Did you know that Arizona State University was one of the leading forces in the desegregation of college sports?
Did you know that the Territorial Cup that is presented to the winning team is a replica?
Did you know the Hayden Library has an extensive collection of photos, books, newspapers and programs documenting the history of ASU?
These facts are a few things 18 students learned in Professor Victoria Jackson’s “College Game Day: Football and American History” seminar.
“I was most excited to share with first-year freshmen what it is that we do as historians,” said Professor Jackson.
The class explored topics such as the educational value of college athletics, civil rights, the business of college sports and fandom. When not in the classroom, Professor Jackson and her students could be found in the Hayden Library Archives with Archivist Rob Spindler and of course, Sun Devil Stadium.
“Spending time with Rob Spindler in the archives, ‘discovering’ ASU's early and long commitment to force the issue of desegregation in college football beginning in the 1930s, was very cool,” Professor Jackson said. “Watching students look through primary source materials and trace the steps of this historical record was the highlight of the course. Before our trip to the archives, we read a few articles about the long history (nearly 100 years!) of the desegregation of big-time college football at predominantly (or historically) white universities. Using the documents, we were able to create the narrative of ASU's place in this national story, understanding ASU as a leader in the Southwest region.”
A few students and Professor Jackson went to experience the spirit of college football first-hand while down on the field at the University of California, Berkeley game on Sept. 24.
“I took this course because I love history and my family is really into college football,” said Mandarin Chinese freshman Olivia Parker. “So I wanted to learn about the history of it not only to impress them but to learn about it myself. The most surprising thing was the correlation between segregation and college football. Also about Jackie Robinson and how important he was to other sports not just baseball.”
For first-year students interested in taking this class, a "March Madness" version of the discovery seminar is in the works for the Spring semester.
“ASU is the institutional host of the 2017 Final Four, which will provide us with great opportunities to blend academics and athletics,” Professor Jackson said.