In real life, haskins not only coached girls hoops, but also football and boys basketball teams at a couple of small high schools in texas in the mid1950s. Mar 18, 2020 on march 19, 1966, texas western college defeats the university of kentucky in the ncaa mens college basketball final at cole field house in college park, maryland. Texas westerns 1966 title can be appreciated without game. In 1965, coach don haskins inherits a losing basketball team at texas western university and brings on seven black players, angering others at the school and resulting in threats of violent retaliation. Texas tech coach tubby smith who was kentuckys coach from 1997 through 2007, winning a national title there remembers watching the kentuckytexas western game. Jan 30, 2020 in 2006, the movie glory road, depicting the significance of this game, was released. Where the players are now 1966 texas western championship.
Significance of texas westerns 1966 ncaa title not. On march 18, 1966, the miners defeated utah 8578 in the final four to advance to the national championship game the following night. Mar 16, 2016 texas tech coach tubby smith who was kentuckys coach from 1997 through 2007, winning a national title there remembers watching the kentucky texas western game on television. In 2006, the movie glory road, depicting the significance of this game, was released. If basketball ever took a turn, that was it, said nolan richardson, the arkansas coach who played for haskins at texas western. Jan, 2006 nothing the cast does, however, is quite as moving as the appearance during the final credits of some of the real texas western players, who reflect, along with mr. Glory road is a 2006 american sports drama film directed by james gartner, based on a true. And the wheels turned, a utep student produced documentary on the ncaa championship game of 1966 produced by cotton productions. Just before getting the job at texas western university now texasel paso or utep, coach don haskins played by josh lucas is a girls high school basketball coach.
For basketball fans and general audiences alike this is a good movie worth checking out. Glory road 2006 years before anyone referred to it as march madness, texas western college shocked the college basketball world by winning the 1966 ncaa championship with an allblack starting lineup, the first time that had happened in the sports history. Don haskins american college basketball coach britannica. Dave lattin played center, and his grandson plays saturday for oklahoma. The movie skipped a crucial game that texas western had played. Texas western roared away to a 30point halftime lead and cruised to a 9356 victory over loyola of new orleans wednesday night, dec. Like the film, it then focuses on the 1966 texas western mens basketball team and the aftermath of the championship. But basketball movies will always hold a special place on our list of alltime great sports films. Mar 19, 2018 the 20 best basketball movies ever made.
Glory road was inspired by a true story, as described by texas western s head coach don haskins in his autobiography of the same title, a national bestseller released in 2005 by hyperion books. The season was memorialized in the 2006 movie glory road, based on a 2005 book of the same title by haskins and coauthor dan wetzel. Western texas college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs or activities 6200 college ave, snyder, tx 79549. In story of big game, sad chapter on racism the new york times. The number one movie in the nation last weekend was glory road. The team made history by winning the national championship in 1966, becoming the first team with an allblack starting lineup to do so. Rent glory road 2006 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Its a disney movie, literally glory road came out 10 years ago about meritocracy. In the movie the team played against kansas in the regional final and the following game was the national championship, which is incorrect.
Espn classic texas westerns 1966 title left lasting legacy. Don haskins and the texas western basketball team essay cram. Last night espn screened a grainy, washedout tape of the 1966 ncaa title game in which texas western, with its five black starters, beat allwhite kentucky in whats been called the brown v. Jerry armstrong top row, second from the left was born and raised in. Additional comments from other participating players in celebration of the 50th anniversary, espn will present texas westerns historic victory in the 1966 ncaa mens division i basketball tournament championship game on wednesday, march 30, at 7.
Your team store allows you to customize clothing for every type of texas western miners basketball fan. Don haskins was the head basketball coach at texas western college from 1961 to 1999. Texas western defeats kentucky in ncaa finals history. On march 19, 1966, texas western college defeats the university of kentucky in the ncaa mens college basketball final at cole field house in college park, maryland. In 1966, texas western coach don haskins led the first allblack starting lineup for a college basketball team to the ncaa national championship. Mar 31, 2016 last night espn screened a grainy, washedout tape of the 1966 ncaa title game in which texas western, with its five black starters, beat allwhite kentucky in whats been called the brown v. In 1966, texas western became the first team with an allblack starting five to win the ncaa mens basketball tournament. Miami heat president pat riley reflects on 50th anniversary. The 196566 texas western miners basketball team represented texas western college.
It is a defensive basketball teaching film starring coach haskins and his miners that was filmed shortly after their national championship. In the movie, coach don haskins is a girls high school basketball coach just before getting the job at texas western university now texasel paso or utep. The 196566 texas western miners basketball team represented texas western college, now. The team made history by winning the national championship in 1966, becoming the first team with an allblack starting lineup to do so the miners defeated kentucky an allwhite program until 1969 7265 in. Its a feelgood basketball flick based on the 1966, texas western basketball team. The team was inducted into the naismith memorial basketball hall of fame in 2007 and inspired the book and film glory road. Espn to air texas westerns historic victory in the 1966. And the wheels turned, a utep student produced documentary. Mar 24, 2016 the texas western basketball team made history by winning the 1966 ncaa championship playing only africanamerican players. Sep 22, 2016 in the movie, coach don haskins is a girls high school basketball coach just before getting the job at texas western university now texasel paso or utep. Playing with confidence, determination, and intensity, texas western made history on march 19, 1966 when the miners became the first team in history to win the ncaa championship with five africanamerican players in the starting lineup. In glory road, the 2006 disney movie about texas western. The texas western basketball team made history by winning the 1966 ncaa championship playing only africanamerican players.
