep comment. Remember the old saying. A lot of blacks think it’s better on the other side.
Years ago I asked asked a young man why not go to a hbcu he said his chances of making it to the NFL are greater somewhere else not going to say his name ,but yeah SMH
We'll be back soon. 💪🏾
But it is progress. It doesn't take away from black colleges at all. Those institutions proved the resilience of the black community while facing some of the harshest adversity anyone can face in their lifetime. The problem is building a program guys want to play for. I get your point but this is def progress in the right direction.
I've always said this whole story has been overblown. An ex Bama asst from the time lived behind me and we talked about this one afternoon and it's full of holes. Bryant had already recruited Wilbur Jackson and was recruiting John Mitchell and Conredge Holloway, notably, to come to Bama. When Bama went to Los Angeles the next season Bama defeated USC with only Wilbur Jackson on the varsity. Now, Bryant knew he had to get the BEST football players regardless of color and had already started doing that but the whole notion that Bama lost to get black players to come to Bama is erroneous. Bama went 6 -5 in 1970 losing 4 other games to all white southern teams. USC beat Bama this night because USC was far superior. Bama won the next season because they were the best team. Bryant had started recruiting black players well before this game. Bryant going to wishbone had as much to do with Bama becoming dominant again as anything but he had to have athletes to run the wishbone. Make no mistake, without Tony Nathan, Wilbur, Sylvester Croom, Johnny Davis and Ozzie Newsome Bama doesn't return to glory but to say Sam Cunningham convinced Bama to recruit blacks is not correct. This was in motion already.
Bryant was already recruiting blacks, just as you say. Just not very many of them. To me, the point of this video is that Cunningham and USC convinced the average Alabamian that the Tide needed to recruit black players.
Bryant said many times " I won't be the first SEC coach to recruit black players. And I won't be the last one, either."
> Bryant had already recruited Wilbur Jackson and was recruiting John Mitchell and Conredge Holloway, notably, to come to Bama.
This game was Bryant's way of achieving the buy-in from the Alabama public (and politicians) to move forward with integrating the team.
@@dantesinfernopurgatory7826 It is known as the Sam Bam game. Clarence Davis got over a hundred yards, was great, just overshadowed. More to the point, Clarence was from Birmingham Alabama. This was a local kid who could have easily been recruited by the tide. This fact was not lost on the coaching staff and school officials who all knew who Clarence Davis was.
In the 80's, Dallas Cowboys had Danny White as qb. He struggled with a weak arm, and with not seeing open receivers. They did a flea flicker play, where Drew Pearson threw a pass to Danny White. The pass was like 80 yards! Why can't Drew Pearson be the quarter back then???
Because thers more to being a great qb Than throwing the ball. You have to be doing 5 or 6 things at once. I have always said that its true that almost all blacks can't play QB. IT is also true that almost all whites can't play it either! There are only 3 or 4 REAL QBS IN WHAT PASSES FOR THE "NFL". FOUR, REALLY GOOD Qbs these days. The stupid NFL insisted on dumbing down all the play books to give you the illusion that you are seeing good football. Well you aren't.
Ironically, as a junior, Drew Peason succeeded Joe Theismann as the starting QB while both played for South River High School (NJ) in the late 1960s, early 1970s.
I live in Alabama and looking at what it used to be back in the day. It really breaks my heart of how people could be so prejudice.
These teams respect each other
I live in Alabama and can never pull for Alabama
I was so proud of USC in that game. Yes, Alabama was a tough team. No doubt about it. But, USC was on a different level and that was due to having so many talented black players. I am from Minnesota, but USC was my college team back then. Glad that Alabama finally decided to wise up.
Does anyone know where I could watch this full game ?
The USC athletic department had its own issues with racism going way back. Brice Taylor, a Black man who was born without a left hand, was named to the All American team in 1925, much to the displeasure of the top athletic admins at the time. USC's football remained mostly White until the 1960s with John McKay as HC.
It was Bear Bryant who saw the handwriting on the wall. He initiated the meeting with McKay at LAX. Bryant was no dummy and deserves credit for integrating the game in the South. Without Bryant shepherding in the change, I doubt the SEC would be as dominant as it is today.
This is one reason I'm not an Alabama fan ... the governor standing in front of the school denying Black students to enter and the team not having or recruiting any Black players until after this game.
You cant let the past in the past? Its not like that anymore, hasnt been like that for a long time now. So you are going to blame people of today, many of whom were not even alive in 1970 for what happened back then? Thats just sad.
@@loyevangelists Would you ask a Jew to root for Germany during the World Cup?
