Johnny Bright wanted to be remembered for more than just one game

Drake University football standout Johnny Bright was recognized this week as the school unveiled a statue honoring his legacy—one shaped not only by the field, but by education and perseverance. Bright, a star at Drake, was the victim of a racially motivated on-field assault in 1951 that broke his jaw during a Drake game against Oklahoma A&M at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The incident likely affected his chances at the Heisman and his path to the NFL, but he later built a Hall of Fame career in Canada as a beloved teacher and principal in Edmonton. Drake marked the 75th anniversary of the Oct. 20, 1951 game. His daughter, Deannie Bright-Johnson, helped recount how she first learned the story through a photo book.