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The only two TV stations which I watched....8 and 11.....only interviewed Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductees...Mike Modano and Michael Irvin. Hey, I love both those guys...but they've been interviewed hundreds of times in the last 15-20 years, by the D-FW media. Modano was on Hansen's last Sunday night show. Irvin got tons of TV time last year...with his NFL HOF induction.
But of the inductees last night....ONLY ONE was a history maker. Abner was, as you know...our first Black football player....and was playing for us....9 years before the SWC integrated. Not sure, if Houston or Texas Western (now UTEP) had any Black players in 1955.....but Abner was definitely one of the pioneers, when it comes to breaking the color barrier in Texas college football. (at major colleges). Also, he went on to a succesful pro football career. So, of players of note, he definitely was the first "big time" player to break the color barrier in Texas college football.
Each year, major league baseball honors Jackie Robinson.
In many ways, Abner Haynes is a Jackie Robinson of Texas college football.
Sadly, he doesn't get his due. All they noted in the paper, was that he was our first black player.
Maybe we as a school don't recognize this feat enough. I don't know.
But, for some reason....the word still doesn't get out, about how far ahead of the times we were. And, to me, that is something that makes me most proud of my university.
Sorry for venting.
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