With SEC Media Days underway already in Hoover, Alabama, UK football was able to make news back in Lexington with the release of their new football poster. The poster features four players from the late 1960s who were the first to integrate SEC football.

The four players honored are Nate Northington, Greg Page, Wilbur Hackett and Houston Hogg. UK was lucky enough to have two of the players, Northington and Hackett, there for the unveil Tuesday morning.

The two former Cats were greeted with great applause and respect coming from the team following their morning workouts and shared with them some perspective that comes along with being the first African-American players in the SEC.

“When you watch the game today and you come here and look and see the diversity, I never would have thought this would happen at UK or much less the SEC,” Northington told the team. “We’re very, very proud we were able to do that for the state, for ourselves, for our family. We’re very proud of you all, very proud of this university because you are part of history. You are part of the university that made a stand and made a difference in the culture of the state, the South and the country.”

The two former players also tried to convey the opportunity the current team has to make a difference.

“You have an opportunity change history, to make history, change what Kentucky is doing in football,” said Hackett, the first African-American team captain in any SEC sport. “I’m so glad, I’m so proud to be a part of this. Fifty years ago we came here. And this year I want to see you guys make a difference. Make that commitment to change what is happening. Make this team be the team that changed the course of Kentucky football.”

The posters will be available to the public at local Kroger stores on Saturday, July 16. And a statue also honoring the four players will be unveiled in front of the new practice facility on Thursday, Sept. 22.