Thank you Don E. Albrecht and Rick Bass and the Texas Book Festival for this presentation.

Albrecht is working on a new book with his son. He is gathering interviews from people who played football back in the 60s and talks about the racism back then.

"My only hope is that we change paths and do things that we haven't been doing," Albrecht said. He hopes that we do something that gives all kids a chance in highschool football.

Albrecht talks about the history of Brown vs Board and how a lot of Texas schools resisted. With time, football brought the schools and community together.

"When you watch it on television or on the field, it is beautiful," said Bass. He talks about how football is one of the most pure things humanity has made.

Bass talks about the segregation in football and in the NFL. He mentions how 90% of the owners are white while 70% of players are black.

"To me, if you look at football, it is a mirror to the rest of society," Albrecht said.

Albrecht started his book in the 1990's. It sat in his drawer for 30 years before returning to it.

Bass is discussing his time playing semi-pro football playing with fresh out of college students

Rick Bass is a Texas native but has lived in Montana since 1987. He has won several awards including the Pushcart Prizes and O. Henry Awards. He is the author of “Wrecking Ball: Race, Friendship, God, Football”.

Don E. Albrecht, author of “Blinded by the lights: Texas Highschool Football And The Myth Of Integration" is a former faculty member and football recruiter at Texas A&M university. He is now an executive director of the Western Rural Development Center at Utah State University.

Today I will be attending the Texas Book Festival and will be reporting on the session with Don E. Albrecht and Rick Bass at noon at the Texas Tent.
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