Interview with Willie Cager, February 5, 2016

Partial Transcript: Okay, well my name is, uh, Gerald Smith and, uh, this is uh, Friday, February 5, 2016 and I am, uh, about to interview Mr. Willie Cager here in El Paso, Texas.

Segment Synopsis: Cager attended high school in his home state of New York, mentioning that he is from the South Bronx area. Prior to coming to Texas Western, he graduated high school and took several English courses at El Paso Tech. The first thing he noticed upon his arrival in El Paso, Texas was the heat. His coach picked him up from the airport and they ate at the Miners dining hall. Right after, Cager went straight to the gym. Cager recalled not knowing any of his teammates before he joined the Miners basketball team in 1965. Cager did not notice any tension on the team and was focused on improving himself. He describes Coach Don Haskins as "crazy," because he demanded perfection. Cager recalls playing as a freshman and, after going to a downtown club, Coach Haskins telling the players that they would not win a single game.

Keywords: College courses; Don Haskins; Environment; New York; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Subjects: African American athletes; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; College credits; El Paso (Tex.); Haskins, Don, 1930-2008; Texas Western Miners (Basketball team)

Partial Transcript: Was the city--were people in the community, were they friendly?

Segment Synopsis: Cager shares that there was quite a bit of racial tension in the city, so much so that he was unable to get his hair cut for a while. As the team traveled and played in away games, they faced hostile crowds but Cager did not recall any major incidents. He explains that the team kept a low profile and focused on taking care of business. He describes being aware of the civil rights movement, but shares that the team felt no need to talk about it.

Keywords: Away games; Basketball seasons; Demonstrations; Hostile crowds; Hostile environments; Martin Luther King Jr.; Protests; Racial tensions; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Subjects: Basketball games; Basketball teams; Civil Rights Movement; Community; Racism; Texas Western Miners (Basketball team); Traveling; University of Texas at El Paso

Partial Transcript: So, let's go to that championship game. Uh, so you beat Utah State, uh, and, uh, now you're about to face Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Cager recalls watching the starting five players during the game and preparing himself to go in. As he was warming up, Cager did not feel distracted by the crowd; however, he did mention feeling bothered by the Confederate flags in the stands. He remembered seeing Confederate flags before, but never during a basketball game. Coach Haskins did not address the racial tension in the arena, and instead focused on putting the best five players on the court and getting to work.

Keywords: 1966 NCAA Championships; 1966 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship; Championship games; Championships; Confederate flags; Don Haskins; Fans; Kentucky; Kentucky Wildcats; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); Utah State

Subjects: African American athletes; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; Basketball--Tournaments; Racism; Texas Western Miners (Basketball team); University of Kentucky; University of Texas at El Paso

Partial Transcript: So, um, had you heard anything about Adolph Rupp, or--

Segment Synopsis: Cager describes Adolph Rupp as very prejudiced, sharing that the African American players on Texas Western's basketball team noticed that Rupp only recruited white players. Cager saw no difference in playing the University of Kentucky and in playing other all-white basketball teams. He was focused on playing well and taking care of business.

Keywords: 1966 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship; Adolph Rupp; Basketball coaches; Championships; Coach Rupp; Coaches; Kentucky Wildcats; NCAA Championships; Prejudice; Racial tensions; Texas Western; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Subjects: African American athletes; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball teams; Basketball--Coaching; Basketball--History; Coaches (Athletics); Legacy; Racism; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; Texas Western Miners (Basketball team); University of Texas at El Paso

Partial Transcript: So, um, you know, looking back now, what does this occasion mean to you, this co--this fiftieth--

Segment Synopsis: Cager shares that he wishes he could go back and play more games. He mentions that the number of teams has doubled since his time as a college basketball player. Cager recalls getting death threats while playing in the 1966 NCAA tournament and when he alerted his coach, Don Haskins took care of it.

Keywords: 1966 Championships; 1966 NCAA Champions; 1966 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship; African American basketball players; Arenas; Commemorations; Don Haskins; NCAA; NCAA Tournament; Texas Western; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Subjects: African American athletes; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; Basketball--Tournaments; Coaches (Athletics); Haskins, Don, 1930-2008; Texas Western Miners (Basketball team); University of Texas at El Paso

Partial Transcript: So if, if any of the Kentucky players were, you know, here this weekend, what would you say to them?

Segment Synopsis: Cager shares that he would congratulate Kentucky players on their second place achievement. He describes two Kentucky players who congratulated the Miners on their win. Cager shares that he would tell Kentucky fans that they are all human beings, working to make a better life for everyone. When asked what he would have said to Adolph Rupp, Cager was unsure, and simply said that Rupp was a prejudiced man. Cager also shared that his own coach, Don Haskins, was prejudiced. Though he played the best players based on skill, Cager believes deep down that Haskins was prejudiced.

Keywords: 1966 Championships; 1966 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship; Adolph Rupp; Don Haskins; Fans; Kentucky Wildcats; Kentucky fans; Louie Dampier; NCAA Championships; Pat Riley; Prejudice; Texas Western; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; UK; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Subjects: Basketball coaches; Basketball coaches--Kentucky; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--Tournaments; Coaches (Athletics); Haskins, Don, 1930-2008; Rupp, Adolph, 1901-1977; Texas Western Miners (Basketball team); University of Kentucky; University of Texas at El Paso

Partial Transcript: Anything else you'd like to add? Anything? What'd you think about the movie "Glory Road?"

Segment Synopsis: Cager shares that he hates the movie, "Glory Road" which portrays the 1966 Championship. He feels that the movie did not accurately portray the team or the events that occurred, explaining that it was highly dramatized. He mentioned one scene in the movie, where a player was beaten up, did not happen in real life. Cager shares that he is currently writing a book that will share the truth of what happened.

Keywords: 1966 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship; Books; Drama; Glory Road (Motion picture); Hollywood; Movies; Sports movies; Stories; Texas Western College; Texas Western Miners men's basketball team; Truth; University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP)

Subjects: Athletes as authors; Authors; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Basketball--History; College athletes; Texas Western Miners (Basketball team); University of Texas at El Paso

Partial Transcript: What message would you, uh, want to leave the young men who are playing basketball now?

Segment Synopsis: Cager emphasizes that all human beings are equal. He encourages young players to do the right thing and get their lives in order. He finds no fault in basketball players that play in college for one year and then head off to the NBA. Cager shares that if these "one and done" players are able to earn money that way, then they should play for the NBA. Cager mentions professional players, such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, emphasizing the importance of team effort.

Keywords: Advice; Cooperation; Equality; Kobe Bryant; LeBron James; Messages; NBA; Team players; Teams; Young athletes; Young basketball players

Subjects: African American athletes; Basketball players; Basketball teams; Career; College athletes; College sports; National Basketball Association