As early as 1890, black athletes have played football at predominantly white universities. However, the catalyst for true integration of college football began with the success of Michigan State’s 1965 and 1966 national championship teams, which featured 20 black players. This is the story of one of those players.
Jimmy Raye II was the quarterback of the 1966 national title team for the Spartans. Raye said his family assessed his escape from segregated Fayetteville, North Carolina, to take a chance at college football’s promised land.
Raye became the first black quarterback from the South to guide his team to a national championship.
Learn more Here
