The Incident
Trinity would not escape controversey that comes with being a predominately white institution in the south. Elvin Gant, Felix Thurston, Ralph Lefore, Earl Costley, and Howard Walker claimed racism exists on the Trinity University campus. They charged the athletic administration, specifically the athletic director and the head football coach with institutional racism. Claiming they were coerced to sit out of practices and games; Lefore claimed “Offield and Woodson tried to intimidate him into leaving school”(Trinitonian, 1971). In response, athletic director Warren Woodson was surprised but calm, stating he didn't intend to respond to these accusations or dignify them whatsoever, stating “long ago I quit looking at the color of a man’s skin. Its what’s inside him that counts”(Trinitonian, 1971). Head Football Coach Gene Offield refused to comment. There were also two basketball players claiming that the basketball team needed more black members on it.
Things like this, especially in this time of American History would seem to be swept under the rug. Contrary to belief, the exact opposite happened.