The True Story Behind the Texas Western Basketball Movie

On March 19, 1966, Texas Western became the first team with an all-black starting lineup to win an NCAA Basketball Championship

The true story of the Texas Western basketball team

The true story of the Texas Western basketball team is one of inspiration and determination. In 1966, the team made history by being the first all-black starting lineup in NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball History They went on to win the NCAA National Championship against the University of Kentucky a team with an all-white Starting Lineup

This victory was a major moment in the civil rights movement, and the team’s story was later made into a movie called “Glory Road.” The movie depicts the struggles and triumphs of the Texas Western Basketball team and it is an inspiring story of overcoming obstacles.

The players on the Texas Western team

The movie “Glory Road” told the story of the 1966 NCAA men’s Basketball Championship game in which an all-black starting lineup for Texas Western (now UTEP) defeated an all-white Kentucky team. The film made history come alive for a new generation, but it also took some liberties with the facts.

Here are some things the movie got right and wrong about the players on the Texas Western team

The movie accurately depicted how Head Coach Don Haskins recruited African American players to his team. In the film, Haskins is seen scouring black neighborhoods and high schools in search of talented players. He eventually settles on seven black athletes from four different states: Bobby Joe Hill, Harry Flournoy, David Lattin, Orsten Artis, Willie Cager, Nevil Shed and Willie Worsley.

However, the movie compressed the timeline of Haskins’ recruiting process In reality, Haskins began recruiting African American players in 1961, four years before the historic Championship game

The film also took some liberties with the backstory of Texas Western’s star player David Lattin. In Glory Road, Lattin is shown being rejected by major colleges because he did not have a high enough grade point average This may have been true of some schools, but Lattin was actually heavily recruited by several colleges before choosing to play for Texas Western.

Lattin’s family was also skeptical of Haskins at first because they thought he would recruited Lattin just to help integrate his team. In reality, it was Lattin who pushed for Haskins to recruit more black players so that he would have someone to relate to on the team.

Overall, Glory Road did a good job of representing the challenges and obstacles that faced the Texas Western basketball team in 1966. While it should not be considered a completely accurate portrayal of events, it is still an inspirational film that tells an important story about race in America.

The coach of the Texas Western team

The true story behind the Texas Western Basketball Movie is even more inspiring than the film itself. The 1966 NCAA championship game between Texas Western and Kentucky was not only a victory for the former team, but also a turning point in the history of college basketball

Texas Western coach Don Haskins was hired in 1961, at a time when there were very few African American players in the sport. Haskins made a bold move by starting five African American players in the Championship game against Kentucky, an all-white team. The game was close throughout, but Texas Western ultimately won 72-65.

This victory proved that African American players could compete at the highest level of college basketball It also paved the way for other coaches to follow Haskins’ lead and recruit more African American players Today, College Basketball is far more diverse than it was in 1966, and much of that progress can be traced back to Texas Western’s historic win.

The game that made Texas Western famous

Texas Western’s Basketball team led by legendary coach Don Haskins, made history in 1966 when they became the first team with an all-black starting lineup to win the NCAA National Championship Their story was made into the 2006 movie “Glory Road,” starring Josh Lucas as Haskins.

The game that made Texas Western famous was the Championship game against Kentucky, a team that was all white. In a time when racial tension was high, Texas Western’s victory was seen as a symbol of hope and progress. The movie captures the raw emotion of the game and the aftermath, but it also fictionalizes some parts of the story for dramatic effect.

Although “Glory Road” is not a true story, it is based on real events and it provides a glimpse into an important moment in history.

The aftermath of the game

After the game, Texas Western coach Don Haskins was hailed as a hero by the black community. He had defied convention and started five black players in a Championship game against an all-white Kentucky team. The victory was seen as a symbol of progress in the civil rights movement.

The movie ends with the Texas Western team winning the championship, but in reality, the aftermath of the game was much more complicated. Many of the black players on the team faced racism and discrimination both on and off the court. Some were even threatened with violence.

Despite these challenges, the Texas Western basketball team made history and proved that anyone can succeed if they’re given a chance.

The impact of the movie

The movie “Glory Road” is based on the true story of the Texas Western basketball team who made history in 1966 by being the first all-black starting lineup in NCAA Division I history to win a National Championship The film explores the racial climate of the time period and how head coach Don Haskins dealt with both racism and integration while trying to turn his unlikely team into winners.

Although the film was not a commercial success upon its initial release, it has since become a cult classic and is credited with helping to change the way Hollywood tells stories about race and sports. “Glory Road” is also significant for its portrayal of African American athletes, who were often stereotyped as jocks or thugs in previous films. This film humanized them and showed them as students, fathers, and second-generation immigrants who just wanted to play basketball and live their dream.

The legacy of the Texas Western team

In 1966, the Texas Western basketball team made history by becoming the first team with an all-black starting lineup to win the NCAA championship. The team’s story was made into a Hollywood movie, “Glory Road,” in 2006.

The legacy of the Texas Western team goes far beyond its on-court accomplishments. The victory proved that black athletes could compete at the highest levels of College Basketball and helped pave the way for greater racial equality in athletics. In the years since the championship game, dozens of other all-black teams have gone on to win NCAA titles

The current state of the Texas Western program

The current state of the Texas Western program is a far cry from its status in 1966, when the school made history by starting an all-black lineup in the NCAA championship game The team’s roster is now majority Hispanic, and the players hail from all over the world. Head Coach Tim Floyd, who took over in 2011, has revamped the recruiting process and brought in top talent from across the country. The Miners compete in Conference USA and are currently ranked #24 in the nation.

The importance of the Texas Western story

In 2006, the movie “Glory Road” was released to critical acclaim. The film told the story of the 1966 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game in which the all-black Texas Western Miners defeated the all-white Kentucky Wildcats The film brought to light an important event in American history and showed how far we have come as a nation in terms of race relations.

Today, the story of Texas Western is more relevant than ever. In a time when our country is divided along racial lines, the story of Texas Western is a reminder that we are all capable of coming together and achieving great things. The team’s victory was a turning point in college basketball and proved that black athletes could compete at the highest level. Their success opened up doors for other black athletes and helped to break down barriers in society.

The Texas Western story is an inspiration to us all and a reminder that anything is possible if we work together.

The lessons learned from the Texas Western story

The lessons learned from the Texas Western story are as relevant today as they were when the movie was made. The film tells the story of how a basketball team from a predominantly black college made history by winning the NCAA championship against an all-white team. It is a story of courage, determination, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

The film highlights the importance of working together as a team and overcoming obstacles. It also shows the power of education and how it can help people succeed in life. The Texas Western story is an inspirational tale that should be required viewing for everyone.