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blastofsports · 3 days

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Jack Trice: Jack Trice Stadium

African American players were often forced to endure unusually rough play. One of the best known examples of this, Jack Trice, was the first African American to play football at Iowa State University (then Iowa State College). Trice joined the team in 1923. Iowa State’s first three opponents that year refused to play the game if Trice was on the field and so he sat out these games. Trice’s first game was against the University of Minnesota and he died as a result of injuries sustained in that game. The stadium at Iowa State was named in Trice’s honor in 1997, 74 years after his death.

Trice was born in Hiram, Ohio in 1902, the son of a former slave and Buffalo Soldier, Green Trice. As a child, Trice was active in sports and demonstrated outstanding athletic skills. In 1918, Trice’s mother sent him to Cleveland, Ohio to live with an uncle. Trice attended East Technical High School where he played football. In 1922, Trice followed five of his teammates, as well as his former high school coach, Sam Willaman, to Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa.

While attending Iowa State, Trice participated in track and football (primarily as a tackle). He majored in animal husbandry, with the desire to go to the South after graduation, and use his knowledge to help African-American farmers. His dream job was to eventually teach Southern black farmers about modern farming. In the summer after his freshman year at the age of 20, Trice married Cora Mae Starland, who was only 15. They both found jobs in order to support themselves through school. Trice also was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and initiated through the Alpha Nu chapter (Drake & Iowa State University).

On October 5, 1923, the night before his second college football game, Trice wrote the following in a letter on stationery at a racially segregated hotel in Minneapolis/St. Paul (the letter was later found in Trice's suit just before his funeral): Trice died due to injuries suffered during a college football game against the University of Minnesota on October 6, 1923.

(Letter)

"My thoughts just before the first real college game of my life: The honor of my race, family & self is at stake. Everyone is expecting me to do big things. I will. My whole body and soul are to be thrown recklessly about the field tomorrow. Every time the ball is snapped, I will be trying to do more than my part. On all defensive plays I must break through the opponents' line and stop the play in their territory. Beware of mass interference. Fight low, with your eyes open and toward the play. Watch out for crossbucks and reverse end runs. Be on your toes every minute if you expect to make good. Jack "

Jack Trice in Iowa State uniform in 1923 ~Courtesy of Special Collections at Iowa State University

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blastofsports · 20 days

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Bob Warmack Ada cougars. Ada Oklahoma

University of Oklahoma quarterback.

#oklahoma sports #ada cougars #ada oklahoma #archives #newspaper #university of oklahoma #football game #football team #quarterback #football field #football

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blastofsports · 3 months

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#mvp #black excellence #black community #black archives #nfl #baltimore ravens #most valuable player #black quarterback

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blastofsports · 3 months

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Tom Laundry and Ed Too tall Jones.

#tom landry #ed too tall jones #dallas cowboys #nfl #tennessee state university #defensive end

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blastofsports · 4 months

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Merry Christmas!!

#nba basketball #nba season #christmas #basketball #nba

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blastofsports · 5 months

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Brady wore No. 10 as a quarterback at Michigan. When he was drafted by New England in 2000, he wanted to keep that number. Too bad Lee Johnson, the team's punter, already had the coveted number.

#tom brady #nfl players #college athletes #college sports #university of michigan #quarterback #new england patriots #tampa bay buccaneers

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blastofsports · 5 months

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#jalen hurts #black excellence #black archives #black tumblr #nfl players #college sports #high school

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blastofsports · 5 months

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My grandson is needing help. The cash app in the picture. In the cash app note please put Tristan Graham. Idk if this is ok to put up here. . It's his first yr. They won a tournament last weekend in Tulsa Oklahoma. If you donate. Cash app the league. Above and in the note but what teammate u donating to. TRISTAN GRAHAM . Thank you They will be so appreciated for any help. BTW he's a beast. May see him on TV.