Gridders Overcome Racial Act

Despite a racially-tinged incident last winter involving two Harvard football players, Black players and a Black assistant coach said there is no racial tension on the team. And Harvard's only Black head coach agreed with the Administrative Board's decision to require the withdrawal of one player and to put the other on disciplinary probation.

Last January, Jack C. Patterson '88--a starting safety on the team--made a racist phone call to a Black attendant at the Currier House bells desk. The student had already been the victim of an earlier physical attack: four students had shattered a Currier window with an orange.

Patterson called the student at the desk, saying, "Negro hit squad strikes again." Greg Williams '88, a defensive lineman, followed up Patterson's call with a non-racial but intimidating call of his own. The Ad Board found that the four people who shattered the window were unaware of the phone calls.

For his action, Williams was put on disciplinary probation, which meant he could not play football. He missed a home game against Bucknell, but appealed his sentence and was re-instated onto the team. Before Williams' appeal, his teammates drew up a petition supporting him.

"It's pretty much understood among the players that Greg's role in the situation was limited," said offensive lineman Maurice Frilot '88, who is one five Black players on the varsity football team. "As far as Patterson, his comment was more outright and a lot more explicit."

"When you're around a bunch of kids and you're fooling around, you're liable to say anything," said Black Harvard assistant coach Mack Singleton. "Whatever's in their heads, I don't think they're going to say it to me."

Harvard basketball coach Peter Roby, one of only three Black head coaches in the Ivy League, said he agrees with the Administrative Board's decision to require Patterson to withdraw for a year and to grant Williams the right to play even though he is on disciplinary probation.

Roby noted that five of the six people involved in the incident were required to withdraw for a year.

"I think it was pretty obvious that the Ad Board was concerned with the issue and acted strongly to make sure that they sent a message that it [racism] was not going to be tolerated," Roby said.

Kent Lucas '88, a tight end who is Black, is close to both Patterson and Williams. "I know for myself what they are really like," he said. He sees no ill effects on the team because of the event. In fact, he says, the team has grown closer because of it.

Neil Phillips '89, a wide receiver who is Black, says the team is getting over the incident. The squad is glad to have Williams back and is looking forward to continuing its race for the Ivy League title, he said.

"We're kind of getting over the whole situation," Phillips said.