Roscoe Nance, first Black Clarion Ledger sportswriter, announced as Black College Football Hall of Fame inductee
Roscoe Nance always had an ability to make stories connect with his readers. Nance, the Clarion Ledger’s first Black sportswriter, connected with fans of the Southwestern Athletic Conference football in Mississippi from 1978-1985.
The SWAC Hall of Famer was later known as the dean of Black college sportswriters. He moved to USA Today in 1986 and covered the NBA for 15 seasons but continued to write about Black college athletics until his death in January 2020.
Nance’s importance to SWAC football continued on Tuesday after the Black College Football Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2022 inductees.
Willye Nance, Roscoe’s wife, knows he would’ve been surprised to see his latest accolades.
“He didn't do it looking for fame or recognition,’ Willye said. “He just did it because he thought that was the thing to do. I am very proud that he is going to be honored.
“His legacy, from my viewpoint, is that Roscoe loves people. He loves to support them and put them higher. Now, he’s getting back some of all that love and appreciation that he had from people. He would not even believe that this is happening.”
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Roscoe was joined by Ben Coates (tight end, Livingston College), Donald Driver (wide receiver, Alcorn State University), John Moody (running back, Morris Brown College), Nate Newton (offensive lineman, Florida A&M), William Nicks (Coach, Morris Brown College and Prairie View A&M University) and Sammy White (wide receiver, Grambling State).
The retired USA Today reporter was the only inductee that didn’t coach or play at an HBCU. That distinction showcases Roscoe’s enduring legacy, according to his daughter Rahkia Nance.
“We were all beyond excited and proud of him,” Rahkia said. “I think it’s also quite interesting that you have a Black College Football Hall of Fame and daddy is not an athlete. He’s a sportswriter. I think that just goes to show how much of an impact he made on Black college sports and also sports writing.”
Rahkia didn’t know her father was building a larger audience for SWAC football or building a legacy as a child. Roscoe was just doing what he loved, according to Rahkia. However, that quickly changed.
“Growing up I was aware that my father was a sportswriter, but to me he was just going to work. I didn't realize that he was making history and really building this legacy with each byline that he printed.”
The news of Roscoe’s selection for the Black College Football Hall of Fame brought Willye back to the night before his induction into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2015. The two discussed his path to the honor.
“You did not graduate or go to a SWAC school,” Willye told her husband. “But here you are. It’s the same way with this. Here he is, again, in an interesting and unexpected place.”
The Class of 2022 Black College Football Hall of Fame induction will be on June 18 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Roscoe Nance selected as Black College Football HOF inductee
