Coolidge Ball: breaking Ole Miss athletics’ color barrier

mates realized how he could help the team in a positive way.

History was made at the University of Mississippi in 1970 when Coolidge Ball signed a scholarship to play basketball for the Rebels, making him the first African American student-athlete at the university.

Ball, a native of Indianola, Miss., just two hours south of Oxford, had chosen to attend New Mexico State and signed the school’s scholarship papers. But Ball didn’t sign a national letter of intent because he kept Ole Miss in mind.

In August 1970, Ball decided not to go to New Mexico State and instead signed a national letter of intent to play for the Rebels.

Initially, it was an uncomfortable atmosphere for Ball and his teammates, given that this was the first time the school had had an African American student-athlete. But over time, and as they got to know each other, Ball’s team-

“I’m just trying to feel them out; they’re just trying to feel me out,” Ball said in a 2006 interview with Ole Miss about the first time he practiced with his college teammates. “A lot of them probably never had played with Black (people) before.”

In the same interview, Ball went on to say, “As we talk and as we practice, they (his teammates) said, ‘Wow, this is a tremendous player.’ And that just gave them a lot of respect for me.”

During his three seasons (1971-74) playing for the Ole Miss varsity team as a forward, Ball scored 1,072 points and had 752 rebounds. Ball was named All-SEC second team during the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons.

Although he averaged 14.1 points, Ball was better known for his rebounding skills. He averaged 9.9 rebounds per game during his collegiate career, which is the best in school history.

In 1991, Ball was inducted into the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was a part of the SEC Basketball Legends class, and three years later he was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

On May 15, 2021, the university created a statue of Ball, honoring his legacy and the impact he made on the Rebels.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” Ball said during the ceremony. “I’m excited about having a statue. I never dreamed of having one, and I thank the university for it.”

Ole Miss women’s basketball head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin talked about the inspiration Ball created for her.

“He’s inspired even me,” McPhee-McCuin said in an interview with Ole Miss during Ball’s statue dedication. “And the type of legacy that I want to leave for my children and the people that come behind me.”

Ball paved the way for many young African American student-athletes not just in Mis- sissippi, but also across the country as he broke the color barrier and achieved something that had never been seen

Carter awarded her with a contract extension that goes through 2026. Ole Miss has found its coach of the future; a trailblazing winner will be at the helm of the Ole Miss women’s basketball program for a long time.

OPINION his hair in plaits walked into my room, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. This is a guy who likes the same music as me, comes from a similar background and ultimately understands Black issues. Someone I can be comfortable around and vice versa.

A time when what are trifles today meant all the world to me then. A time when a 500-word essay rubric looked daunting and gave me cold sweats. Dozens of teachers ranging in likeability, but all taught me lessons on life. Many friends made and fewer friendships survived. Years building my character.

I flipped that tassel and took a moment to celebrate my accomplishment. It was time to go to the school up north.

Early in my time on cam

The chances I would land this roommate at a school like Ole Miss? The chances I’d live with a brother? It felt like I hit the roommate lottery. He also was just a respectful roommate all around, shout out to you. I knew we would be on the same page for the most part.

Hard stop: A school like Ole Miss? That was my first mistake; singling and unfairly categorizing the university. It was honest, though. Much of what I had learned about the school was negative history. I mean, the first mention of the class in the curriculum was during my ninth-grade Missis- blah. It’s something that you wouldn’t know until you’ve seen it for yourself. Words do not do it nearly enough justice. It’s the last time in life that you’re almost exclusively surrounded by people your age. Even that part hasn’t processed for me yet. I’ll write a response to this in 10 years.

What I really did not anticipate was the Black life on campus. It sounds so divisive putting it that way. That’s the reality, though. We don’t sequester ourselves and try to be difficult or anti-social. It’s just, we are attracted to one another. We know each other. We nurture a community together. We share these experiences together.

Being Black on campus has certainly affected and influenced my time at Ole Miss in a positive way. Obviously, there are bumps in the road because the job’s not finished. I know that all too well, serving as the

JUSTICE ROSE thedmopinion@gmail.com Where you can watch our livestream: NewsWatch Ole Miss newswatcholemiss.com LIVE AT 5:00PM

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NOVICE from most of what you learn in “typical” history class, as those individuals are long gone. Here in Oxford, you are liable to see Don Cole in Kroger on a random afternoon. These are people who have dedicated their life’s work towards improving the world for future generations.

All of these stories are within arms reach for most students here on campus. Take advantage of the Black history around you, but not only in February. Take a look back and see how far we’ve come. Celebrate the stories, whether they be positive or negative. Celebrate the students, the staff and everything else that calls for praise. Happy Black History Month!

Justice Rose is the opinion editor from Madison, Mississippi. He is a sophomore journalism major.

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