@@loyevangelists regardless of how much time that past. He may have family members that were directly affected by the actions of the past. He may have had a family member killed by a white racist back then…His great grandparents may have lost out on generational wealth by the policies them while a white counterpart is living lavishly because his great grandfather wasn’t able to thrive economically. Understand that actions from the past ripple in the present.
@@loyevangelists You forget too much of the past, it CAN happen again.
@@KarlPostMalone Bravo, andcwell said 👍🏻
When USC was USC. ☺
Lol their trash now
@@mrsaturdaytm7558 yes they are. For whatever reasons the people in charge don't care
@@allensaunders449 it diesnt really matter anyway they could even put usc as #1 Clemson Bama Oklahoma pretty much the sec west could beat usc ohio state ECT ECT usc wouldn't END UP STAYING #1
@@mrsaturdaytm7558 now yeah not if USC cared again
USC went 6-4-1 that year. Another clueless point about this game.
You will never see another white CB
Lmao
"there are a couple in a zoo in san Diego ? they wont reproduce" Shane Gillis
Alabama would not dominate college football 🏈 without the black football player! Real Talk
The Most Important College Football Game Ever Played 🏈☯️🌐☯️🏈
Actually, no. It was the game between Florida A&M & Tampa a couple of years earlier. First game played between a black & a white team.
@@micahatkins5286 Who won that game?
No it wasn't.
Shane Gilles explains it better
Hey yall.....come on
he is hillarious
This doesn’t make bear Bryant look like the good guy like y’all think it does it was 1971 lol
It's not Bear Bryant who looks bad because this happened in 1970, it's the entire Southern culture that looks bad.
Ohio State started having black guys on their football team in the 1950s. Michigan in the 1930s.
What it took to defeat racism in Alabama was the state's "official religion" - football!
What this game did for the black people of Alabama and other southern states was the best part of it. The story of the Trojan team bus riding through the black neighborhood near Legion Field and being greeted like freedom riders is very moving.
Many people have said that Sam Cunningham did more for integration in 60 minutes than MLK ever did.
It is not fair to portray Bryant as not wanting to recruit black players.
He said many times: I won't be the first SEC coach to recruit blacks. And I won't be the last one, either. Bryant was dealing with a Governor and state legislature that were extreme racists.
It is worth noting that just about all the blacks that played for Bryant loved him.
1970 hey were supposed to think its like 5 thousand years ago how dare you challenge that
The mighty Trojans went down to SEC country and put a beat down on those good ol’ boys! Fight On! ✌🏼
And the next year, Alabama fielded the same team and traveled to Los Angeles and returned the favor!
Roll Tide!
In 1977 Bama returned to LA and beat USC in the Colosseum. The next season USC returned to Birmingham’s Legion Field and I’m proud to say I was in attendance and was able to witness Charles White run student body right and student body left for maybe 150 yards in the first half alone. He was unbelievable that day. Young people don’t realize that in the 1960s and 70s USC played some serious Smash Mouth football. I believe they had four Heisman Trophy winning running backs in that period as well. Amazing!
@ Charles White won the Heisman during my Freshman season in 1979. We had Marcus Allen playing fullback. Many historians consider that team to be the greatest college team of all time (even though they finished #2 at 11-0-1) We had 2 Heisman winners, multiple All-Americans, NFL Hall of Famers such as Ronnie Lott, Anthony Munoz and 45 NFL draft picks on the roster!
@ That’s so neat! I live out in Washington now. But, I was born in Tuscaloosa and went to almost every Bama game from the late sixties to the early eighties, when I joined the Marine Corps.
USC was always so much fun to watch and that 1979 team was absolutely amazing. The four players you mentioned are some of my all-time favorite players. I never realized Marcus Allen played fullback. I’m assuming he was just waiting his turn to play tailback at Southern Cal. As a young kid, I was all about Namath to Maynard and OJ Simpson with the Buffalo Bills. Still remember watching him break the 2,000 yard mark against the New York Jets in the snow, if I remember correctly. Great memories of a wonderful era in college and pro football. When the marching band was the only music in the stadium and they served watered down cokes and hotdogs.
They didn't know what they had in black athletes in the state Alabama
Didn't the crowd chant " Get us one, Get us one "?....
“Hey yal, c’mon…” -Bear Bryant
Shane gillis sent me here
Look at all those whites
Yup. His line about white cornerbacks was hilarious.
There’s nothing better than living in southern CA and cheering for USC
this needs a movie asap
The Game Changer!
