Ep 42: Sam "The Bam" Cunningham on Making College Football History and His Life Afterward

Clear Choices Podcast

It is an honor and privilege to bring you this episode with the college and professional football player who helped change the game of football forever. Joining me today is Sam “The Bam” Cunningham who played for the University of Southern California. On Sept. 12, 1970, his USC football team made history by becoming the first integrated team to play and defeat the segregated University of Alabama team at Denny Stadium. This changed football in America forever. We talk through his experience as well as the social justice issues still facing us today. Sam went on to play another year at USC and was drafted 11th overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He became the team’s all-time leading rusher with over 5,400 yards and finished his career with 43 rushing touchdowns.

Listen in to hear historical details first hand as well as some fun stories from his professional and personal life.

Notable Quotes:

“We look at football now and we see what it looks like, and a lot of what it looks like is a direct result of that game in 1970.”

“I truly believe that individually you try to make strides, in whatever neighborhood or community you are in, you try to break it down a little piece at a time.”

“With anything you do in life, not just athletic sports, there’s lessons to be learned and hopefully you’re better at it 5- 10 years down the line then you were when you started.”

In this episode, you will hear:

- The significance of the game Sam played in versus Alabama in 1970

- Sam’s perspective on civil rights and our current climate

- How athletics and competition help prepare people for life

- What he has done after his football career

To see more from Sam, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dFW5MmJrNs

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