PITTSBURGH — The doors were shut. The coaches stood outside. Bobby Grier waited while his teammates came to the only conclusion they felt was right.
In the days following the 1955 regular season, Pitt's players had a choice. The Panthers were invited to play in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia Tech. But the context around that invitation and the actions that followed served as a seminal moment.
On Jan. 2, 1956, Grier became the first Black player to participate in the Sugar Bowl, breaking college football's color barrier in the Deep South. Grier faced political pressure and even acknowledged that if it came to it, he would fake an injury if it meant the Panthers could play in the prestigious game. But Grier held firm and, as he emphasizes to this day, had the unwavering support of his teammates.
