Wake Forest Hall of Famer Bob Grant Joins Deac2Deac Podcast (Part 2)
11/18/2021 12:00:00 PM | Football
Grant was a Wake Forest football standout from 1965-67 before embarking on a four year NFL career.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Soundcloud | YouTube | GoDeacs.com/Watch
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Bob Grant was one of the first African American football players to represent Wake Forest. Grant was one of three African American players to be listed on the team's roster in the 1964 season.
Grant, Butch Henry, and Willie Smith shared the distinction of being the first three African American football players at Wake Forest. The Wake Forest team was the first team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, other than Maryland, to have a multi-racial roster.
Grant had received more than 40 scholarship offers to attend numerous institutions around the country. Originally, Grant had committed to Michigan State. However, after a lengthy conversation with his high school football coach, in which he explained to Grant that Wake Forest head coach Bill Tate and Wake Forest president Dr. Harold Tribble devised a plan to integrate the football team Grant decided he wanted to be a part of their plan to change the landscape of college athletics.
Grant enrolled at Wake Forest in 1964 and lettered on the football team from 1965-67. Grant was named first team All-ACC defensive lineman in 1966.
During his time at Wake Forest, Grant became close with then-President Tribble. The two would go on weekly walks through the historic Reynolda Gardens. Tribble wanted to ensure that Grant was being welcomed to campus and integrating well with the other students. Grant's courageous choice to become one of the first African American football players in the south, blazed a trail for many to follow.
Following Grant's outstanding football career at Wake Forest, he chose to enter the 1968 NFL Draft. Grant was selected 50th overall to the Baltimore Colts. Grants would go on to play in two Super Bowls. He was a key figure during Super Bowl III, one of the most iconic games ever played in the NFL. However, the Colts were beaten by the New York Jets. Grant would get his hands on a super bowl ring two years later when the Colts beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.
Grant was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Today, Grant serves as the Chairman of the Retired NFL Players Congress. The Retired NFL Players Congress was established in 2013 and serves to assist retired players, families, widows, and other various community causes.
Listeners are encouraged to send feedback and ideas to smithka@wfu.edu or @Deac2Deac on Twitter.
The Deac2Deac podcast is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube and GoDeacs.com/Watch.
