CR Roberts, the American football icon who led USC to victory over the Longhorns in divided Texas, has died at the age of 87
- USC announced that Roberts died of “natural causes” in suburban Norwalk, California
- The fullback played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1959 to 1962
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CR Roberts, whose record-breaking performance helped Southern California beat Texas in an away game in the segregated state in 1956, has died at the age of 87.
Roberts died of natural causes in a Norwalk suburb on Tuesday, the university said on Wednesday.
Roberts, a full-back, set a one-game rushing record for 251 yards on 12 carries in the Trojans’ 44-20 win in Austin, a mark that lasted 20 years. USC Roberts’ coaching staff withdrew early for fear of unrest from the separated crowd.
Upon arrival, the Trojans tried three different hotels before finding one that would accommodate their black players. USC officials had allowed Roberts to travel despite Texas segregation laws.
“I was upset that they didn’t want me down there,” Roberts said in a USC online article for Black History Month 2015. “Damn right, I had something to prove to them.”
CR Roberts (42) helped USC beat Texas in an away game in 1956 in the segregated state
In the Trojans’ 44-20 win, he set a rushing record for 251 yards on 12 carries in a game
The hotel’s housekeepers were black and tried to convince Roberts and his other black teammates to leave. He assured them that he could be there as part of the team.
Roberts recalled that blacks living in the area would come in through the back of the hotel and don staff uniforms to greet the black players who were staying at a whites-only hotel.
“Perhaps every black man in town must have stopped by to see us that night,” Roberts said in the article. “They were just so proud to see us at this hotel.”
Roberts was hailed as a hero upon his return to campus. The alumni flew back on the team plane and an exhausted Roberts couldn’t sleep while being besieged by boosters who congratulated him.
It was quite a change from when Roberts first arrived on campus and was met with backlash from the predominantly white student body. However, he was welcomed by his teammates on the football field.
Robert spent three NFL seasons with the 49ers (1959–62) and was selected 14th overall in 1958
Cornelius R. Roberts was born on February 29, 1936, grew up in Mississippi and moved to California in elementary school. He graduated from Oceanside High north of San Diego after being named the 1953 state football player of the year as a senior and scoring 65 touchdowns.
After graduating from USC with a business degree, Roberts was drafted in the 14th round of the 1958 NFL draft by the New York Giants.
However, he chose to sign with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In ten games, he rushed for 595 yards and five touchdowns, including TD rushes of 67 and 85 yards.
Roberts then fell victim to the 12-man quota that limited the number of US players in the Argos’ roster and was released. He tried out for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1959 but didn’t make the team.
He played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1959 to 1962.
He is survived by daughters Cathy Creasia and Chandra Roberts; son Craig; and four grandchildren.