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Photo: UK unveils statue honoring four players who broke SEC’s color barrier
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On Thursday, the University of Kentucky unveiled an incredibly powerful and poignant statue.
This fantastic piece of art commemorates four former UK players: Nate Northington, Wilbur Hackett, Houston Hogg, and Greg Page. The quartet is significant from the standpoint all four broke the color barrier within the SEC back in the 1960’s.
These four men changed the face of the S.E.C. Thank you ! pic.twitter.com/IrUsgXKBBN
— Coach Lamar Thomas (@LamarCoachT) September 22, 2016
Northington became the first African-American player to ever play in the SEC. This occurred against Ole Miss on Sept. 30, 1967. Page unfortunately passed away the night before due to complications from a hit in practice that left him paralyzed.
The new statue outside Commonwealth Stadium honoring the four players who broke the color barrier in the SEC. pic.twitter.com/Vjj9x45CDN
— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) September 22, 2016
Hackett became the first African-American team captain in conference history. The linebacker accomplished this feat in 1969. As for Hogg, the former running back was the first black athlete to complete their eligibility in a major team sport at Kentucky.
These statues will forever be emblematic of the breakthrough these four athletes provided for thousands that have followed in their footsteps.
A closer look at the statue just outside the front door of Kentucky's football facility: pic.twitter.com/hmajXXNZd2
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) September 22, 2016
