March 19, 1966

Who will be the next CUSA great to win a national title? I hope it's MT... :)

Go Miners Go

picks up

Hey Fitbud: "Still the only school in the whole state of Texas to win a National Basketball Championship".

We're due another one.

Indeed, congratulations. Your win was the beginning of the end for segregated college athletics in the South. As such it stands as more than a just a historic event in sports. It was an important event for society as a whole.

(03-19-2014 04:13 PM)PaulDel2 Wrote:  Indeed, congratulations. Your win was the beginning of the end for segregated college athletics in the South. As such it stands as more than a just a historic event in sports. It was an important event for society as a whole.

Amen!!

(03-19-2014 04:13 PM)PaulDel2 Wrote:  Your win was the beginning of the end for segregated college athletics in the South.

I'm not going to pursue the topic any further after this one response. But the above-quote is simply not true. For anyone who is interested in the history of that era, the facts (when all-white Southern colleges began playing integrated opponents, when they began to privately consider offering scholarships to African-American athletes, when they actually did begin offering them, etc.) are readily available from a variety of sources. It was a difficult and painful process that began long before 03/19/66. Adolph Rupp of Kentucky played a significant role in (privately) supporting that process years before his team was upset by the Miners.

Coach Haskins himself repeatedly denied any racial motivation or intent in deciding which of his players took the court against Kentucky. As he said many times, he started his best five players, period. It is unfortunate that the "Glory Road" movie from a few years ago twisted that around, especially since the story of what happened was already powerful and fascinating on its own without the usual Hollywood embellishments.

I guess the current Miner team read Native Georgian's post and not celebrate this great anniversary.

(03-19-2014 09:23 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(03-19-2014 04:13 PM)PaulDel2 Wrote:  Your win was the beginning of the end for segregated college athletics in the South.

I'm not going to pursue the topic any further after this one response. But the above-quote is simply not true. For anyone who is interested in the history of that era, the facts (when all-white Southern colleges began playing integrated opponents, when they began to privately consider offering scholarships to African-American athletes, when they actually did begin offering them, etc.) are readily available from a variety of sources. It was a difficult and painful process that began long before 03/19/66. Adolph Rupp of Kentucky played a significant role in (privately) supporting that process years before his team was upset by the Miners.

Coach Haskins himself repeatedly denied any racial motivation or intent in deciding which of his players took the court against Kentucky. As he said many times, he started his best five players, period. It is unfortunate that the "Glory Road" movie from a few years ago twisted that around, especially since the story of what happened was already powerful and fascinating on its own without the usual Hollywood embellishments.

privately? maybe he should have had facebook

I wouldn't say the Texas Western win was the beginning of the end of segregation of athletics in the south. It was more like the final straw. Some teams although not the "BIG SCHOOLS" had started the process. It was a historic game in regards to segregation but no the beginning of it.

You're right Georgian, Haskins didn't see race. That's the point. He just recruited the best players he could regardless of what race they were. He wasn't trying to be a pioneer and that's what makes him an admirable coach. Willing to see past color in a time of racism and hatred.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk