he Players Meet
During the first team meeting, black players thought they would not have an integrated team. However, when Yoast walked in with white players, there was a wave of contention as the young men locked eyes for the first time (Sullivan, 2005). Who would make the team? Would the new coach be fair? There were so many unanswered questions. Players on both sides hoped for equal status, but would that dream become a reality? Blacks and whites sat in different areas during the meeting. Boone confessed, “Ideas were rolling around in my head like a rollercoaster. As head coach, I was not going to allow this mentality to creep on my team” With Boone coaching offense and Yoast handling defense, both men had a lot of decisions to make. One of the major concerns was creating a united front. Julius Campbell, a defensive end, was a driving force among black players. Jerry “The Rev.” Harris and Petey Jones were also standouts. Two-time All-American linebacker Gerry Bertier, an Alexandria legend, was the focal white player who, eventually, became team captain. Ronnie “Sunshine” Bass and Lewis Lastik also had prominent roles in the film.