 |
Don Hudson holds a significant place in the history of college football. So why haven’t you heard of him? (Click to Read article) |
An assistant at LU for 10 years, Hudson made history when he was hired at Macalester College in 1971, becoming the first African-American head football coach at a predominantly white college. A 1953 graduate of Lincoln, Hudson was the head coach of the Blue Tigers from 1976-79 and has the distinction of being the first African-American head coach of a high school football team in Minnesota when he was hired by Minneapolis' Central High in 1968.
Hudson coached with the Blue Tigers under head coach Dwight T. Reed from 1955-62 and again from 1966-68, helping LU compile 61 wins, including a 21-0 victory over Emporia State in the 1958 Mineral Water Bowl. Lincoln posted eight winning seasons during Hudson's tenure as an assistant, won the 1958 MWAA championship and, in seven of those campaigns, suffered just three defeats or fewer. Three players Hudson directly worked with - Lemar Parrish, Zeke Moore and Jim Tolbert - all later enjoyed successful careers in the National Football League.
As a player for the Blue Tigers, Hudson was the quarterback of a potent offensive attack that out-scored opponents 557-193 during his final two seasons at LU, posting a combined 15-2-1 record in the process. In his senior season at Lincoln, Hudson led LU to its first-ever unbeaten season, recording a record of 8-0-1 and earning the No. 2 ranking in the country according to the Pittsburgh Courier.
Hudson was married to Connie and was the proud parent of six children and grandparent of 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
RELATED ARTICLE ON COACH DON HUDSON:
FIRST AND FORGOTTEN by Jay Weiner
No comments:
Post a Comment