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Nathaniel “Nate” Northington (pictured) and the late Greg Page were the first Black athletes to integrate the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference and the first two Black football players signed by the University of Kentucky. Together, they opened the doors for the signing of other Black players for the team and the SEC overall.

Northington, born in 1947, and Page played high school football in Kentucky. Northington was a running back and defensive back from Louisville while Page was a defensive end from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Although Northington’s quiet demeanor and Page’s outgoing personality could have led to clashes, the pair became close friends and hoped to shatter the SEC’s race barrier together.

But tragedy struck in the Wildcats’ sophomore season when Page was seriously injured and paralyzed after a practice. Page ultimately died from his injuries the day before Northington made his debut for the team. The game took place on Sept. 30, 1967 against Ole Miss in a losing effort. Northington and the rest of team struggled to focus on the game with Page’s death weighing on their minds.

The Wildcats had hoped for Northington and Page to be prime time players. Their signings led to the additions of Black freshmen Wilbur Hackett and Houston Hogg.  Northington was devastated by Page’s death and left the team, but encouraged Hackett and Hogg to stick with it. He transferred to Western Kentucky and was the starting fullback for its 1970 Ohio Valley Conference championship team.

Northington’s advice paid off as Hackett and Hogg finished their careers with the Wildcats and Hackett was named the first football captain in SEC history. For their efforts, former players and UK alumni have worked tirelessly to have the quartet of players recognized for not only integrating the SEC, but essentially making integration the norm in sports in the Deep South.

In 2014, Northington released a biography titled Still Running: The Autobiography of Kentucky’s Nate Northington, which detailed his ordeal while at UK and his life after football. Northington and Page were also the subject of a 2015 documentary, Forward Progress: The Integration of SEC Football.

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