1966 Tangerine Bowl

Background

The game was one of four regional finals in the College Division, the predecessor of Division II; the other three postseason games were the Pecan, Grantland Rice, and Camellia bowls, also played on December 10.
In 1965, Morgan State defeated Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, which was the unofficial championship game for historically black colleges and universities. In 1966, Morgan State, led by Lanier, was invited to play in the Tangerine Bowl. The Bears were on a 17-game winning streak going into the Tangerine Bowl, and based on that and their 1965 victory, they merited inclusion on their quality of play.
Inviting the Bears, however, represented a significant social change. It would be the first time that a team from an historically black college was invited to play in the game in central Florida. Orlando, the city where the game would be played, had never hosted an integrated high school or college football game. Orlando's mayor Bob Carr decided to end the practice that limited participation in the game to all white teams. The game's hosts made sure the two teams were treated equally, and mingled with each other at events before the game. ABC covered the game on network television.

Morgan State players who subsequently had NFL careers include Lanier, defensive back Bob Wade, quarterback and kicker Daryl Johnson, wide receiver Alvin Mitchell, and linebacker Jeff Queen. Wade also went on to be head basketball coach for the Maryland Terrapins. James Phillips played in the NFL and went on to become head football and wrestling coach at Morgan State. Lanier and head coach Earl Banks are inductees of the College Football Hall of Fame. Lanier is an inductee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
West Chester quarterback Jim Haynie, offensive end Don Wilkinson, and head coach Bob Mitten are inductees of their university's hall of fame.