Michigan State’s first African American football player broke plenty of barriers by fighting to get a chance on the team.
Michigan State got their first victory over The University of Michigan in this long historic rivalry series in 1913 by a score of 12-7. The team was coached by John Macklin, and this was when the Spartans were known as the Aggies. The school was not even Michigan State, but it was Michigan Agricultural College. It was not just history being made by it being Michigan State’s first victory in the series, but the team also featured a historic player. Gideon Smith became the first African-American to play Varsity football at Michigan State University and opened the door for other African-American athletes down the road.
When Smith was scheduled to take classes in the fall of 1913 at Michigan Agricultural College, head coach John Macklin originally refused him a jersey to practice. Smith was trying out for the freshman team, but due to the refusal of the jersey, he had to find other crafty ways to try out for the football team. Smith asked a classmate for some football jerseys and was granted a high school jersey to wear. Smith went to practice with the loaned jersey and ended up making a good impression on Macklin. Smith ended up making the varsity team as a tackle and made history by being the first African-American varsity athlete at M.A.C. Smith was not just the first African-American athlete at M.A.C., but he was also one of the first African-American athletes to break into all of collegiate football.
Smith’s play helped lead the Aggies to their first-ever victory over Michigan in what was deemed at the time as one of the biggest upsets in college football history. The best play of his collegiate career arguably came a year later when they took on Akron in 1914. Smith recovered a fumble on the goal line and rumbled and stumbled for 95 yards before being tracked down by an Akron player short of a scoop-and-score. In that same game, he also ripped off a 60-yard run for a touchdown in a dominant 75-6 win. Smith’s impact on Michigan Agricultural College and eventually Michigan State is undeniable.
To break the color barrier back then was a huge accomplishment, and it still is today. Gideon Smith’s legacy at the school will never be forgotten, as the Aggie legend impressed coaches to earn a spot on the varsity team. When Smith was turned down, he did not give up and came back to show himself to the coaches. He asked classmates for help in getting a jersey so he could practice and impress Coach Macklin. His resiliency led to history for Michigan Agricultural College in two ways: by earning their first win over Michigan and being the first African-American to play football for the school.