Rotary Welcomes Alabama Football Legends Mitch Mitchell & Wilbur Jackson
President Bruce Rogers and Rotarian Cal Dodson with Mitch Mitchell, Wilbur Jackson and Skip Skipper
This week, Rotarian Cal Dodson, a physician with Red Mountain Wellness & Internal Medicine, facilitated a conversation with Alabama football legends John “Mitch” Mitchell and Wilbur Jackson—two men who forever changed the landscape of college athletics in the south. As the first African American scholarship athletes at the University of Alabama, Mitchell and Jackson shared deeply personal accounts of breaking the color barrier during a time of social upheaval. Jackson, a trailblazer from Ozark, Alabama, was recruited directly by Coach Bear Bryant. Mitchell, a standout from Mobile, attended junior college before being offered a spot on the team. Their paths converged in Tuscaloosa, where they not only earned their teammates’ respect, but also laid the foundation for future generations of athletes of color. The athletes touched on moments of adversity and triumph—from grueling practices and cultural tensions to the quiet leadership of Coach Bryant and the unbreakable bonds forged among teammates.
Birmingham City Schools students attending as guests of the club received complimentary copies of Steve R. Skipper's book 9780 Paul Bryant Drive: The Integration of the Football Team at the University of Alabama, generously donated by publishers Rick Davis and Dale Wallace. Several of Mitch and Wilbur’s former teammates and friends were also in attendance.
Panelist Bios
Mobile, AL Native John Mitchell (who prefers “Mitch”) grew up in a very close-knit family with his loving devoted parents, two older sisters, a younger brother and younger sister…in his early teens years his parents also reared an older cousin of his who became an inspiration for Mitch’s football aspirations. In his family of origin it was clear the strictly followed order was FAITH -FAMILY-EDUCATION-then football or any other extra-curricular!
Mitch followed this order to the letter thru all his schooling including Eastern Arizona Jr College and all the way thru UA where he participated in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society (he maintained 4.0 in his Econ/Criminal Justice Double Major)…
When one googles John Mitchell, Jr his bio is rich with “being the first” and ”breaking racial barriers” but in his unassuming humble manor his take is “I was just a black kid from Mobile, AL who was in the right place at the right time”…he also feels strongly that to be first as such means others probably many others were denied similar opportunities… Nonetheless his list of FIRST include:
Member Five-Member All Black Science Team that finished 3rd in the Nation late 60s First African-American to play for the storied Crimson Tide First African American Co-Captain at UA First…Assistant Coach (and youngest hired at age 20) First…Defensive Coordinator in Southeastern Conference while at LSU (1990)
Mitch shares insights that he boost NOT about the numbers of First or breaking barriers BUT about the camaraderie life-long friendship with teammates -about his Coaches and his recruits and his players…
During his 50-Year Coaching Career their are numerous highlights and awards:
As Player
All American Junior College
Kodak All-American - First Team (1972)
All SEC - First Team (1972)
Mobile Sports Hall of Fame
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (2009)
As Coach
NCCA Football National Champion (1973/AL) 2x Super Bowl Champion (2005/2008) Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame
His Coaching Career started at University of AL and then to Arkansas United States Football League “THE Birmingham Stallions”(1983-1986) Temple Louisiana State University
NFL
Cleveland Browns (1991-1993) Defensive Line Pittsburgh Steelers (1994-2022) Defensive Line / 2007 promoted to Asst Head Coach) RETIRED March 2023 after 29 Seasons at Steelers
Mitch has other passions…his wife Joyce frames it this way “ Coaching is what he did but NOT who he is”… John Mitchell is devout in his faith BELIEVES in GIVING BACK…he’s always participated on Boards with goal of serving and supporting others such as historically disenfranchised chil (e.g. inner city children and their families)medically fragile children, third world children, AIDS Task Force, currently Haitian Families, and others - His support has always included financial support!
Mitch is an avid reader especially biographies and auto-biographies (favorite Winston Churchill/whose work he collects)…mystery writers, Atty Lisa Scottoline amongst favorite)
Last but not least Mitch and his wife Joyce are enthusiastic collectors of African American Art, and European Art including paintings and sculptures. They both are avid supporters of our Birmingham Museum of Art! He considers himself an evolving student of art history and the artist whose work he collects Additionally Mitch is a collector of fine wines and is a Jazz Buff…Miles Davis favorite!
Since his retirement Mitch and Joyce are no longer transient but full-time residents of Birmingham…
Wilbur Jackson was the first black player recruited and signed to play football at Alabama by legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant in 1970. During his three years of eligibility 1971-73, he averaged 7.2 yds per carry as a consensus All-American and All-SEC halfback, an Alabama career record that still stands. Jackson won the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club Outstanding Back Award in 1974. He was drafted by San Francisco as the 9th player overall. Jackson was named the NFC Rookie of the Year with 895 yards and was later traded to the Washington Redskins and completed his career with 5,424 total yards and a 1982 Super Bowl Championship. He is a 2007 member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.