NEW ORLEANS (September 29, 2022) – With Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech playing Saturday night in an ACC game, the Allstate Sugar Bowl will "turn back the clock" to the 1956 Sugar Bowl when Panthers standout Bobby Grier broke the color barrier and became the first Black player to see action in the game. Grier plans to be in attendance for the Panther-Yellow Jacket game on Saturday.
 
Full History Story – 1956 Sugar Bowl
 
Panther Legacies: Bobby Grier
 
After Pittsburgh accepted its invitation to play in the game against the Yellow Jackets, there was national attention fueled by the governor of Georgia protesting the integration of sporting contests. However, the Pitt players stood strong with their teammate and the Georgia Tech players showed no objections. In addition, students and other supporters conducted significant protests around the governor's mansion.
 
Prior to the game, the Pittsburgh players tried to keep things light as they realized their teammate was going to be under a tremendous strain. "At first, we were offended," said guard Hal Hunter, one of the Panther co-captains. "Then, to loosen him up and try to take the pressure off him, we played practical jokes on Bobby during practice for the Sugar Bowl."
 
Unfortunately, a questionable call involving Grier turned out to be the most important play of the afternoon.
 
From the Pitt 32, where Tech had recovered a fumble, quarterback Wade Mitchell lofted a soft pitch to right end Don Ellis near the goal. The ball sailed over both the heads of Ellis and defender Grier. Interference on Grier was called.
 
Review of the game film shows Grier may have been out of position, but as he stumbled, he fell a few yards in front of Ellis. A roar of protest erupted from the stands as the ball was placed on the 1-yard line. After Pitt was penalized a half-yard for offsides, Mitchell followed the surge of his line and made into the end zone by inches.



Despite Pitt controlling much of the rest of the game, that would be the only score of the game as the Yellow Jackets held on, 7-0.
 
Grier would finish as the game's leading ground-gainer. However, his true impact would be felt for decades throughout college football.
 
"It was a great feeling, especially to have the school back me like it did, and the team back me." Grier said. "To go down and play, and you go out in the stadium and there's 85,000 people there yelling and clapping, it gives you a great feeling."
 
When he was inducted into the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021, Heather Lyke, Pitt director of athletics, said, "Bobby Grier is a richly deserving honoree in our Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame. While Bobby enjoyed a highly productive career on the field, the courage and strength he showed in desegregating the Sugar Bowl continues to resonate well beyond the game of football. Bobby is a tremendous source of pride for the University of Pittsburgh as he represents the very best of our institution."
 
Grier was also inducted the Sugar Bowl's Hall of Fame as a member of its second class in 2019.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 28 national champions, 100 Hall of Fame players, 51 Hall of Fame coaches and 20 Heisman Trophy winners in its 88-year history. The 89th Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will feature top teams from the SEC and the Big 12, is scheduled to be played on December 31, 2022. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.2 billion into the local economy in the last decade.