close
close
hsuses

Pitt legend Bobby Grier dies at age 91 – WPXI

Theo

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt community and all of college football mourn the loss of Bobby Grier.

Grier died at the age of 91 and helped end racial segregation in college football.

In 1956, on his 23rd birthday, Grier made history by becoming the first African American to play in the Sugar Bowl.

On this day in 2023, Channel 11 met with Grier and he said that breaking down segregation was the last thing on his mind that day.

“I didn’t think anything of it,” Grier said.

He remained humble about his place in history, but his son Rob Jr. will never stop talking about the challenges his father faced.

“So proud of dad. He was always a great father,” said Rob Jr.

His place in the Sugar Bowl was not easy. Georgia’s governor opposed racial integration and tried to keep Grier from playing, but Georgia Tech University and his teammates showed resistance. They refused to make the trip without him.

“They said we won’t go down without him. No Grier, no game,” Grier said.

Grier was not allowed to stay at the team hotel with his teammates, but he ignored it and persevered.

“I’m very proud of what I did,” Grier said.

Grier is a member of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2020.

Download the FREE WPXI News App for breaking news.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook And Þjórsárden. | Watch WPXI NOW

Related Posts