Robert "Bobby" Grier

1955

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Robert "Bobby" Grier
  • Title
  • Robert "Bobby" Grier
  • Date
  • 1955
  • Identifier
  • GRIER02
  • Description
  • 2. Robert "Bobby" Grier in 1955 on the sidelines during a game at Pitt Stadium. Grier had a standout career with the Panthers as a fullback for the Pitt Panthers football team from 1952 to 1955, but is more widely known for breaking the color barrier in college football when he became the first African American to play in the Sugar Bowl when the Panthers battled Georgia Tech in New Orleans on January 2, 1956. The Governor of Georgia strongly opposed Grier's participation in the game, as did the Board of Trustees from Georgia Tech, the other team slated to play in the Sugar Bowl; they elected to forfeit if Grier was not benched. However, Grier had strong support of his teammates and the University of Pittsburgh, who vowed "No Grier, no game." Support for Grier also came from students and football players from Georgia Tech, who protested strongly against a forfeit and succeeded in seeing Grier take to the field in New Orleans. Pitt lost the game, 7-0, mostly due to a disputed first quarter pass interference penalty which was called on Grier. Photographic evidence later strongly indicated the referee's call was incorrect.
  • Type
  • still image
  • Genre
  • photographs
  • Subject
  • Grier, Robert, 1933-
    College football players
    College sports
    University of Pittsburgh
    University of Pittsburgh --Football
    Pitt Panthers (Football team)
    Pitt Stadium (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
  • Geographic Subjects
  • Oakland (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
  • Source
  • University of Pittsburgh Historic Photographs, 1884-present
  • Contributor
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • Collection
  • University of Pittsburgh Historic Photographs
  • Rights Information
  • Copyright Not Evaluated. The copyright and related rights status of this Item has not been evaluated. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.
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