Taliaferro: Breaking Barriers from the NFL Draft to the Ivory Tower

by Dawn Knight

Book Overview

George Taliaferro was a star player on Indiana University's first greatfootball team of 1945 -- two years before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's racialbarrier. Four years later, he became the first African American drafted by the NFLwhen the Chicago Bears expressed their interest in him. Rather than play for hischildhood dream team, Taliaferro opted to honor the contract he had previouslysigned with the Los Angeles Dons of the All American Football...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0253349311
• ISBN13: 9780253349316
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Length: 179 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Another Knight Has Been Heard From

Most people when they hear the name Knight think of former Indiana coach Bob Knight. Now Dawn Knight (no relation)has written a wonderfully researched and informative book about George Taliaferro. Taliaferro was the catalyst of Indiana University's only undefeated football team in 1945. As an African American in Bloomington, Indiana he faced numerous obstacles and through his own effort and support from President Herman B Wells, coach Bo McMillin, and numerous teammates Taliaferro not only led his team to a Big Ten Championship but opened doors to members of his race that were even more important. Knight chronicles Taliferros' life through professional football and his post football years in academia. Readers interested in Indiana University, football, civil rights, and the American dream will enjoy this book.

All Sickness Ain't Death

"All sickness ain't death", "May our complacency disturb us profoundly today", "Don't be damned, be something important" - Taliaferro's perspective on getting through and facing life's unjust challenges is the true inspiration of this story. Football serves as the catalyst and gives Knight's story an adrenaline rushed perspective into the development of America's new great past-time. I recommend this book to any football fan, as well as anyone seeking a good inspirational story about facing life's obstacles with integrity and even a little humor.