Description
Portrait of Robert "Bobby" Grier, who was a fullback for the Pitt Panthers football team from 1952 to 1955. He had a standout career with the Panthers, 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 and officials from Georgia Tech, the other team slated to play in the Sugar Bowl, strongly opposed Grier's participant in the game. 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 and civil rights leaders from multiple locales, who 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.Unknown
Image
Photograph
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