City of Orlando Apologizes to the University of Buffalo for 1958 Racial Slight

In 1958 the University of Buffalo was selected to play in the Tangerine Bowl against Florida State. Organizers of the bowl in Orlando, Florida, informed the University of Buffalo that due to the racial customs of the South, the university’s two black players would not be permitted to participate in the game. Team members of the University of Buffalo stood behind their black teammates and voted to decline the invitation to play in the bowl game.

This fall the city of Orlando made amends. It invited 34 members of the 1958 University of Buffalo team to Orlando to watch the university’s team play the University of South Florida. The trip was paid for by the city of Orlando. An official apology was offered to the 1958 team during a halftime ceremony.