Coach Eaton's Office

In fall of 1969, Lloyd Eaton was on the precipice of monumental success as  head football coach of the University of Wyoming. However, the football program’s course sharply pivoted during the preparation for the game against Brigham Young University. Eaton was informed of several of Black players’ desire to protest the policies of BYU and the Church of Latter-Day Saints. The head coach responded to their request by dismissing them from the team, a fateful decision that would result in the end of his tenure at the UWyo, too. 

Eaton’s dismissal of the players sparked an effort by the University of Wyoming administration to respond to the decision, with an emergency meeting of the University Board of Trustees affirming Eaton’s decision. The action by Wyoming’s football coach and the University leadership that supported him further sparked a backlash over the violation of the players’ constitutional right to protest.

Eaton’s office was the site of fateful moments within the story of the Black 14, including his catastrophic decision to dismiss the players. Institutional spaces  represent Eaton’s power as a leader, which he wielded to crush peaceful protests. This current site of UWyo football programs--the High Altitude Performance Center--represents the latest in the evolution of UWyo's athletics programs, but we should not forget that it also still carries the legacy of Eaton and the Black 14.

Contributed by Matthew McKelvey