The Impact The 1966 Texas Western Men's Basketball Championship Had On The Game And More

There are unique moments in sports when you may be realizing that you are witnessing history unfold, and sometimes that historic moment may even help spark change in the world around us.
On March 19th, 1966 the Texas Western College today known as the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Miners Men’s basketball team won the NCAA national championship by defeating Adolph Rupp’s University of Kentucky Wildcats 72-65 in College Park, Maryland.
The team made history by starting five black players for the game. At the time, public universities were starting to integrate, but major college athletic conferences, especially in the south still remained mostly white like Rupp’s Wildcats.
The Miner’s went 23-1 that season. Coached by Don Haskins, a defensive minded and later coaching legend, known as “The Bear.” Willie Cager was a 6-5-sophomore player on that historic team.
“All I wanted to do is learn how to play defense for Haskins. Once I learned how to play defense...offense…I took care of it myself,” says Cager.
Willie Cager says that the team had to deal with racism at the championship game when a confederate flag was being waved, but he says as a player he dealt with worse, like the time he received a death threat after picking up a hotel room phone in Lubbock, Texas.
“Don Haskins took over, and they called the FBI and stuff and it was ok after that, but it was very scary.”
Haskins may be in the history books for starting five African-American athletes, but according to Cager, Haskins just wanted his best players on the floor.
“Don Haskins said he’s going to start the best possible five he could start and it was all black so…what can I tell you? It just happened that way,” says Cager.
That color-blind approach to coaching was portrayed by actor Josh Lucas who played Don Haskins in the popular Walt Disney film, “Glory Road” released in 2006 about the historic team.
Joe Gomez was a student at Texas Western during that championship season, and he has worked much of his life since then to have the 1966 championship team recognized for it’s accomplishments and legacy.
Gomez recalls what the atmosphere was like in El Paso during that time. He says that after the Miner’s beat a top-ranked Iowa decisively that season the team became the hottest ticket in town.
“Everybody was excited. You got to remember that Texas Western was the town’s school, not just the team. It was the town’s school. So, the town wrapped their hands around this whole Final Four,” says Gomez.
The team’s victory against the legendary coach Adolph Rump and his top ranked Kentucky Wildcats is viewed as an upset, but if you ask Gomez, he says it wasn’t.
“Texas Western was the number one rebounding team in the country, and we were top three in defense. So we knew that anything they threw at them we could at least play defense, but we knew that Adolph Rump produced some pretty good basketball teams and he was going to come right at you,” says Gomez.
Gomez says there was a bonfire celebration and even police officers were celebrating nearby as they monitored the situation on campus.
Many view the team’s victory against the legendary coach Adolph Rupp and his top ranked Kentucky Wildcats as an upset, but if you ask Gomez, he says it wasn’t.
“Texas Western was the number one rebounding team in the country, and we were top three in defense. So we knew that anything they threw at them we could at least play defense, but we knew that Adolph Rump produced some pretty good basketball teams and he was going to come right at you,” says Gomez.
The team’s victory was one that left a legacy, especially in the South, as schools across the country soon began recruiting African-American athletes and forever changing the game of basketball and major college and professional team sports.
The team was honored at the White House in 2006 and inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
In February the team was honored at a UTEP men’s basketball game celebrating the 50th anniversary, and at this year’s Final Four in Houston, it will be recognized for its accomplishments and the legacy it left on the game of basketball.

[@margieorduna5589]

I just finished watching this movie right now and its so inspiring... GLORY ROAD.. " i see no colors, i see talents.."

[@justcliff3261]

where can i find the movie ??

[@6SE1SD9]

@@justcliff3261 disney ➕

[@ricardotrevino2775]

Although it is politically correct to say we don't see color the truth should be is that we do. I see someone's skin color the same way I see someone's hair and eye color.

[@angelamejia5303]

I'll never get tired watched this phenomenal film ... Like Riley said from Wild cats- Kentucky ... Emancipation Declaration of 1966, till become a one of the greatest history in the field of Sports ... Way to go Willi Cager, you are one of the legends, that we will remembered ... Blessings.

[@user-xl7fn9zf6b]

Jus shows theres only one race:the human race,that movie is so inspiring haskins knew exactly how to motivate the team, he took on a big risk as it is, they will go down in history,

[@BrynhurstSixOwe]

Just shows the most athletic race is Black. That is all. 😏

[@dantzmusic]

*@user-x17fn9zf6b So true Y, only one precious human race!*

[@angelamejia5303]

1 disliked, that one of the maybe, racist back in those time ... Howdie ... Yo...😎

[@johnnyvalentino8720]

Maybe a Kentucky fan fooker

[@cwhite5613]

There Is A Season For Everything Under The Sun

[@deanablackwood7872]

woot woot !

[@dbcooper692]

I worked with Harry Flournoy who played on this 1966 Texas Western team. We were bread delivery salesmen and worked in the Los Angeles area. We arrived at work every morning at 230AM loaded our trucks, ran our routes then came back to work in the warehouse then in the office together. So Harry saw a lot of each other over a period of fifteen years. I always considered Harry a very good guy. We used to joke around a lot and drink beers sometimes after work. After we all started to get a little older Harry changed. He just couldn't hold his dislike for white people inside and it bothered me because I had known him so long and liked him as a person. We all can find fault in others but shouldn't. We all can find fault in other races but shouldn't, because no race is perfect. I just found out yesterday about Harry passing away and felt all the hate he had may have caused it. Life is short and we all have to see the good in others and stop with all the hate!!!!!!!

[@henrylopez5973]

I have met him

[@therealpain6930]

Same

[@mwash52]

I played for him…Haskins.