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We are in the process of telling the dormant story of the integrating of athletics in the Southeastern Conference. The subjects are beginning with Nathaniel “Nate” Northington and a month later deceased Greg Page were the pioneers and all the present SEC African-American athlete’s shoulders are standing on the shoulders of these guys. After the ground breaking occurrence in 1967, in ’68 and ’69 came Wilbur Hackett and Houston Hogg respectively.
Recently at the Louisville home of Paul Karem the aforementioned yours truly and others met to brainstorm the events and story to come. Karem feels that UK athletics shouldn’t be defined only by the movie “Glory Road.” Hackett has been contacted by the SEC about the story of the pioneering of integrating of the league. But Karem suspects that story is too broad taking in Tennessee’s Condredge Holloway the first black quarterback in the SEC that was taboo at the time and Mississippi State head Coach Sylvester Croom the first African-American holding that position in the SEC.
Coach Adolph Rupp and Charlie Bradshaw could not carry out an adopted official policy to integrate the university and the league. So Governor Edward Thompson “Ned” Breathitt Jr. and Dr. John w. Oswald stepped in to make it happen. That story that will be told more in depth in future endeavors.
Karem as well others feel for obvious reasons the UK story should be more personalized. Northington has told his story in a recent book published entitled “Still Running.” The book can be purchased at Joseph Beth and Barns and Noble.
Karem said the movie “The Help” and “42” is good but where is UK’s story. This project started out in an attempt to get a statue erected at the 2015 newly renovated Commonwealth Stadium honoring these athletes. Coach Stoops as well as President Dr. Eli Capilouto, Luther Deaton, and trustee board members David Hawpe and Frank Shoop have all bought into that movement.
But this has gone even bigger and an Academy Award winning documentary and film maker producer and director Paul Wagner has been brought into the picture, no pun intended. Wagner has also been the winner of a couple of Emmy’s. Wagner in a series of interviews is just the person to put a personal touch on such an endeavor. One of his best documentaries was entitled “Miles of Smiles, Years of Struggles” about the nineteen twenty’s unionization if passenger-train porters all African-Americans. This documentary is going to titled “Black in Blue.”
There’s another gripping story to be told about the death of Greg Page in a half-speed pursuit-drill. The brother of Greg Page, Mel Page was on hand to tell Greg’s story. Teammate Michael E. Cassity is adamant that half speed to then Charlie Bradshaw was full speed and Page didn’t understand that. Cassity had some strong words to say about Bradshaw.
As a little spice were it not for Steve Spurrier’s backing Hackett could have been drummed out of SEC football officiating for his October 18, 2008 blocking down of then South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia.
As an unobtrusive observer all of this is déjà vu for this writer. Stay tuned for this long overdue gripping story to be told on screen.
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