Darryl Hill (American football)

For other people of the same name, see Darryl Hill (disambiguation).

Darryl Andre Hill (born October 21, 1943 in Washington, D.C.) is a former American college football player and is considered the "Jackie Robinson of Southern college football".

Hill would become a pioneer in that he would break the color barrier at many of the schools he attended, beginning in high school when he enrolled at Gonzaga College High School. After attending a year at Xavier University, Hill transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he would become their first African-American football player, and would catch passes from a future pro football great, quarterback Roger Staubach.

It was a game against University of Maryland where he caught the eye of Maryland assistant coach Lee Corso. Corso had been encouraged by Maryland head coach Tom Nugent to try to find a black athlete to play for his team. Hill was at first hesitant to transfer when he was approached by Corso, saying "I'm no Jackie Robinson. I just want to play football." He knew he would become the first African-American football player not only at the school but in the Atlantic Coast Conference as well, which is made up of primarily Southern schools. Yet Corso was able to encourage him to transfer, and in 1962, Hill transferred to the University of Maryland. After sitting out one year, he played his historic first game in 1963 at home against North Carolina State. Hill emerged as a top wide receiver for the team, and, while not having to endure too much racism on the field, had to deal with the taunts and threats of many fans on the road, including a death threat before a game at the University of South Carolina.^[1] Yet with the support of his teammates, he was able to play out the season and finished with 43 catches, five short of the school record.

After a short stint in pro football with the New York Jets, Hill earned a master's degree in economics at Southern Illinois University and became an entrepreneur. He started businesses in Russia and China, and also started the Pacific Energy Corporation in California. In 2000 he returned to the University of Maryland as a fundraiser at the request of current University of Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen where he continues to work today.

References

1. ^ Lapchick, Richard (February 15, 2007). "Hill opened door to ACC". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blackhistory2007/columns/story?columnist=lapchick_richard&id=2762772. Retrieved April 6, 2009. 

External links

Biography portal

• Barriers made to be broken
• Black Man on a White Field
• Biography at The HistoryMakers.com

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Name	Hill, Darryl
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Date of birth	October 21, 1943
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