HOUSTON, Texas -- Before the Super Bowl kicked off, a special pre-game tribute for Pro football Hall of Famers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were acknowledged.
The piece began with a narration from the SWAC’s own Doug Williams, who played quarterback at Grambling State and later would be named Super Bowl XXII MVP for the Washington Redskins in his professional career.
With the Five Stairsteps classic song Ohh child (Things are gonna get easier) playing in the background, Williams opens his narration by stating, “There was a time when we judged football players by the color of their skin before the content of their character. With 28 enshrinees at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the pride of having played at a Historically Black College and University, some by choice, many by necessity. From these schools, they’re Super Bowl heroes, professional champions. “Deacon” [David “Deacon” Jones-Mississippi Valley State], “Bullet Bob” [“Bullet Bob” Hayes-Florida A&M], “Sweetness” [Walter Payton-Jackson State] and many more. The thunder of their hearts carried them to acclaim, the honor of their needs opened a nation to racial equality. As my coach Eddie Robinson said, ’This is America. We can be ANYTHING we want to be.’”
Among SWAC alumni players who were introduced were Williams, Jones (’80 HOF class), Buck Buchanan-Grambling State (’90 HOF Class), Payton (’93 HOF Class), Willie Davis-Grambling State (’81 HOF class), Willie Brown- Grambling State(’84 HOF Class), Ken Houston-Prairie View A&M (‘84 HOF Class), Mel Blount-Southern (’89 HOF class), Lem Barney-Jackson State (’92 HOF class), Charlie Joiner-Grambling State (’96 HOF class), Jackie Slater-Jackson State (’01 HOF class), John Stallworth-Alabama A&M (’02 HOF class), Jerry Rice-Mississippi Valley State (’10 HOF class), Aeneas Williams-Southern (’14 HOF class) and Michael Strahan-Texas Southern (’14 HOF class).
Here’s a link to the video which aired before the Super Bowl: Superbowl 50 HBCU
SWAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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