Fifty years ago, every athlete in every sport at every school in the Southeastern Conference was white. That changed when then Assistant Kentucky Coach Homer Rice recruited Greg Page, who became the first African American ever signed to play football in the SEC.

While Page died tragically in a football-related accident in the fall of 1967, Nate Northington trotted onto the field as a University of Kentucky varsity football player against Ole Miss. Since that time, tens of thousands of African Americans have followed Greg, Nate, and teammates Houston Hogg and Wilbur Hackett, dramatically improving athletic competition... and life in the American South. This is the story told in a new film directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Wagner and produced by former Kentucky quarterback Paul Karem.

The screening will be followed by a panel, which features:

• Paul Wagner, the filmmaker
• Paul Karem, former University of Kentucky quarterback
• Mel Page, brother of Greg Page, the first African-American signed to play football at Kentucky and in the SEC
• Homer C. Rice, former Georgia Tech athletic director and former Kentucky assistant football coach

This is another feature event sponsored by the Sports, Society, and Technology Program (SST). Through “Black in Blue” and similar events SST seeks to broaden awareness of compelling sports-related experiences and stories, particularly as they relate to social change. The Georgia Tech Athletic Association assisted with the sponsorship of this screening and panel.

Please join us!

This screening of "Black in Blue" and post film panel is free and open to the public, however seating is limited.