The College Football Hall of Fame Celebrates Black History Month

Trinity Cromwell|February 28, 2023

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The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was recognized as a “football powerhouse among Historical Black Colleges and Universities,” as stated on their website. With Skip McCain as their head coach, they won more than 80% of his games during 1948-1971. With a combined record of 154 wins, 38 losses, and 6 ties, UMES had a remarkable winning percentage of 77.8 percent. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.
Michigan State University is known for integrating college football. In 1966, they had a roster of 20 Black athletes. They went on to become the first majority Black team to win a title at a largely White university. The 1965-1966 Hall of Famers are: Coach Hugh “Duffy” Daugherty, class of 1984, Running Back Clinton Jones, class of 2015, Defensive Bubba Smith, class of 1988, Wide Receiver Gene Washington, class of 2011, and Linebacker George Webster, class of 1987. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.
This is Bubba Smith’s Mail of Fame Relief. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.

Pictured here are the Coach Duffy Daughters Memorial Award, 1966 Gene Washington’s MSU Helmet, 1966 Running Back Clinton Jones MSU Jersey, 1966 Media Guide, and the Michigan State Helmet. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.
The MSU Helmet. “Big Ten” is the oldest Division I collegiate athletic conference in the United States. The Spartans are apart of this conference. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.
A close-up of Daugthery’s Memorial Award. Daughtery was behind in helping integrate college football. He took in Quarterback Jimmy Raye. Raye was the first African American quarterback from the South to win a National Championship. This combo brought the first significant influx of African-American athletes from the South. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University’s Rattlers made history when they won the Division I-AA Championship for the first time in 1978. FAMU claimed 15 Black College National Championships and has an all-time record of 567-276-23 on the gridiron. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.
The 1990 FAMU game program. Photo by Trinity Cromwell
Guard Tyrone McGriff’s jersey, the 1978 Pioneer game action photo, A reproduction of the 1979 Press Guide Cover, and a commemorative Coca-Cola bottle. Photo by Trinity Cromwell
Jake Gaither was the head coach of the Rattlers from 1945-1969, known as the “Gaither Era.” During his tenure, he concurred 203 wins, 36 defeats, and 4 ties for a winning percentage of .844. This was the most by any black or white college coach of his time, with 200 victories. Photo by Trinity Cromwell
A close-up of the 1978 Pioneer game action photo, reproduction of the 1979 Press Guide Cover, and the commemorative Coca-Cola bottle. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.
Central State University currently is the only state-supported historically Black college in Ohio. In 1980-1990, the Marauders were a powerhouse led by Coach William “Billy” Joe. From 1990 to 1995, they won three NAIA Division II national championships, and in 1983, they finished runner-up in NCAA Division II. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.
On top of Joe’s accomplishments with the Marauders, he went on to coach FAMU from 1994-2004. He led the Rattlers to a record-breaking, five titles in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Photo by Trinity Cromwell.