Claflin sports legacy: identity, pride, perseverance

Claflin University’s sports heritage is more than a highlight reel. It is an identity, grit and the Black experience in the South.

The athletic story at Claflin was recently recanted by alumnus Dr. Robert Greene II. He shared with students how sports such as women's basketball and even football have deeply influenced Claflin's legacy.

Greene set the stage by defining Claflin's women's basketball team as one of the most dominating squads during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The team was led by star athlete Miriam Walker-Samuel, who held the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) scoring record for a number of years.

"You can't talk about Claflin without mentioning women's basketball," Greene said, alluding to the banners that hang from the rafters of Claflin's gym. "Those banners aren't just accomplishments; they're historical markers.”

While the women's basketball team brought home honors, Claflin's football program met a different end.

According to Greene, football folded in the 1950s under financial strain. Although the program is no longer a part of the school, “Football is part of the university's culture.”

Greene talked about games against South Carolina State on Thanksgiving Day, a tradition that built camaraderie. “It was more than a game; it was an event that brought everybody together.”

Greene noted that one of the shining stars in Claflin's football history was Brice Taylor, the first Black football star at the University of Southern California. He was brought to Claflin by the institution's then-president, Joseph Randolph.

"Taylor's presence brought credibility and visibility to Claflin football," said Greene, who explained how this framed the team's identity and respectability during a time of racial divides.

He expounded on the importance of Claflin's athletic contribution to the school’s overall history.

“HBCUs have different stories to tell,” he said, “and sports have played their part in those stories.”

"The history of sports is important to HBCUs like Claflin because therein lies some resilience and pride against all odds.”

Greene said that throughout its history, Claflin has been a member of many conferences, from the Southeastern Athletic Conference to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

During the session, he shared a photograph of W.E.B. Du Bois featuring Claflin's main building and its faculty. The image is “a powerful symbol of Southern Black life in the post-Civil War era”.

"This isn't just about athletics; it's about a community and its enduring spirit," Greene said.