On this date in 1916, Paul Robeson was excluded from the Rutgers football team against Washington and Lee University because he was Black.
Robeson was one of their best players, but his coach did not support him. Regretting the decision, Coach G. Foster Sanford a staunch defender of Robeson, stood by Robeson (a sophomore tackle) when the demand was again made by West Virginia.
Reference:
Rutgers University
The State University of New Jersey
Camden, NJ 08102
(856) 225-1766
