The medical crisis impacting the nation and the world has caused sports across the globe to come to a standstill for the time being. For example, the Olympics scheduled for the summer of 2020 in Japan has been postponed until 2021.
 
While we wait on the sports world to get back on track, this is a good time to revisit the illustrious past of Morgan Athletics. Over the next few weeks we will tap into the archives for historic game recaps and stories.

Here's what happened on August 4, 1951:
 
Two Morgan Aces Get Packer Call
The Baltimore Afro-American
 
GREEN BAY, Wis. (ANP) – The Green Bay Packers this week signed three colored rookies to contracts to play football in the National Football League, according to coach Gene Ronzani.


 
Topping the list is George Rooks, fabulous fullback from the Morgan State College Bears of the CIAA. Others signed were Charles Robinson, Rooks' teammate at Morgan, and Alan Hopewell, New York University, both guards.

                   

At Morgan, Rooks, a native of White Plains, N.Y., attained a ground gaining record never achieved before in the CIAA. For three seasons he led the league in scoring and four years in ground gaining. During his greatest year, 1949, he carried 99 times for 927 yards, averaging 9.2 yards per carry, and scored 11 touchdowns.
 
Honored Three Years
In 1948, 1949, and 1950, he was chosen on the all CIAA and colored All American teams. He is 23, stands 6 feet 3 inches tall, and weighs 225 pounds. He and Rooks were co-captains of the Morgan football team. A veteran of 2.5 years with the marines, he also earned two letters in boxing at college.
 
Hopewell at NYU operated both on defense and offense. He will e 21 years old Aug. 16. His father was formerly a great end at Stover College, Harpers Ferry, W. Va. Hopewell is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds. 



Bear Bits
▪️George "Choo Choo" Rooks was a 1949 All-American Team selection.
▪️Rooks also played fullback for the Toronto Argonauts.
▪️Rooks was All-CIAA for 3 years, All-America for 3 years, and the Most Valuable Player in 1950.
▪️Charles "Redd" Robinson was co-captain of Morgan's 1950 boxing team. As a boxer, he became the heavyweight champion of the CIAA.
▪️"Redd" also played for the Baltimore Colts during the 1953 and 1954 seasons.


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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.