The Game of Change
Sport theory teachers often highlight this particularly memorable moment as a turning point in American history. In 1963, a time when racial wars and riots were at an all-time high, it was still contentious for black and white players to face off against one another. In fact, it was so contentious a time that the Mississippi State team was legally denied the ability play against the all-black Loyola team. The punishment was severe if they chose to go against it–a state injunction against each of the players.
In an act of defiance, the Mississippi State team snuck out of the state to Michigan to play the Loyola team anyway. Once they arrived, they were well into the public eye. As a Caucasian player shook hands with an African-American player from the other side, the press went wild. The pictures produced were iconic in demonstrating how the face of racism in America, and in college basketball, was changing over time.
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