Sports Have Always Been Political: The 1970 Game That Forced Alabama to Integrate

Sports Have Always Been Political: The 1970 Game That Forced Alabama to Integrate

People love to say sports aren’t political, but history keeps reminding us otherwise. Want to know what finally forced Alabama to integrate their football team? It wasn’t morality or fairness—it was a loss. And not just any loss.

Let’s go back to September 12, 1970, when Alabama—a powerhouse under coach Bear Bryant—scheduled a home game against USC. Now, USC wasn’t just any team; they were fully integrated with an all-Black backfield. This wasn’t just a game—it was a racial reckoning on the field.

USC destroyed Alabama 42-21, and the highlight of the game? Sam Cunningham, USC’s Black running back, put on a clinic, rushing for 135 yards and two touchdowns. His performance sent a loud and clear message to the Crimson Tide: Black players weren’t just equal—they were superior on the field.

And after the game, the legend goes that Bryant brought Cunningham into the Alabama locker room and told his players, “This is what a football player looks like.” Now, don’t get it twisted—Bryant didn’t suddenly become an anti-racist advocate. He realized that if Alabama wanted to keep winning, they had to start recruiting Black players.

This game was a turning point, and less than a year later, in 1971, Alabama fielded its first integrated varsity squad. Once Alabama opened the door, the entire SEC had no choice but to follow suit.

But as we know, not everyone was happy about it. Many white parents and fans were furious, fearing that their sons would lose opportunities because Alabama was now “forced” to recruit Black players. Sound familiar?

This isn’t just a sports history lesson—it’s a blueprint for how progress happens, and how people react when they no longer benefit from a system built on exclusion. Today, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is about opening the recruiting network to ensure that the most qualified candidates, regardless of race, gender, or background, get the job. But the problem is: America was never built on inclusion—it was built on exclusion.

For decades, white people didn’t have to compete fairly because Black, Asian, Indigenous, etc., candidates weren’t even considered. And the moment we actually started playing fair? The illusion of white superiority crumbled, and suddenly people were panicking about losing their advantage. But it’s not about losing opportunities—it’s about losing some of the privilege that’s been held for decades.

That’s why the same people who opposed integration in the 1970s are the same ones screaming about DEI hires today. But just like Alabama learned the hard way, institutions that refuse to evolve will get left behind.

Alabama couldn’t keep up with an all-white team. If they had refused to integrate, their football dynasty would have collapsed. This story is about more than football—it’s about every industry, every opportunity, and every time change knocks on the door.