"Leveling the Playing Field: The Story of the Syracuse 8" Book Signing Scheduled at Barnes & Noble Vestal, NY - Sunday, April 17th

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American Football Association

Apr 03, 2016, 03:00 ET


Binghamton, New York (PRWEB) April 03, 2016 -- A Book Signing and Discussion with author David Marc and Clarence ‘Bucky’ McGill, one of the Syracuse 8 has been scheduled for Sunday, April 17th, 2pm to 5pm at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Vestal, NY.

Program:

  • Welcome & Introduction of David Marc (author) and Clarence “Bucky” McGill (Syracuse 8 contributor) – David Burch, President American Football Association
  • Presentations – David Marc and Bucky McGill
  • Q&A/discussion
  • Meet & Greet

Syracuse 8 is a long-overdue story about members of the 1969-70 Syracuse University football team who boycotted the spring 1970 practice to protest racial inequality on the team. The players petitioned the coaching staff with four demands: access to the same academic tutoring made available to their white teammates; better medical care for all team members; starting assignments based on merit rather than race; and an effort to integrate the coaching staff, which had been all-white since 1898.

Successful book signings were held previously in July at Busboys and Poets, Washington, DC, September at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York, and on the campus of Syracuse University. Clarence McGill, accompanied by author David Marc, also appeared on News One Now with Roland Martin in September.

An AFA Alumni, Clarence “Bucky” McGill was recently interviewed on WNBF 1290AM Binghamton, NY recently regarding his experiences as one of the “Syracuse 8” and the book titled "Leveling the Playing Field: The Story of the Syracuse 8". During this interview, Clarence also talks about his experiences as an athlete growing up in Binghamton, playing for Syracuse University, and later playing semipro/minor league football with the Triple Cities Jets. To listen to this broadcast archive, click here…

Media links:

About Leveling the Playing Field
Leveling the Playing Field, written by former Syracuse University Magazine writer David Marc, chronicles this contentious moment in Syracuse University’s history, telling the story through the eyes of the players who demanded change for themselves and for those who would follow.

Mistakenly called the Syracuse 8 by the media in 1970, the players actually numbered nine and included Greg Allen ’72, Richard Bulls ’73, John Godbolt ’73, Dana Harrell ’71, G’73, John Lobon ’73, Clarence “Bucky” McGill ’72, A. Alif Muhammad ’71, Duane Walker ’80, and Ron Womack ’71. After graduation, several of these players led by Clarence “Bucky” McGill of Binghamton, NY went on to play minor league football for the Triple Cities Jets of Binghamton, NY in the Empire Football League.

Note: Mr. McGill, a graduate of Binghamton North HS, will also be in the Triple Cities for the 2nd Annual Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame Dinner which will be held on April 18th. It should also be noted that David Marc is a graduate of Binghamton University. For more information about the dinner and the ceremony contact http://ajqsports.net/ or call 607-242-2330

Dave Burch, American Football Association, http://www.AmericanFootballAssn.com, +1 607-743-6013, [email protected]