{2025 New Release} Just Follow Me : James Owens and the Integration of Southeastern Conference Football by: Thom Gossom Jr., Sam Heys , Gloria Owens, Gerald L. Smith, Derrick E. White In 1969, James Owens (1951–2016) made sports history as the first Black football player at Auburn University—a significant milestone that marked the beginning of the end of segregation in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Owens, a running back, was an exemplary athlete who battled racism and immense scrutiny during his time at Auburn. Yet his strength, his faith, and his family's support emboldened him to persevere and break the color barrier, which ultimately opened the door for other Black athletes.

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