referendum
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Update, 1981 is done, some really interesting numbers, and a little editorializing on my part at the end.
Steve Watson was a tremendous receiver. I've written about him on here at times in the past but didn't notice his omission from the Denver starters. Injuries cut short his career but he had several outstanding seasons, particularly 1981 when he had 60 receptions for 1,244 yards and 13 TDs.
[video=youtube;thgtvkC7_0M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thgtvkC7_0M[/video]
Back in the early 70's to mid 70's, even the SEC recruited White speed position players. These days it seems that if they have White tailback it's a RBBC situation or it's a traditional doormat type team like Vanderbilt that plays White players.This research is fantastic! Excellent job Referendum! It's depressing to think that the year I was born the NFL started turning a bit darker year by year. I'm no expert on this subject but I'm willing to bet that quite a few teams had majority white starters during the 70's. Colleges would actually give scholarships to white athletes back in those days so whites made it at the taboo positions.
I remember seeing one of Steve's last games in person. It was against the Chargers in San Diego in 1987. Steve had a huge game, with at least 2 to 3 TDs and over 100 yards. One being at least a 50 yarder. In this game he torched / burned an affeletic corner back named Elvis Paterson of the Chargers. Afterwards the press gave him the nickname Elvis "Toast" Paterson. That name stuck until his gift career was over. Good times.Steve Watson was a tremendous receiver. I've written about him on here at times in the past but didn't notice his omission from the Denver starters. Injuries cut short his career but he had several outstanding seasons, particularly 1981 when he had 60 receptions for 1,244 yards and 13 TDs.
[video=youtube;thgtvkC7_0M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thgtvkC7_0M[/video]
ref, I sent you this photo via personal message last week. Either you didn't get it or you haven't checked your mail. No problem either way. Here's a photo of the mystery TE from the Seahawks in 1981. He looks white in the Topps card, although he has a helmet on so there is a (very small) chance he's a light skinned mulatto, although I doubt it.
Funny you mention Ole Miss. Recently read an article how that school used to really love their white football players in the 70's, 80's and even early 90's (their glory years)...ever since the program has gone dark, it's totally stunk -- aside from the Eli Manning years, when they were mediocre. So I guess, based on the way Ole Miss has looked the last 15/16 years, it's stunning to think they ever had any white players on the field, even in the 1970's:
James Edwards' article on "New Mess" is now posted on the CF homepage.
It seemed like the integration of Black players was a slow and gradual process. At first teams had 4 or 5 star types, then it was 10 players then it was close to half the starters but most of the backups were White. Eventually it is what it is now, virtually all the starters are Black and most of the backups are. I think many of these coaches were scared of alienating the boosters if they went "too Black" right away. As a kid I only watched college football during bowl time, but I remember gradually seeing teams like Alabama go very Black within about 12 years.ref, I sent you this photo via personal message last week. Either you didn't get it or you haven't checked your mail. No problem either way. Here's a photo of the mystery TE from the Seahawks in 1981. He looks white in the Topps card, although he has a helmet on so there is a (very small) chance he's a light skinned mulatto, although I doubt it.
Funny you mention Ole Miss. Recently read an article how that school used to really love their white football players in the 70's, 80's and even early 90's (their glory years)...ever since the program has gone dark, it's totally stunk -- aside from the Eli Manning years, when they were mediocre. So I guess, based on the way Ole Miss has looked the last 15/16 years, it's stunning to think they ever had any white players on the field, even in the 1970's:
It seemed like the integration of Black players was a slow and gradual process. At first teams had 4 or 5 star types, then it was 10 players then it was close to half the starters but most of the backups were White. Eventually it is what it is now, virtually all the starters are Black and most of the backups are. I think many of these coaches were scared of alienating the boosters if they went "too Black" right away. As a kid I only watched college football during bowl time, but I remember gradually seeing teams like Alabama go very Black within about 12 years.