Before “We Are … Penn State,” Wally Triplett remembers another slogan: “We play all or none.”
In 1946, the Penn State football team voted unanimously to cancel a scheduled game against then segregated University of Miami, rather than play without its two black players, Triplett and Dennie Hoggard.
“I call it ‘that team,’ ” said the former Penn State halfback, now 82. “That tradition of leaving your colored players at home was going to be tolerated no more.”
It was 1945 when Triplett became the first black starter on what was then Penn State’s varsity football team.
In 1948, Penn State was set to play Southern Methodist University in the Cotton Bowl. Triplett said he remembers that rumors circulated that SMU wanted to meet with Penn State to discuss the team not bringing its black players. During this time, Triplett credits guard Steve Suhey with coining the now-famous Penn State slogan. “We are Penn State,” Triplett recalled Suhey saying. “There will be no meetings.”
Triplett traveled to Texas and scored the tying touchdown against SMU. The game ended with a score of 13-13. Triplett recalls fewer than 20 black students on Penn State’s campus during this time. “It was sort of a lonely life — a life you had to live carefully,” Triplett said. “People didn’t think anything of not including you. That’s what America was about.”
Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2009/02/15/1199050/triplett-psu-helped-change-history.html#storylink=cpy
In 1946, the Penn State football team voted unanimously to cancel a scheduled game against then segregated University of Miami, rather than play without its two black players, Triplett and Dennie Hoggard.
“I call it ‘that team,’ ” said the former Penn State halfback, now 82. “That tradition of leaving your colored players at home was going to be tolerated no more.”
It was 1945 when Triplett became the first black starter on what was then Penn State’s varsity football team.
In 1948, Penn State was set to play Southern Methodist University in the Cotton Bowl. Triplett said he remembers that rumors circulated that SMU wanted to meet with Penn State to discuss the team not bringing its black players. During this time, Triplett credits guard Steve Suhey with coining the now-famous Penn State slogan. “We are Penn State,” Triplett recalled Suhey saying. “There will be no meetings.”
Triplett traveled to Texas and scored the tying touchdown against SMU. The game ended with a score of 13-13. Triplett recalls fewer than 20 black students on Penn State’s campus during this time. “It was sort of a lonely life — a life you had to live carefully,” Triplett said. “People didn’t think anything of not including you. That’s what America was about.”
Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2009/02/15/1199050/triplett-psu-helped-change-history.html#storylink=cpy
No comments:
Post a Comment