1956 Sugar Bowl

Segregationists and Georgia governor Marvin Griffin used all his political power in an attempt to keep Pitt fullback/linebacker Bobby Grier from playing because he was black.

Georgia Tech had been involved in a previous racial incident in 1934, when the team refused to play a game against the University of Michigan unless the Wolverines benched their star end, a black player named Willis Ward.

Michigan eventually complied with the demand, but only after Georgia Tech agreed to reciprocate by benching their own star end, Hoot Gibson.

This stood in stark contrast to the 1956 Rose Bowl, which featured two of the most racially integrated college football teams of the day with six African American players for the UCLA Bruins and seven for the Michigan State Spartans.

[11][12][13][14] On December 2, 1955 (the day after the arrest of Rosa Parks, which led to the Montgomery bus boycott), Griffin publicly sent another telegram to his state's Board Of Regents imploring that teams from Georgia not engage in racially integrated events which had Blacks either as participants or in the stands.

Holding signs saying "We play anybody" and "governor Griffin sits on his brains", the students broke windows, upturned parking meters, hung Griffin in effigy, and marched all the way to the governor's mansion, surrounding it until 3:30 a.m. and only agreeing to disperse when state representative Milton "Muggsy" Smith (himself a former Georgia Tech football player) addressed the crowd and assured them the game would be played.

[15][16][17] While in front of the Board of Regents, Van Leer was publicly quoted on record: Either we're going to the Sugar Bowl or you can find yourself another damn president of Georgia Tech.

After Georgia Tech recovered a Pitt fumble on the Panthers 32-yard line, Grier was flagged for a 31-yard pass interference penalty, giving the Yellow Jackets a first and goal from the 1.

But with time running out, Pitt QB Corny Salvaterra was stuffed for no gain on 4th and goal by GT defenders Franklin Brooks and Allen Ecker.

[1] After the game, Grier protested the pass interference call, but praised the Georgia Tech players, saying "They were good sportsmen, perhaps the best I've played against all season.

[19] Despite the after game awards banquet being hosted in the segregated St. Charles Hotel, Grier accepted an invite from the Georgia Tech players to attend.

"[20] Georgia Tech's President Blake Van Leer would die from a heart attack two weeks later, his family has consistently said it was from the stress leading up to the game.

Four years after President Van Leer's death an overwhelming majority of the 2,741 Tech students present voted to endorse integration of qualified applicants, regardless of race.

[22][23] While it did galvanize support, make progress academically, and help draw national attention, it did not immediately lead to future integration of the Sugar Bowl or in the south largely due to state level politicians.

[28] It said, in part:[29] All persons, firms and corporations are prohibited from sponsoring, arranging, participating in, or permitting on premises under their control any dancing, social functions, entertainments, athletic training, games, sports or contests and other such activities involving personal and social contacts, in which the participants or contestants are members of the white and negro races.The Sugar Bowl would not host another Northern team for the next eight years.

The lower court stated "Cities may as well face up to the facts of life: New Orleans, here and now, must adjust to the reality of having to operate desegregated public facilities.

There is no excuse left which a court, bound by respect for the Rule of Law, could now legitimize as a legal justification for a city's continued segregation of governmental facilities."

[4] In 1957, Georgia senator Leon Butts introduced a bill to ban all integrated athletic contests in the state, as well as other social functions such as dances and concerts.

Bobby Grier's participation in the 1956 Sugar Bowl, as well as the support he received from various communities, is seen by some experts as a milestone in American race relations.

Among friends and family, Brooks' funeral procession included College and Pro Football greats such as Eddie Lee Ivery and Bill Curry.

Artist Julian Hoke Harris would later sculpt a portrait plaque to honor Van Leer's stance against Governor Griffin.

Actor Anthony Mackie, Grier's son Rob, granddaughter Camille and GT's grandson Blake Van Leer III were present on the field.

[33] Later in 2022, Grier along with his son Rob were invited for a VIP tour at Georgia Tech, College Football Hall of Fame and National Center for Civil and Human Rights.