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Pitt Breaks Sugar Bowl Barrier

smenges

Chancellor
Gold Member
Nov 12, 2005
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ESPN’s new CFB150 initiative includes a detailed story as to how Pitt and fullback Bobby Grier broke the color barrier at the Sugar Bowl and caused a political firestorm in Georgia and Louisiana.

The link to the story is buried inside the “Oh that Beano” thread so here is the link

Incredible story and some great pictures of the Pitt players and the protests in and around Georgia Tech’s campus.

A few surprises from the piece:
-Grier was embraced by players from both teams, including southern-born GA Tech players
-It was national news and happened right before the Rosa Parks publicity
-The 1950s players are wearing block Pitt shirts!
-GA Tech was once an SEC power
-Pitt upsetting WVU in the Backyard Brawl made it all happen
-Pitt’s Grier is in the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame, and was enshrined with Spurrier, Dooley, etc.

I will make point to visit the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame next trip to New Orleans.
 
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