Jack Strickland is a retired AP writer who is active in the war against cancer. He, himself, is a survivor.
As a reporter he covered many of the major stories in Florida.
He lives in Gainesville where he is an advocate for cancer patients of all ages. Jack finds special joy in getting
sports stars and teams involved in the care young cancer victims. He claims that the athletes benefit from the involvement
as much as the patients. He says he managed to miss many tackles as a football player long ago, and learned that defeat can be
temporary and serve as the foundation for success.
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How UF’s Don Gaffney broke quarterback color barrier, Auburn jinx – as Auburn comes to play again
October 10, 2011Gainesville
College football is usually considered America’s best Saturday afternoon entertainment. It is also a powerful tool for bringing about social change in America. Forty years ago, sports played a major role in ending segregation in the South.
In 1973 Florida awarded a young black quarterback his first college start against powerful Auburn. It was the first time a black quarterback had started in the prestigious SEC. On that date, October 3, 1973, Don Gaffney dispelled the popular notion that blacks were not smart enough to play quarterback in the big leagues. His spectacular performance led Florida to it’s first victory over Auburn in feared Jordan—Hare Stadium at Auburn.
Breaking the Auburn jinx and the color barrier at quarterback, on the same day, made the thrilling game historic.
Some people say that Don Gaffney did for college football what Jackie Robinson did for baseball. Gaffney and Robinson endured similar obstacles as they knocked down racial barriers.
Don Gaffney was a very special young man and a uniquely talented athlete. He drew national attention at Raines High School in Jacksonville where he dazzled the crowds with heroic performances. Florida was impressed and offered him a scholarship. There were other black players on the Gator roster but Gaffney was a vanguard at playing quarterback at a major “predominantly white” university in the South.
Segregation had ended in Gainesville’s public schools less than five years earlier. Race tensions ran high. Young Gaffney was not bothered by overwhelming public opinion that cautiously accepted blacks, but was adamantly opposed to letting a black kid lead the team as quarterback.
In the first six games of his college varsity career, Gaffney played as a back-up who only saw action on the field when the game was decided. He was called on to run out the clock or do mop-up duty. He was greeted by boos when he took his first snap at quarterback as a Florida Gator. Faithful Florida fans screamed for his blood. Florida and visiting fans seemed to unite in screams of “Kill the N*****”.
Powerful Florida supporters vowed to boycott games if he was allowed to start at quarterback.
Gaffney seemed oblivious to the off field distractions. He worked hard to develop his athletic talents as he earned the respect of his teammates. He won his first start in the seventh game of his college varsity career. He started against Auburn on their dreaded home field. The Auburn jinx against Florida was very powerful on Tiger’s home field.
Florida had never won there in the forty year history of the Southeastern Conference.
Coming into Auburn on that October afternoon, the Gators had the benefit of a bye-week that afforded them an extra week of practice to prepare for the game. The Gators were 2-6 on the season having lost four straight games. Auburn was a powerhouse ranked number nineteen in the nation. Most pundits gave the Gators no chance of avoiding humiliation on the field. To them, a Florida victory was out of the question.
In practice, Gaffney received lots of support from his teammates and coaches. No announcement had been made on which quarterback would start the game. Gaffney remembers that he thought he might get the start but he didn’t really know for sure until the team was about to leave the locker room and make it’s entrance onto the field.
Coach Doug Dickey walked up to him and handed him the ball, saying, “It’s your game. You are our man. You are starting today!”
Gaffney’s teammates roared their approval. They stormed onto the field oblivious to any distractions the hostile crowd presented. They were on a mission to do the impossible—to beat Auburn.
On the field that afternoon at Auburn, young Don Gaffney took charge. He starred in a performance that was called the most impressive display of leadership and athletic ability seen on any football field in America on that day. More important to Gator fans, he led Florida to a thrilling 12—8 victory over Auburn, breaking the Auburn jinx that had been in place since the Southeastern Conference was formed in 1933.
In those days, the Gator faithful chartered a train from Jacksonville to Auburn for the game. The celebration always started before the train pulled out of the station.
Mr. & Mrs. George Gaffney, parents of the young quarterback, were invited to ride the train to the game. They were treated politely, but somewhat distantly. Social interaction between blacks and whites, in the early seventies, was new and awkward to most people in the South. Some people in the Gator family of fans shunned the black quarterback’s family on the train on the way to Auburn.
That all changed on the train ride home after the game. Florida fans enjoyed a wild victory ride back to Jacksonville. Color barriers fell. Everyone seemed to want to become friends and socialize with the parents of the of Florida’s sensational new quarterback.
Don Gaffney went on to win the hearts of Gators and football fans everywhere. He has been voted into the Hall of Fame. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law.
This week Gaffney expressed fond memories of that historic 1973 Auburn—Florida game. He remembers that the team was on a mission and did not intend to leave Auburn with anything less than victory. He humbly credits the victory to a magnificent team effort. He remembers how special it was to have the unconditional support of his coaches and teammates as he made history.
He said the bonds remain very special forty years later.
On Saturday afternoon Florida will play Auburn on the Tiger’s home field. The Gators are in a rebuilding year under a new coach. They have lost their last two games. Yet, many sportscasters are predicting a Gator victory. Auburn’s jinx over the Gators, broken under Gaffney’s leadership, is no longer a factor. More significantly, three young Gator quarterbacks—two of them freshmen—are expected to play in the game and all of them are black. Few people are expected to notice their color.
We have come a long way since the seventies. We have a long way to go. But, we are on our way.
Don Gaffney is a Hall Of Famer. He has left an indelible mark as an athlete and a leader. He should also be recognized as a hero in the advancement of civil rights. Few people have done more to build a better America than Don Gaffney and his wife and partner, Tracy.
If you don’t believe me, ask the three young quarterbacks who will play for the Gators at Auburn on Saturday. They will be judged on their performance on the field. Few will notice or care about their race or color. Yes, we have come a long way.
Thank you Don Gaffney.