Disney’s “Glory Road” takes moviegoers back in time to a not so friendly place to show how a men’s college basketball team overcame significant hurdles to become history makers.
The film is based on a true story out of Texas Western College in El Paso Texas. It follows the journey of an integrated Division-1 team overcoming all odds to end up in the NCAA championship tournament in 1966. But the road wasn’t easy as deep racial divides that existed in the country during that era almost derailed the team’s chances at victory.
The film starts with Coach Don Haskins, who is white along with his assistants doing serious convincing to school administrators and basketball boosters that having an integrated team would help them win games. The coaches had an equally hard time selling the southern school to black recruits who were concerned about the racial climate in the south. In fact, during the movie, we see how players were often subjected to racial slurs and acts of violence and vandalism because of its black players. Even the coach wasn’t immune as he and his wife constantly received death threats.
In the end, the coach’s controversial decision have a mix team and to start all black players in the big tournament was vindicated when the team beat all-white No. 1-ranked Kentucky Wildcats 72-65 and became national champions and heroes.
“Glory Road” is a fascinating story about adversity and triumphs that will leave moviegoers wanting to see and learn more about the players and coaches who rose to the challenge and helped change college sports forever. It is rated PG for racial issues, including racial epithets and mild language.
Media Credit: Photo by Frank Connor © 2005 Courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.Links for Story:
The Official Movie Webpage
Texas Western College's page on the team
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