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Collis Temple Jr. Paved the Way Not Only For His Sons, But For Generations
Memories from the games he played over so many years sometimes cloud his view of the court. Since the PMAC opened in 1971, this building has been a part of his life. He played on this court for four years in the early 1970s. He watched his oldest son, Collis III, finish his career on this court two years ago. Not far away, his youngest son Garrett sits on the LSU bench, wearing the same jersey Collis wore three decades earlier. The freshman sports the number 14, as a reverse tribute of the number 41 his father and brother wore. Garrett remembers the long hours of practice and how his father passed on the knowledge of so many years. He remembers the games his father coached and he played. But most of all, he remembers the sacrifice. Thirty years ago, Collis Temple Jr. became the first black basketball player at LSU, opening the door not just for his son, but for an entire generation. Moving in
When Temple arrived on campus in the fall of 1971, there was only one black athlete at LSU — a freshman on the track team. The first people Temple made an impression on were his teammates. “There were a couple of guys on the team who had less than desirable attitudes, but most of the guys were pretty nice fellows,” Temple said. “The funny thing about athetics is, it has a way of transcending racial issues in a lot of ways. It’s more about respect for one guy or another guy’s ability.” Opposition from the LSU fans also softened once Temple put on the uniform. “If you wear LSU, the people who are for LSU are going to be your supporters,” Temple said. “People who have racial overtones, racial tendencies, and racial attitudes who tend to be negative, they’re typically not going to show those issues in a large setting like an athletic arena.” Beginnings In the late 1960s, playing basketball for LSU seemed like an impossible dream for high schooler Collis Temple Jr. Desegregation still had not found its way to the schools of Kentwood, LA. Up the road in Baton Rouge, no black basketball player had ever worn an LSU uniform. But basketball was not Temple’s main interest. He dreamed more of throwing touchdowns for neighboring Southern University than of setting picks at LSU. But as he grew older, he also grew taller, until he stood at an imposing 6 feet, 8 inches. While in high school, he got the chance to test his skills against some of the country’s best players at a University of Kansas basketball camp. After playing against some of the nation’s elite, basketball looked more and more like Temple’s future. In 1970, Temple’s senior year in high school, schools across the South were desegregated. For the first time, white and black students walked the halls together. It also looked as if they might share the court.
A Kentwood lawyer and longtime Tigers supporter, Billy Quinn, first brought the LSU coaches’ attention to the tall kid from Kentwood. LSU coach Press Maravich, father of the legendary “Pistol” Pete Maravich, began trying to persuade Temple to come to Baton Rouge. Even former Louisiana governor John McKeithen made a recruiting pitch. “John McKeithen talked to my mother and father about coming to LSU and integrating the athletic program, particularly the basketball program,” Temple said. But the people who influenced Temple the most in his decision to break the color barrier at LSU were his parents. “I really didn’t have a lot of reservations [about coming to LSU] because I had such support in terms of parenting,” Temple said. “My mother and father were very insightful people.” Temple admits he was raised with a unique educational background for blacks at the time. “My dad wanted to come to LSU, but obviously he couldn’t come to LSU in the ‘50s,” Temple said. “He ended up going to Michigan State for grad school.” Temple’s mother, Shirley Cross Temple, also had a master’s degree. “I came from an unusual family in terms of how I related to education because my grandfather and grandmother on my mother’s side were both college graduates at the turn of the century.“ Eventually, his family support would lead him to LSU. A New World
Thirty years after Collis Temple broke the color barrier at LSU, his son Garrett sits on the Tigers bench, eyes fixed on the action. His mind is busy trying to break down zone defenses and execute pick and rolls. When asked if he was ever heckled for his race, Garrett twists his face into a thoughtful expression, trying to recall an incident. “No, never,” he said. He remains mindful of what has changed and the role his father played in opening the door for him.
“The world has changed,” Garrett said. “That was 30 years ago. Now we know more about people. We are more open-minded.” For his father, the biggest satisfaction lies in knowing the trials he faced will be foreign to his son. “He doesn’t have to be concerned with any racial tones as a player,” Collis said. “It’s just about playing the game. I’m glad that we’ve gotten to this point. It gives a lot of hope and a lot of quality meaning to issues relating to racial equality and people moving forward.” *Article originally appeared in The Daily Reveille on February 22, 2005*
Related Links Collis
Temple III, profile, LSUSports.net
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Collis
Temple Jr. sits in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC), watching
the LSU basketball team in a Southeastern Conference battle. 
