Jerry LeVias story in this week's Sports Illustrated

[PonySoprano]

There is a story in this week's Sports Illustrated (the November 7th edition), about players who broke the color barrier in Southern College Football. Jerry LeVias is featured in the story.

[MrMustang1965]

I'll buy a copy. But I'm just wondering already: at what point/paragraph in the story does the writer invoke the words 'death penalty'?

[mrydel]

I'll buy a copy. But I'm just wondering already: at what point/paragraph in the story does the writer invoke the words 'death penalty'?

Death Penalty had an entirely different meaning in relation to Jerry and Southern football.

[PonySoprano]

So true. No mention of the SMU death penalty, but there are some great quotes and stories from Coach Fry and LeVias:

A few excerpts from the article:
At one point in LeVias's recruitment his father, Charlie, asked where Southern Methodist was. Told it was in Dallas, he said, "They shot the president there. What they gonna do to my boy?"

Over and over Coach Fry incanted a West Texasism (to LeVias): "If you don't want 'em to get your goat, don't let 'em know where it's hid."

LeVias had a knack for making opponents pay - as he puts it, "Turn ther other cheek, then show them both cheeks" as you cross the goal line.

During LeVias's senior season, with the Mustangs tied in the fouth quarter at TCU, a Horned Frog linebacker tackling him said, "Go home, n****r!" and spit in his face. LeVias stalked off the field, flung his helmet against a wall and declared, "I quit!" He sat at the end of the bench and broke down in tears. Coach Fry pleaded with him while the SMU defense held, and soon the Frogs were lining up to punt. As Coach Fry scrambled to find a return man, LeVias bolted past him and onto the field, turning to say, "Coach, I'm gonna run this one back all the way."
"It was kind of like the Babe Ruth story," says Fry, who had picked up LeVias's head-gear. "I handed him his helmet and said, 'Jerry, you might be needing this.'"
Breaking down the film, Mustangs coaches would count 11 eluded tacklers, serveral of whom had two shots at him, and a couple of reverses of field during LeVias's 89-yard return for the decisive touchdown.