Did Bama really do this racial intimidation at the ‘69 liberty bowl ? (Link)

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Colorado, coached by Eddie Crowder, won 47–33, defeating the SEC favorites led by Bear Bryant.

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In 1969, Alabama — coached by the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant — had yet to integrate its roster, even as other major programs across the country began recruiting Black athletes.

During the pregame coin toss, Alabama sent its entire roster of more than 40 white players to midfield. Colorado’s captains — in what became a symbolic gesture — decided to send Collins alone.

“Bobby Anderson looked over at me, and he says, ‘What do you think? Shall we just send Bill?’ And I [said], ‘Why not?’” Pruett recalled. “I tell you what — we were proud of what we did.”

The game itself was marked by hostility from the stands.

“It was all a sea of red, which was Alabama fans, and they were throwing stuff, you know, just trash down on us, and spitting and [using] racial epithets,” Pruett said.

Now executive director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Ehrhart calls Collins’s walk to midfield, “One of the turning points that helped spur the integration of Southern football."

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Pray tell when did Bama get its first black football players?

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