{"product_id":"just-follow-me-james-owens-and-the-integration-of-southeastern-conference-football-paperback","title":"Just Follow Me: James Owens and the Integration of Southeastern Conference Football - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eThom Jr. Gossom\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eSam Heys\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eGloria Owens\u003c\/b\u003e (Afterword by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1969, James Owens (1951-2016) made sports history as the first Black football player at Auburn University--a significant milestone that marked the beginning of the end of segregation in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Owens, a running back, was an exemplary athlete who battled racism and immense scrutiny during his time at Auburn. Yet his strength, his faith, and his family's support emboldened him to persevere and break the color barrier, which ultimately opened the door for other Black athletes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003ci\u003eJust Follow Me: James Owens and the Integration of Southeastern Conference Football\u003c\/i\u003e chronicles Owens's remarkable life and career--from growing up in Fairfield, Alabama, to his first day on the gridiron as an Auburn Tiger, his work as a coach and pastor, and his later years when he was plagued by heart issues. Through personal interviews with Owens and his former teammates, friends, and coaches, authors Thom Gossom Jr. and Sam Heys reveal the struggles faced by Owens and his contemporaries both on and off the field, all within the broader historical context of the civil rights movement. \u003ci\u003eJust Follow Me\u003c\/i\u003e is an honest, inspiring account of not only a trailblazing football player but also a resilient and influential leader in the sports community.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eThom Gossom Jr., \u003c\/b\u003e a writer and actor, appears in the HBO documentary \u003ci\u003eBreaking the Huddle: The Integration of Southern College Football \u003c\/i\u003eand starred in\u003ci\u003e Fight Club \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Queen \u0026amp; Slim\u003c\/i\u003e. He is the author of the memoir \u003ci\u003eWalk-On: My Reluctant Journey to Integration at Auburn University\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cb\u003eSam Heys\u003c\/b\u003e covered the SEC's integration for the \u003ci\u003eAtlanta Constitution\u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eColumbus Enquirer\u003c\/i\u003e. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eRemember Henry Harris: Lost Icon of a Revolution; A Story of Hope and Self-Sacrifice in America\u003c\/i\u003e, a Kirkus Star-reviewed book, as well as three other works of narrative nonfiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 240\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.8 x 8.2 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 26, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47035597160623,"sku":"9781985902701","price":47.42,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0723\/7314\/1679\/files\/FqcGZCdEc19781985902701.webp?v=1781431307","url":"https:\/\/valuevaultclub.myshopify.com\/products\/just-follow-me-james-owens-and-the-integration-of-southeastern-conference-football-paperback","provider":"Value Vault Club","version":"1.0","type":"link"}