EAST LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – Nearly 130 years after Michigan State University played its first football game, it welcomes its first historically African-American university to Spartan Stadium. Prairie View A&M will play the Spartans on Saturday.
History is being made. The 1965 and 1966 football teams, which integrated the sport, became the first teams inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday. In addition, the stadium will be packed with Spartans and possibly Prairie View alumni on Saturday afternoon.
“I wanted to give our student-athletes the experience of playing against a Big Ten team,” said Anton Goff, athletic director at Prairie View A&M.
It’s not just any Big Ten team, but one that paved the way as the first fully integrated college football team. With the help of MSU athletic director Alan Haller, Prairie View A&M will be the first HBCU to play at Spartan Stadium.
“Hopefully this will lead the Big Ten to realize that it is doable to play against an HBCU,” Goff said.
Former MSU athletic director Clarence Underwood Jr. says the meeting is a great opportunity for both teams.
“It’s important for a school like Texas or Michigan State to put themselves out there and do very well,” Underwood said. “I think this is a great first step. I hope there will be more games like this in the future, but it goes beyond the game itself,” said Steve Japinga, Donald Japinga’s son.
The son of Don Japinga, who was co-captain of the 1965 team, Steve said his father played with guys who couldn’t play in the South because of the color of their skin. As for the big game, Underwood and Goff have high expectations. “Michigan State has to win the football game,” Underwood said. “It’s not a black and white thing, it’s football and we hope both teams are ready to play and do a great job.”
“Of course I hope we win the game, but our goal is to get there. We want to put on a good show,” Goff said.
During Monday’s press conference, MSU head coach Jonathan Smith said he was proud to be a part of it all.
The Spartans will play against the Panthers on Saturday starting at 3:30 p.m.
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