Darryl Hill (football player)
Encyclopedia
Darryl Andre Hill is a former American
college
football
player and is considered the "Jackie Robinson
of Southern college football".
Hill would become a pioneer in that he would break the color barrier at many of the schools he attended, beginning in high school
when he enrolled at Gonzaga College High School
. After attending a year at Xavier University
, Hill transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he would become their first African-American football
player, and would catch passes from a future pro football great, quarterback
Roger Staubach
.
It was a game against University of Maryland
where he caught the eye of Maryland assistant coach Lee Corso
. Corso had been encouraged by Maryland head coach Tom Nugent
to try to find a black athlete to play for his team. Hill was at first hesitant to transfer when he was approached by Corso, saying "I'm no Jackie Robinson. I just want to play football." He knew he would become the first African-American football player not only at the school but in the Atlantic Coast Conference
as well, which is made up of primarily Southern schools. Yet Corso was able to encourage him to transfer, and in 1962, Hill transferred to the University of Maryland. After sitting out one year, he played his historic first game in 1963 at home against North Carolina State. Hill emerged as a top wide receiver for the team, and, while not having to endure too much racism on the field, had to deal with the taunts and threats of many fans on the road, including a death threat before a game at the University of South Carolina
. Yet with the support of his teammates, he was able to play out the season and finished with 43 catches, five short of the school record.
After a short stint in pro football with the New York Jets
, Hill earned a master's degree
in economics at Southern Illinois University
and became an entrepreneur
. He started businesses in Russia and China, and also started the Pacific Energy Corporation in California. In 2000 he returned to the University of Maryland as a fundraiser at the request of current University of Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen
where he continues to work today.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and is considered the "Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
of Southern college football".
Hill would become a pioneer in that he would break the color barrier at many of the schools he attended, beginning in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
when he enrolled at Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School
Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit high school for boys located in Washington, D.C. The school is named in honor of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian saint from the 16th century...
. After attending a year at Xavier University
Xavier University of Louisiana
Xavier University of Louisiana , located in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college with the distinction of being the only historically black Roman Catholic institution of higher education...
, Hill transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he would become their first African-American football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player, and would catch passes from a future pro football great, quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
.
It was a game against University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
where he caught the eye of Maryland assistant coach Lee Corso
Lee Corso
Leland "Lee" Corso is a sports broadcaster and football analyst for ESPN. He has been featured on ESPN's College GameDay program since its inception and he appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports' NCAA Football through NCAA Football 11...
. Corso had been encouraged by Maryland head coach Tom Nugent
Tom Nugent
Thomas N. "Tom" Nugent was an American college football coach and innovator, sportscaster, public relations man. He served as the head football coach at the Virginia Military Institute, Florida State University, and the University of Maryland. His career record was 89–80–3...
to try to find a black athlete to play for his team. Hill was at first hesitant to transfer when he was approached by Corso, saying "I'm no Jackie Robinson. I just want to play football." He knew he would become the first African-American football player not only at the school but in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
as well, which is made up of primarily Southern schools. Yet Corso was able to encourage him to transfer, and in 1962, Hill transferred to the University of Maryland. After sitting out one year, he played his historic first game in 1963 at home against North Carolina State. Hill emerged as a top wide receiver for the team, and, while not having to endure too much racism on the field, had to deal with the taunts and threats of many fans on the road, including a death threat before a game at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. Yet with the support of his teammates, he was able to play out the season and finished with 43 catches, five short of the school record.
After a short stint in pro football with the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Hill earned a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in economics at Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
and became an entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. He started businesses in Russia and China, and also started the Pacific Energy Corporation in California. In 2000 he returned to the University of Maryland as a fundraiser at the request of current University of Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
where he continues to work today.