Wednesday, December 17, 2008
SMU alumnus Jerry LeVias features in HBO show Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football
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source: SMU
Fry and LeVias: gridiron revolutionaries
HBO premiered the sports documentary Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football on Tuesday, Dec. 16; future airings include one on Thursday (Dec. 18) at 11:15 p.m.
The hour-long program receives high praise from Washington Times correspondent Dick Heller, who details how Southern Methodist University's first (and the Southwest Conference's second) African American varsity player, Jerry LeVias, reacted to taunting on the field by white opponents: he went out and scored a revenge punt runback for a touchdown.
Then-head coach Hayden Fry is credited with having the guts to make the call to recruit a black player, against the tide of opinion prevalent at that time.
The program views the collegiate gridiron in the broader context of the racial upheaval (school integration, civil rights struggles) going on during the 1960s.
Sounds like a winner.
posted by JM / source: SMU
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Comments
Todd Jones Staff
I watched the documentary, and it was very good. A very inspiring look at the African-American athletes who struggled to make integration possible. The documentary was more of a overview, more broad than specific. I recommend Thomas Gossom's book "Walk-On" to learn a little more. Gossom was also featured in the documentary and played at Auburn in the early 1970's. He goes in to much greater detail about the struggles.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Travis Bush Verified
Watch more AOL Sports videos on AOL Video
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
ShawnMiller Anonymous
I am a 38 year old white male who grew up in the south WITHOUT believing in racism. I am truly sorry for what Mr. Levias went through. I pray and hope that things will become better!! I Have A Dream...
10 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
emsworthluck Anonymous
I watched this documentary and it broke my heart to see what these young men went through and that this racist hatred ever existed. To Mr. LeVias, no one can ever take back what you had to endure, but this white middle-aged female says I am so sorry. May you forgive us.........
9 months, 4 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
tonofun Anonymous
I watched the documentary and was pleased that someone had finally been able to tell the story. Martin Luther King never did what these young men accomplished. When I was a senior in high school in Dallas, I was being recruited by Haden Fry. He arranged for me to get into the stadium to see their football games in 1966-67. At first I went out to see the team, but after I saw Jerry Levias, I went back again and again to see him. He doesn't probably remember me coming by his dorm room to meet him and shake his hand, and he doesn't know how much I admired him then and now. We lived in a white flight world back then and without people like Jerry Levias, it might have never ended.
3 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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