CR Roberts, who helped lead USC to beat segregated Texas in 1956 passes away at age 87

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C.R. Roberts, whose record-setting performance helped Southern California beat Texas in a 1956 road game played in the segregated state, has died. He was 87.

Roberts died of natural causes on Tuesday at a care facility in suburban Norwalk, the university said Wednesday after being informed by his daughter Dr. Cathy Creasia.

Roberts, a fullback, set a single-game rushing record with 251 yards on 12 carries in the Trojans' 44-20 victory in Austin, a mark that stood for 20 years. Fearing rioting by the segregated crowd, USC's coaching staff pulled Roberts early.

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College Football: USC C.R. Roberts (42) on sidelines during game vs Texas at Memorial Stadium. Austin, TX 9/22/1956 (Russell Lee /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Upon arrival, the Trojans tried three different hotels before finding one that would allow its Black players to stay. USC officials had permitted Roberts to travel despite Texas' segregation laws.

"I was upset that they didn’t want me down there," Roberts said in a 2015 USC online article for Black History Month. "Damn right, I had something to prove to them."

The hotel housekeepers were Black and they tried to convince Roberts and his other Black teammate to leave. He assured them he was allowed to be there as part of the team.

Roberts recalled Black people who lived in the area came by, entering through the back of the hotel and donning staff uniforms so they could greet the Black players staying in a whites-only hotel.

"That night, maybe every black person in town must have come by to see us," Roberts said in the article. "They were just so proud to see us