A new book chronicling the evolution of HBCU football from the lens of Grambling alumnus Doug Williams and USC standout Vince Evans entitled The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans, and the Making of the Black Quarterback by Louis Moore is set to be released in September.

The Great Black Hope recounts the tales of Vince Evans, a dynamic dual-threat quarterback, and Doug Williams, the standout player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins, and the pioneering Black quarterback to win it all. Moore illustrates the fine line Williams walked to victory and how his triumph reshaped football and the nation.

The legend of Doug Williams is widely known. Williams played for Grambling from 1974-1977. During his time under center, the team won three SWAC Championships and went 36-7. His stellar play under Robinson earned him significant Heisman trophy buzz, finishing fourth in 1977. He went on to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 17th pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. He eventually went on to join the Washington Redskins, in which he made history as the first black quarterback to win Super Bowl MVP in 1988.

he went on to see immense success outside of his playing career, further growing his legend. He returned to lead the Grambling Tigers after the retirement of Eddie G. Robinson. In 2000, he achieved his first SWAC title as head coach, boasting a remarkable 10-2 overall record. The subsequent year, he guided the Tigers to clinch the Black College Football National Title, concluding the season with an impressive 10-1 record. Continuing his winning streak, he secured a three-peat of SWAC championships in 2002, leading the G-Men to an 11-2 record.

In 2009, Harris and Williams collaborated to establish the Black College Football Hall of Fame, which aims to preserve the history and pay tribute to the greatest football players, coaches, and contributors in HBCU football history. Williams also has served in several capacities as a football executive.

Vince Evans' story is frequently unnoticed. He was the quarterback for the USC Trojans and was named MVP of the 1977 Rose Bowl when they defeated Michigan 14-6. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL draft, Evans was among the first black quarterbacks to achieve recognition in college and professional football, demonstrating his talent in the 1977 Rose Bowl. He finished the game 14/20 passing with 181 yards and one touchdown and ran for another touchdown.

In a quote obtained by Sports Illustrated-Raiders Today about his Rose Bowl performance, he said, Evans said, “It didn’t get much better than that for a college athlete. Playing in front of 106,000 people in a nationally televised game against Michigan, it doesn’t get much better than that.”

When Williams and Evans crossed paths on the field, their stories intertwined. September 30, 1979, marked a pivotal moment in professional football history. Doug Williams led the Buccaneers against Vince Evans and the Bears, making it the first instance of two Black quarterbacks starting against each other in contemporary professional football. Moore aims to leverage Williams's and Evans's unique stories to further narrate the evolution of the black quarterback, highlighting pioneers like Kenny Washington, Marlin Briscoe, and James “Shack” Harris.

Per Hachette Book Group, the book The Great Black Hope: Doug Williams, Vince Evans, and the Making of the Black Quarterback will be released on September 24th. Preorders are available now.