Texas-Western Miners 1966 NCAA Basketball Champions Pennant
Product Description
This pennant celebrates the Texas Western (today, the University of Texas at El Paso) 1966 NCAA Basketball National Champions.
In the mid-1950s, UTEP then named Texas Western College became the first college in a Southern state to integrate its intercollegiate athletic teams. Although the campus population was less than 1% African-American, in 1966, basketball coach Don Haskins and his Texas Western team thrilled portions of the nation by winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship with an all-black starting lineup.
Texas Western emerged from the western half of the NCAA tournament draw to meet top-ranked Kentucky for the championship. Kentucky, NCAA champions four times under Adolph Rupp, came to College Park, Md., looking to give its legendary coach an unprecedented fifth national title. It wasn't to be. Kentucky, with five white starters, was upset by Texas Western, which started five blacks, 72–65. The Miners, led by Bobby Joe Hill and center Dave “Big Daddy” Lattin, won the game at the foul line with 28 points. It was a watershed game for black players. Afterward, all colleges started recruiting blacks. Three years later, even Rupp had broken the color line.
Victory Pennants are made of high-quality soft wool-felt and are screen-printed by hand. They measure 12-inches tall and 30-inches long. They have traditional felt pennant-ties and hang beautifully. All of our pennants are manufactured in the United States and are officially licensed by the NCAA.
We offer a no-questions-asked, money back guarantee. You will love our pennants!
In the mid-1950s, UTEP then named Texas Western College became the first college in a Southern state to integrate its intercollegiate athletic teams. Although the campus population was less than 1% African-American, in 1966, basketball coach Don Haskins and his Texas Western team thrilled portions of the nation by winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship with an all-black starting lineup.
Texas Western emerged from the western half of the NCAA tournament draw to meet top-ranked Kentucky for the championship. Kentucky, NCAA champions four times under Adolph Rupp, came to College Park, Md., looking to give its legendary coach an unprecedented fifth national title. It wasn't to be. Kentucky, with five white starters, was upset by Texas Western, which started five blacks, 72–65. The Miners, led by Bobby Joe Hill and center Dave “Big Daddy” Lattin, won the game at the foul line with 28 points. It was a watershed game for black players. Afterward, all colleges started recruiting blacks. Three years later, even Rupp had broken the color line.
Victory Pennants are made of high-quality soft wool-felt and are screen-printed by hand. They measure 12-inches tall and 30-inches long. They have traditional felt pennant-ties and hang beautifully. All of our pennants are manufactured in the United States and are officially licensed by the NCAA.
We offer a no-questions-asked, money back guarantee. You will love our pennants!
