COLLEGE PARK, Md. – In conjunction with Black History Month, the University of Maryland welcomed the 1966 Texas Western national championship team to College Park for a trip to Cole Field House, the site of the 1966 title game, and a ceremony at XFINITY Center during the Terps' game against Wisconsin Saturday night.
Former Texas Western players Louis Baudoin, Willie Cager, David Lattin, Nevil Shed and Willie Worsley were in attendance. It is the 50th anniversary of the win by Texas Western, which featured a majority of African-American players. It was considered ground breaking in defeating an all-white Adolph Rupp coached Kentucky team to capture the National Championship
“It was the first time in 50 years I'd been back. It's a prestigious place. I was shaking walking in [to Cole Field House],” Shed said. “It took a long time to absorb the impact of that game. We were a bunch of kids. Fifty years later we still have that feeling of what this team accomplished.”
The players toured through Cole Field House before speaking at a panel discussion about the historic event before the game at XFINITY Center. The team was then honored on the court at halftime in a ceremony with University of Maryland president Wallace D. Loh and Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson.
“This is an emotional time for us,” Worsley said. “Anyone who loves to be a part of history could appreciate being talked about 50 years after you win. I appreciated everything that we were a part of.”
Texas Western lost just once en route to the national title. The Miners, led by Hall of Fame head coach Don Haskins, defeated Kentucky, 72-65, in the title game and the team was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. The book and feature film Glory Road was inspired by the team.
“It was great to come back. I wanted to see it,” Lattin said. “I'm proud that the win made it possible for youngers of color to go to school, especially in the deep south. That is our legacy.”
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