Johnny Bright, a black, remains the greatest football player ever at Drake University, located in DesMoines, Iowa. He played between the years 1949 and 1951. While Bright was not subjected to the same type of emotional indignities as was Lou Montgomery, he was, in a game against Oklahoma State University, subjected to extreme physical violence which resulted in unconsciousness and extreme bodily injury. No penalties were called for any of the felonious actions of the OSU players. At the end of his senior season, Bright was named to the All America first team, and finished fifth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. Fearful of incurring even greater harm, he turned down opportunities to play in the NFL, instead choosing to play in the Canadian Football League. He retired in 1964 as the CFL's all-time leading rusher, and chose to spend the rest of his life in Canada, as a school teacher, administrator and coach. Bright died in 1983.

In October of 2006, Drake University renamed its football stadium Johnny Bright Field, with Bright's daughters and many of his surviving teammates attending the ceremony.