College Football's Bumper Crop of Black Quarterbacks

Lyons, Douglas C., Ebony

College Football's Bumper Crop of Black Quarterbacks

AFTERNOON football practice begins promptly on the campus of Notre Dame University, where even a summer thunderstorm fails to stop the work of a team many expect to repeat as national champions.

Ast the team's leader at quarterback Tony Rice ignores the rain. Calling a play, he rolls out of the pocket and threads a picture-perfect pass to his receiver just over the outstretched hands of a defender. Cheers go up from the onlookers lining the field. They know that their team's fortunes literally rest in Rice's hands. "He's special," says Notre Dame's Coach Lou Holtz. "With him, we'll be fine. Without him, I think I'd get out of coaching."

The quarterback is perhaps the most glamorous and revered position in sports. The very word epitomizes the endearing qualities of a triumphant field general: ability, brilliance, control, maturity and, above all, leadership. For years, the quarterback was seen as one of football's ultimate …

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Publication information: Article title: College Football's Bumper Crop of Black Quarterbacks. Contributors: Lyons, Douglas C. - Author. Magazine title: Ebony. Volume: 45. Issue: 1 Publication date: November 1989. Page number: 60+. © 1999 Johnson Publishing Co. COPYRIGHT 1989 Gale Group.

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