That’s Ken Stabler 2:22
Now Alabama is all black beside the kicker and maybe a center every now and then
Bear Bryant is not some Civil Rights trailblazers. ESPN , stop with this misleading depiction of that bigot of a coach.
Nah we understand the real message that a white will use the black if he can benefit off of them
Ole Bear said I need some of them
Shane gillis also brought me here
Don Yaeger: I got your "that"...
This may be myth rather than reality, but I heard that after the game Bryant asked, "Where did you get these players?" McKay, "I got them down here."
I Wish They Do a Movie About This Game.
It wasn't Dr King. It wasn't Malcolm X. It was USC runningback Stan 'The Man' Cunningham who desegregated Alabama and the SEC. 135 yards and 3TDs.
Sam Bam Cunningham
Sam Bam Cunningham, QB Randall Cunniingham's older cousin
His older brother not cousin
Not true. Lester McLain and Jackie Walker of Tennessee helped the Vols beat 'Bama the year before in 1969.
Alabama already had blacks on the team clueless.
How bout Johnny Rogers and Beano Bryant?
*Thanks, Shane.*
Alabama defense players admitted that they weren't trying to tackle Cunningham, just trying to slow him down from gaining more yards!
Instead of giving Bryant credit for being dragged to the realization that he needed to recruit black players, more emphasis should be placed on those SEC schools that already had black players starting on their teams. Tennessee had the first SEC starting black player in 1968 (Lester McLain), the first SEC black team captain in 1971 (Jackie Walker) and the first SEC starting quarterback in 1972 (Condredge Holloway). When Holloway was being recruited out of high school in Huntsville Alabama, Bryant told him he could not play quarterback for Alabama because the fans would not accept it. He picked Tennessee because they recruited him to play quarterback.
I remember this game because of my father who was not that big of a sports fan kept saying "black power, black power" everytime Sam Cunningham touched the ball.
Professor Gillis!
Tough as a $3 steak 🤣🤣
AUBURN, didn't need a black RB from USC to integrate its program. James Owens (AU 1st black Football player) scored a 89 yd punt return against Florida on Oct. 1970.
If anyone thinks that Coach Bryant scheduled this game for ant reason other than McKay was his best friend is crazy. He had already signed black players and had no intention of losing. Scott Hunter said that if Bryant brought Cunningham to the locker room after the game he must have been sitting in the wrong room because he didn’t see him.
Better late than never but Bryant ALWAYS had the power to integrate but didn't want to ruffle feathers. It was desperation time to remain relevant. Again, it is better he did it but don't treat Bear like he was the 2nd "Great Emancipator". It was the 1970s, for God's sake! His career would have gone down the toilet. He wasn't a "visionary". He was a coach, trying to win.
Who’s guy in a club classic shirt that says bigger stronger faster
He’s guy in blue shirt towards the end
This was how blacks was amended to play in the big game against white players in with them because of Bear Bryant breaking color boundary expressing his thoughts to a bunch of white who did not see the need for a black player to play with them but this change the game forever in college football
This is why certain people want to suppress history
Bryant got his religion well before after the game.
Thing to remember is that to me, in NE, watching college ball on Saturday TV, the race thing was NOT an issue. Up here and out there in SC at OSU MICH Penn State etc, black players were on teams-
But down there it still was. I never noticed it that much .I never realized ALA was til now. Honestly they weren't that good then anyway. USC and OU MICH NEB ND ruled then
Alabama was the only unbeaten,untied team in 1966 coming off 2 straight National Championships in 64 and 65. Once tied ND was crowned NC in 1966. Bama had beaten Nebraska in the Orange Bowl Game on Jan 1 1966 and destroyed Nebraska in the Jan 1 1967 Sugar Bowl. 8-2 in 1968 losing by two vs Ole Miss and by 1 vs Tenn. Two 6 win seasons in 69 and 70 and then dominated the 1970s. Its not like all Northern teams were loaded with black players and not like some of those players in the north didn't have complaints
Aye they put up 21 some of those guys deserved to play 😂😂
A lot of people miss that Bryant had already recruited black players, but was kept from playing them or having them stay on the team, by those in charge of the university at the time. He always knew it was wrong and scheduled that USC game, and led his troops out to pasture in hopes of changing minds.
USC was THE team to watch.always looked forward to the Rose Bowl. Bam went on to the Pats where he and Andy Johnson(former UGA QB) RULED as the Pats backfield
One thing hasnt changed, alabama still winning nattys
Shane Gillis sent me.
They should do the next year when bama won in l.a.
The next year, Bama beat USC in Los Angeles with the new wishbone offense.
