Interview with David Lattin, February 5, 2016

Partial Transcript: My name is Gerald Smith. Uh, I'm in El Paso, Texas. I'm interviewing Mr. David Lattin who is a part of the 1966 Texas Western championship basketball team.

Segment Synopsis: Lattin shares that he had a great relationship with Coach Don Haskins, explaining that he learned a lot from Haskins. He describes Haskins as a great coach and doesn't think anyone could have done a better job. Lattin recalls the night before the 1966 19championship game, sharing that the Duke University basketball team was staying in the same hotel as the Texas Western Miners team. Lattin recalls not doing much before, mainly thinking in his hotel room. He was able to watch the first half the Duke vs. Kentucky basketball game to see what the Miners were up against. Lattin sized up the Kentucky Wildcats' basketball team, describing them as a shorter team with good outside shooting. Lattin also thought about staying out of foul trouble so he could help the team. Lattin also shares how he came to be known as "Big Daddy."

Keywords: Basketball seasons; Coach Haskins; Don Haskins; Kentucky Wildcats; NCAA National Champions; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); Winning seasons

Subjects: African American basketball players; Basketball coaches; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; El Paso (Tex.); Haskins, Don, 1930-2008; Texas Western Miners (Basketball Team); University of Kentucky--Basketball--History

Partial Transcript: So, um, couple of--well, that weekend, of the, of the Final Four, um, was there any discussion about race?

Segment Synopsis: Lattin does not recall there being a conversation about race prior to the Final Four. He shares that concentrating on an issue like race can sidetrack players. Lattin explains that there was no time to discuss or even think about race; the Texas Western Miners just focused on playing basketball. Coach Haskins shared with the team that Adolph Rupp announced in a press conference that it would be impossible for five African American players to beat his five white players. Lattin shares that the team didn't alter their play at all, and just focused on the game at hand.

Keywords: Bobby Joe Hill; Coach Haskins; Don Haskins; Final Four; Halftimes; Kentucky Wildcats; Locker rooms; Motivation; NCAA National Champions; NCAA National Championships; NCAA Tournament; Racist comments; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Subjects: African American basketball players; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; Basketball--Tournaments; Race relations; Racism; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977

Partial Transcript: So, um, so the game, you go out for the warmups, so what was that environment like?

Segment Synopsis: Lattin describes the environment in the stadium during the championship game, remembering seeing several Confederate flags there. The majority of the fans there were Kentucky fans, who assumed that Kentucky would win the championship without a challenge. Lattin did not notice any racial comments from the fans during the game, but noted that that was the first time he saw a Confederate flag at a basketball game. Lattin remembers dunking the ball as hard as he could early in the game, to give the message that the Texas Western Miners were there to win. He shares that their drive to win was not racially motivated, and the Miners would have worked just as hard against any other team.

Keywords: Basketball tickets; Confederate flags; Kentucky fans; NCAA Champions; NCAA Championships; NCAA Tournament; National Champions; Pat Riley; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); Wildcat fans

Subjects: African American basketball players; Basketball arenas; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; Basketball--Tournaments; College sports--Kentucky; Race relations; Racism; University of Kentucky--Basketball

Partial Transcript: So, um, let's talk about--did you know anything about Adolph Rupp?

Segment Synopsis: Lattin shares that he did not have much knowledge of Adolph Rupp. Rupp did not attempt to recruit Lattin, even though Latin was the number one basketball player in Texas. Lattin shares that there was no ESPN at the time, so he didn't know much about the University of Kentucky coach or the Duke University head coach prior to the tournament. He remembers talking with fellow teammates about the impact that this game would have, a team of African Americans beating an all-white team for the National Championship.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Bobby Joe Hill; Coach Haskins; Don Haskins; Historical significance; National Championships; National champions; Teammates; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Subjects: African American basketball players; Basketball coaches; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; College sports; College sports--Coaching; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball--History

Partial Transcript: So, um, looking back now, fifty years later, this weekend, what does all of this mean to you?

Segment Synopsis: Lattin reflects on the game, sharing that he and his teammates are now able to see the impact of the game. At the time, they didn't realize that the game was bigger than just them, it was an important moment for the country. Lattin shares that, several years after their National Championship win, President Bush invited the Texas Western Miners to the White House, where they watched a movie and had dinner together. The Miners basketball team returned to El Paso, where celebrations occurred for several days following the win.

Keywords: Celebrations; Commemoration; Impact; NCAA National Championships; National Champions; President George H. W. Bush; Presidents; Teammates; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); White House

Subjects: African American basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; College athletes; College sports; El Paso (Tex.); Race relations

Partial Transcript: Ah, that's good, that's good. Anything else you'd like to add? If the Kentucky players were able to be here, what would you say to them?

Segment Synopsis: Lattin shares that the Kentucky basketball players were very classy. He thought that the players were embarrassed by some of the things Coach Rupp said and did not agree with his views. Lattin explains that the Kentucky players would have welcomed an African American player onto their team. He describes them as a great team and he held a lot of respect for them.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Coach Haskins; Coach Rupp; Don Haskins; Kentucky Wildcats; Respect; Sportsmanship

Subjects: African American basketball players; Basketball players; Basketball--History; College athletes; College sports; Racism; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball