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The Forgotten Black Star of Syracuse
In 1953, Alabama’s coach was reportedly ordered to pull his team from the Orange Bowl if Syracuse fielded a Black player—highlighting how deeply entrenched segregation was in college football. Though Syracuse’s roster for that game didn’t list any Black starters, the truth is more complex: Avatus Stone, Syracuse’s first Black player under Coach Ben Schwartzwalder, was a standout QB, punter, and defensive back who’d joined in 1949. He set school records, started at QB in 1951, and was poised for the 1953 bowl—until a knee injury ended his senior season. Despite facing segregation, exclusion…
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