@controlvoice yeah, but they still changed football in the south- now the SEC is full of black players.
@controlvoice I bet you are from Cullman, Alabama. Bring out those dirty white sheets you use to wear
@controlvoice
17-10??? Oh yeah, what a trouncing...
…… gifted to them by the University of Texas coaches.
I was there as an 11 year old, and 'SC had several chances to score more than 10 points, but they didn't as I recall😑 You're correct, it was no drubbing.
Thanks Shane Gillis
my trojans...fight on...
Shane Gillis is why I’m here!
I was at that Game.
If you can't get over something that happened almost 60 years ago, we don't want you.
@@kenperkins7921 who is we
Ngl Shane gillis brought me here lol
The brother of Randall Cunningham
This is revisionist history. Alabama had a great black running back on the 1970 team , Wilbur Jackson. He was a freshman that year and watched the game from the stands as freshmen were ineligible to play varsity ball at that time. This game had nothing to do with integrating the Alabama football team.
Bama upset USC in LA the first game of the following season by surprising them with the wishbone offense, which they had learned from the Texas coaches during the off-season. Bama would later get smoked by Nebraska in the defacto national championship game.
I read about this in elementary and it stuck with me. Why I'm a proud HBCU graduate. Tennessee State University ✊🏾 keep the racist SEC. Soo proud of the young man going to JSU
He didn't sign yet only committed. So he can flip and besides I know $1.3 million reasons why he committed to Jackson State
@@marcelmiller7551 jsu homecoming shut it.
@@marcelmiller7551yup, and left for one of the whitest colleges in the nation. You know, the state with more restrictive and “racist” voting laws than another Deep South state.
“Forcing” a team to do something was never going to work… they had to be proven wrong, and Lord were they😂
The Afro American Student Association fell for the banana in the tail pipe. With the exception of slavery, Integration was the worst thing to happen to the black communities
Gotta love black folks who argue for segregation, I’d prefer not to go back to Jim Crow.
Randall Cunningham's older brother.
Be VERY CAREFUL with this video. It is just over 6 minutes long and you MUST WATCH IT TO THE END.
You really think bear point was to lose stop it
And now a black Los Angeles kid is carrying Alabama to win.
Shane Gillis sent me here
Only fools believe this game integrated Alabama football. Alabama already had black kids on the team. Plus 3 years before this Alabama had black players in spring practice.
Then why did it take a lawsuit in 1969 to change things?
And how many "black kids" were able to attend the games at Legion Field to see ALL these black kids playing for Bama in 1970?
They had a six foot eleven, 3 hundred 70 pound, black defensive tackle in in 72, but he he was going to need A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE HE DIDN'T MOOVE WELL AS USUAL, RACISM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
@@kidmack3556 politics NOT Sports.
@@kenperkins7921
I would amend your comment to "Racism not sports"
In that we could go back and forth about player's positions based on race and or skin color for instance.
What I mean is; I can remember a #10 Walter Lewis (?) starting at QB for Ala. in the early 80's. Was he the first Black QB of competence to tryout there? Probably not.
When and who was the first Black MLB at Ala.?
And what about captaincy?
Imagine if Alabama had stuck with their racist recruiting. They be....NOTHING!!
Blacks would have killed each other then as they do now and we would be back to all white teams which had many great players too, guess you racists won't acknowledge that.
@@kenperkins7921 Um....NO!!!
If they stuck with 180 pound linemen they'd be having problems
shout out Shane Gillis
Why do we always want to be included with them
Comedian Shane Gillis has a joke about this event in his new comedy special it’s very funny.
Which documentary was he talking about? I actually wanna see it after the joke
@@Dozer92707 I don’t think he mentioned the actual title but it was about this exactly.
EVERYTHING Is racist! Just ask jo BUTTHOLE
Was that Anthony Davis #28
Clarence Davis. AD got there the next year.
Cunningham, Clemons and Bryant were so successful, the Crimson Tide will forevermore exploit black athletes as long as college football continues to exist.
If not for playing football, many players wouldn't have gotten a college degree. Many of them would never have gotten to take care of their families by playing professional football. Ask any of them if they feel they've been exploited. When are you planning to quit your job, because you generate more money for the company you work for than you're getting paid. Wouldn't you rather be unemployed than feel exploited?
Always finds a reason or victim mentality. First, the complaint was segregation. Now, exploitation. We're white athletes being exploited before blacks were allowed to play? Why not just highlight the exploitation of all athletes if that's your point. Continuing to focus on race is why racism still persists.
