Jerry LeVias
Encyclopedia
Jerry LeVias was the first African-American scholarship athlete
and second African-American football
player in the Southwest Conference.
, LeVias played quarterback
for Hebert High School. LeVias was listed as 5'9" and 177 pounds, (but actually measured closer to 5'7" and 140 pounds out of high school) but made up for his size with great speed.
in the spring of 1965 by Coach Hayden Fry
. LeVias had over a hundred scholarship offers, but none from the traditional historically black college football powers he expected to play for (like Grambling, Alcorn St., Southern, Prairie View etc.) He was deemed too small by those schools to be offered a football scholarship. Coach Fry saw in LeVias the character, academic potential and skill that would be needed to successfully integrate the Southwest Conference. LeVias had to first win over his freshman football teammates, and that became one of his biggest challenges for this civil rights pioneer. His success, on and off the field, led to a highly anticipated varsity
debut in 1966, and quickly became one of the most exciting players in the nation on the conference-champion Mustangs. This first campaign on the varsity squad, LeVias led SMU to their first Cotton Bowl appearance since Heisman winner Doak Walker suited up for the Mustangs, almost two decades earlier. LeVias' touchdowns against rivals Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and TCU saw the Mustangs earn the conference title in often dramatic fashion. Once LeVias demonstrated his ability on and off the field, Darrell Royal, head coach at the conference power Texas, quipped that Levias no longer looked too small. Speaking with LeVias' high school coach, Royal said, "Well, he didn't sound very big then when you described him, but he looks plenty big to me now." Texas had passed over LeVias, not only due to his size, but because Texas would not integrate until after their National Championship in 1969.
LeVias was three times consensus All-SWC
, 1966–68, and All-America
as a senior. He twice led the league in receiving and held every career record when his three varsity seasons ended, including the single game mark for reception yardage (when he caught 8 passes for 213 yards against North Carolina State in 1968.) LeVias ended his career with a TD catch in SMU's scintillating victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1968 Bluebonnet Bowl and followed that as the MVP of the Senior Bowl. On top of these achievements on the field, LeVias was an Academic All-American his senior year.
In 2008, HBO produced a documentary, "Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football" which highlighted Coach Hayden Fry and Jerry LeVias' struggles while they integrated the Southwest Conference. This struggle was placed amongst the context of other efforts across the nation to desegregate college football. However it should be noted, the first African American to ever play in a football game in the SWC was John Hill Westbrook from Baylor University.
with the American Football League
's Houston Oilers
, where he was selected to the 1969 AFL All-Star Team
, then was with the NFL Oilers (1970
) and with the NFL San Diego Chargers
(1971
-1974
).
LeVias was an immediate hit with the Oilers, as Sports Illustrated noted in their coverage of the successful pro football rookie class of 1969, featuring the Oiler flanker. LeVias was responsible for almost half of the Oiler' yardage in 1970. The physicality of the pro game wore on LeVias, who famously remarked, "As the season progresses I get lighter, faster and more afraid." Well versed in avoiding the measuring tape as well as bigger defensive players, one scout claimed to have measured LeVias at 5'8" 163. The pro game eventually became unappealing to LeVias, who already prepared for life after football, working for the Conoco oil company and having a partnership in a Houston men's clothing store even while playing. After his career ended, LeVias became a successful businessman, a post football career with roots going back to his successful academic studies at SMU.
He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
in 1995, and to the National College Football Hall of Fame
in 2003.
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
and second African-American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player in the Southwest Conference.
Early years
Born in Beaumont, TexasBeaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
, LeVias played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for Hebert High School. LeVias was listed as 5'9" and 177 pounds, (but actually measured closer to 5'7" and 140 pounds out of high school) but made up for his size with great speed.
College career
He was recruited to the Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in the spring of 1965 by Coach Hayden Fry
Hayden Fry
John Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10...
. LeVias had over a hundred scholarship offers, but none from the traditional historically black college football powers he expected to play for (like Grambling, Alcorn St., Southern, Prairie View etc.) He was deemed too small by those schools to be offered a football scholarship. Coach Fry saw in LeVias the character, academic potential and skill that would be needed to successfully integrate the Southwest Conference. LeVias had to first win over his freshman football teammates, and that became one of his biggest challenges for this civil rights pioneer. His success, on and off the field, led to a highly anticipated varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
debut in 1966, and quickly became one of the most exciting players in the nation on the conference-champion Mustangs. This first campaign on the varsity squad, LeVias led SMU to their first Cotton Bowl appearance since Heisman winner Doak Walker suited up for the Mustangs, almost two decades earlier. LeVias' touchdowns against rivals Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M and TCU saw the Mustangs earn the conference title in often dramatic fashion. Once LeVias demonstrated his ability on and off the field, Darrell Royal, head coach at the conference power Texas, quipped that Levias no longer looked too small. Speaking with LeVias' high school coach, Royal said, "Well, he didn't sound very big then when you described him, but he looks plenty big to me now." Texas had passed over LeVias, not only due to his size, but because Texas would not integrate until after their National Championship in 1969.
LeVias was three times consensus All-SWC
Southwest Athletic Conference
The Southwest Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States from 1914 to 1996. It consisted of schools mostly in the state of Texas and one in Arkansas, with historical members in Oklahoma....
, 1966–68, and All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
as a senior. He twice led the league in receiving and held every career record when his three varsity seasons ended, including the single game mark for reception yardage (when he caught 8 passes for 213 yards against North Carolina State in 1968.) LeVias ended his career with a TD catch in SMU's scintillating victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1968 Bluebonnet Bowl and followed that as the MVP of the Senior Bowl. On top of these achievements on the field, LeVias was an Academic All-American his senior year.
In 2008, HBO produced a documentary, "Breaking the Huddle: The Integration of College Football" which highlighted Coach Hayden Fry and Jerry LeVias' struggles while they integrated the Southwest Conference. This struggle was placed amongst the context of other efforts across the nation to desegregate college football. However it should be noted, the first African American to ever play in a football game in the SWC was John Hill Westbrook from Baylor University.
Professional career
Levias played his first season (19691969 American Football League season
The 1969 American Football League season was the tenth regular season of the American Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger...
with the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, where he was selected to the 1969 AFL All-Star Team
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
, then was with the NFL Oilers (1970
1970 NFL season
The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new...
) and with the NFL San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1971
1971 San Diego Chargers season
The 1971 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 5–6–3 record in 1970. It was Harland Svare first season as the teams head coach.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
-1974
1974 San Diego Chargers season
The 1974 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 2–11–1 record in 1973. It was Tommy Prothro's first season as the teams head coach.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-See also:*1974 NFL season...
).
LeVias was an immediate hit with the Oilers, as Sports Illustrated noted in their coverage of the successful pro football rookie class of 1969, featuring the Oiler flanker. LeVias was responsible for almost half of the Oiler' yardage in 1970. The physicality of the pro game wore on LeVias, who famously remarked, "As the season progresses I get lighter, faster and more afraid." Well versed in avoiding the measuring tape as well as bigger defensive players, one scout claimed to have measured LeVias at 5'8" 163. The pro game eventually became unappealing to LeVias, who already prepared for life after football, working for the Conoco oil company and having a partnership in a Houston men's clothing store even while playing. After his career ended, LeVias became a successful businessman, a post football career with roots going back to his successful academic studies at SMU.
He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Texas Sports Hall of Fame
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made "lasting fame and honor to Texas sports". It was established in 1951 by the Texas Sports Writers Association. Once it made its first induction in 1951, Texas became the first U.S...
in 1995, and to the National College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 2003.