WATCH: Kentucky coach Mark Stoops presents Nate Northington with a game ball
Fifty years ago, Kentucky’s Nate Northington broke the color barrier in the SEC, becoming the first black athlete to take the field in the conference.
On Saturday, he was present for the Wildcats’ 24-20 win over Eastern Michigan and was honored for his accomplishments.
After the game, coach Mark Stoops presented Northington with a game ball — the first game ball he’s handed out this year:
A very deserving Nate Northington recieves the game ball @UKFootball pic.twitter.com/yWxKxnzrVK
— KYwildcatsTV (@KYwildcatsTV) October 1, 2017
As you can see, the moment meant a lot to Stoops, Northington and the Kentucky players, many of whom owe a lot to Northington.
Northington will also be honored at this year’s SEC Championship Game, but it was very cool to see this postgame moment on Saturday.