@@slin2678 Racism morphs into all different ways of exploitation. First they were scared to educate black people, then they were forced to but only a few and only with rules they could control / limit them. As for victim mentality, the fact that legions of black athletes have become millionaires and established careers after being exploited for so long is a testament that the victims are now the victors. Just because you fail to understand what exploitation looks like doesn't mean they didn't experience it and overcome it.
@@kylecruel we might have different definitions of victim and exploit then. If one were to become successful, how were they exploited? Are you confusing exploitation with hard work. In life, nothing of value us obtained without cost. For some, the cost is their bodies and labor. It's only exploitation if one party enters the agreement under threat or manipulation. The victim mentality comes into play when one believes they were exploited when they entered into an agreement willingly with full knowledge, came out millionaires, and still believe they were wronged.
@@slin2678 You know children can become successful DESPITE being exploited right??? They were still victims who overcame their victimization although it is a more difficult path. Just like black athletes. Sigh....
IT WAS 1971, PEOPLE! DONT TRY TO PAINT BEAR BRYANT AS A NON RACIST. HE BASICALLY GOT DESTROYED AND SAID WE NEED BLACKS TO COMPETE. IT WAS 1971, PEOPLE !
I love how everyone gives credit to "the bear" for integrating college football in the south. Seven other SEC schools were already integrated and had black players on the roster by the time this game took place. Even cross state rival Auburn already had black players. Just like Alabama to try and change historical facts to make themselves look better. Goes right in line with their fictitious national championships too.
Bear Bryant does deserve some credit but you have to ask why would Bear Bryant schedule USC in the first place? Bear Bryant's not a dumb guy and knew how much of a powerhouse that USC team was. So what was his motive
Are you aware that Coach Saban has won 6 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AT BAMA? YES, THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. HE WON ONE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT LSU TOO. THOSE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE MORE THAN MOST OTHER COLLEGES CAN EVER CLAIM. IT ALSO MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT BEAR WON SEVERAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AS WELL. NOTRE DAME AND ALABAMA ARE THE TWO MOST SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS THUS FAR IN OUR HISTORY. IN FACT DID YOU SEE THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WATCHED THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BETWEEN BAMA AND GEORGIA? IN 1926 BAMA WAS THE FIRST SOUTHERN TEAM TO PLAY IN THE ROSE BOWL; AND, THIS YEAR WILL ONCE AGAIN PLAY IN THAT FAMOUS/HISTORIC STADIUM. IN FACT WHEN PLAYS MICHIGAN THE GAME MAY BE THE MOST WATCHED GAME EVER IN RATINGS!! QUESTION: ARE YOU JEALOUS OF THE SUCCESS OF BAMA IN WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS? IF SO, I AM SORRY THAT YOU HAVE ILL WILL IN YOUR HEART FOR BAMA, BUT THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM CANNOT BE DENIED. WOULD YOU SHARE WITH US WHICH COLLEGE IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL SCHOOL/TEAM? IF THEY ARE A SEC TEAM, I ROOT FOR THEM WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE, WISH THEM ONLY GREAT SUCCESS. PERHAPS, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER DOING THE SAME. BAMA DOES NOT HAVE TO INVENT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BECAUSE THEY EARN THEM--AND, HAVE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE ALONG WITH THE BELOVED IRISH OF NOTRE DAME. ROLL TIDE!
Nice story but some factual errors. Bama had recruited black players BEFORE the USC game. Wilbur Jackson was a recruit and John Mitchell was on the team. I believe Wilbur still holds the record for yards per rush. Roll Tide!
Racism is still in Alabama Texas Tennessee Louisiana and it's all over I'm not saying all black people are right 3:29 no sir but they want our black sons to play for there Racist school and that is nothing but the truth
The story is somewhat stretched. Alabama got whipped by Ole Miss and Tennessee even worse that year on thir way to loosing to VANDERBILT Among others. Bama just wasn't any good. But if that makes people more happy, good for you.
You must be confusing the dirty dookeycrat boy actually giving tens of billions of dollars to the dirty dookeycrat cultists!
The white fan base ALWAYS thought that a white Alabama team was inferior to any team that had black players on it…Understand the concept of the overall theme.
@@KarlPostMalone wrong
Bear Bryant did this for a reason.
@@Benita399He did not, he had been coaching there for years and was the God of football in that State, nobody played for Bama unless Bear Bryant said so, no administration told him what to do, he brought USC there to humiliate them and it didn't work, Bear Bryant's history is documented, the black students at Alabama knew too, dude came from UK for goodness sake, Lexington, Kentucky, he was the football coach and Adolph Rupp coached basketball 😏