A true legend passed away today. He was part of the beginning of the program, and a unifying force. WE ARE!
He certainly was all of that and more! He will be missed by the PS family.
He played in 1945. It was not until after USC pummeled Bear and Alabama in 1970 that Alabama integrated in 1971.
WE ARE!
I love his story. A great part of Penn State history.
From an ESPN article today:
While at Penn State, he was part of the team that helped bring the "WE ARE!" chant to the university as part of how they overcame racial discrimination. He was one of two black players to play for Penn State in the Cotton Bowl against SMU in 1948.
In a 2009 story in the Centre Daily Times, Triplett recalled SMU wanting to meet with Penn State about not playing Triplett and African-American teammate Dennie Hoggard. One of their teammates, guard Steve Suhey, said they wouldn't even take the meeting.
"We are Penn State," Triplett remembered Suhey saying, according to the Centre Daily Times. "There will be no meetings."
Great story.