The 1966 ncaa championship game between texas western and kentucky was the first title matchup featuring an allblack lineup against an allwhite lineup. Don haskins of tiny texas western university, who bucks convention. Feb 26, 2016 the 1966 ncaa championship game between texas western and kentucky was the first title matchup featuring an allblack lineup against an allwhite lineup. Texas western player david lattin to be interviewed. Member of famed 1966 texas western team rooting for texas tech to join miners in history.
Its a feelgood basketball flick based on the 1966, texas western basketball team, the first team in history to field an allblack. Apr 05, 2019 member of famed 1966 texas western team rooting for texas tech to join miners in history. During the course of the 196566 national championship season, texas western guard orsten artis was one of the key reasons the miners went 281 and beat kentucky for. Glory road 2006 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Remembering glory road and its place in sports movies. With josh lucas, derek luke, austin nichols, jon voight. The miners victory over university of kentucky, coached by legendary adolph rupp, in the finals of the ncaa tournament was a story of triumph of character. Watch the 1966 march madness classic game between texas western and kentucky. Significance of texas westerns 1966 ncaa title not realized.
A championship in 1966 was a step for integration the new. Growing up in the 1940s, he had a love for basketball but he lacked raw talent. His friend, herman carr, who was black, was a better player and they had played many games together during the course of. Nov 30, 2005 timed to the release of jerry bruckheimers movie, the moving autobiography of hall of fame basketball coach don haskins and his storied team of players, the texas western miners in 1966, college basketball was almost completely segregated. Glory road unrelated to the movie, while legendary local writer ray. Top 10 best basketball movies for march madness aarp. Its also available for the nba, football, hockey and baseball. Apr 01, 2016 in 1966, texas western became the first team with an allblack starting five to win the ncaa mens basketball tournament. The book details haskins early life as a player including a oneonone game against a black friend that opened his eyes and womens basketball coach. Ballingers fred schwake, an athletic trainer on the 1966 texas western basketball team, is hoping texas. The team made history by winning the 1966 ncaa university division basketball tournament in 1966, becoming the first team with an allblack starting lineup.
Texas western college, then a small and uknown school tucked away in the far corner of west texas, came out of nowhere to pull the biggest upset in the history of college basketball in 1966. In real life, haskins not only coached girls hoops, but also football and boys basketball teams at a. Mar 19, 2018 texas western roared away to a 30point halftime lead and cruised to a 9356 victory over loyola of new orleans wednesday night, dec. Ballingers fred schwake, an athletic trainer on the 1966 texas western basketball team, is. It helped put the 196566 texas western college team back in the spotlight. Jan 21, 2006 the number one movie in the nation last weekend was glory road. Released on february 18, 1994, blue chips was, at the time, the. Significance of texas westerns 1966 ncaa title not realized at first. Nothing the cast does, however, is quite as moving as the appearance during the final credits of some of the real texas western players, who reflect, along with. Whether youre a current student, parent, player, fan or alumni, youll find over 500 products to customize from, including texas western miners tshirts, sweatshirts, all hats, all bags, and more. Timed to the release of jerry bruckheimers movie, the moving autobiography of hall of fame basketball coach don haskins and his storied team of players, the texas western miners in 1966, college basketball was almost completely segregated. Member of famed 1966 texas western team rooting for texas. Feb 28, 2010 and the wheels turned, a utep student produced documentary on the ncaa championship game of 1966 produced by cotton productions. The film implies haskins started the basketball program at texwest from scratch in 1965, the season the miners went all the way against adolph rupps kentucky in the ncaa final.
The inspiring true story of the underdog texas western basketball team, with historys first all african american starting lineup of players, who took the country by storm, surprisingly winning. Every day, well send you an email to your inbox with scores, todays schedule, top performers, new debuts and interesting tidbits. Its a feel good basketball flick based on the 1966, texas western. In the early part of 2006 nearing the time of the 40th anniversary of texas westerns 1966 ncaa championship disney released a movie, based on a true story, called glory road. How a missouri man made ncaa basketball history by not playing. In the championship game for the ncaa title that year, don haskins, coach of the then littleknown texas. Texas western and its allblack starting five had shocked adolph rupps allwhite kentucky team and won the national title.
424 178 747 233 353 979 1092 914 1366 41 1051 318 1092 161 34 676 302 1487 935 269 360 346 908 615 955 1067 17 1217 639 11 1216 1406 889 816 1246 1116 362 727 1143