Feb. 13, 2007
CSTV will debut a new documentary, "UNINVITED: THE 1951 USF FOOTBALL TEAM," as part of its Black History Month programming, which is presented by the United States Navy. The documentary, which debuts Wednesday, February 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET, chronicles the 1951 University of San Francisco football team, best remembered for a game they never played. The documentary is narrated by University of California wide receiver Cameron Toler, the grandson of Burl Toler, one of the team's two African American players.
UNINVITED tells the story of the 1951 Dons who were denied a chance to play in a bowl game by the circumstances of their times. The Dons finished 9-0 in 1951 and likely would have been offered a bid to the Orange Bowl on the condition that they leave their two black players at home. The team refused and was passed over despite their sterling record and unquestioned star power. Just weeks later the football program was dropped by the university because of financial strain.
The 1951 team featured Hall of Fame players Ollie Matson, Gino Marchetti and Bob St. Clair on the field, and former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle as its public relations director. The show will re-air Friday, February 16 at 10:30 p.m. ET.