78R13707 WMS-D

By:  Pickett                                                      H.R. No. 930



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, In 1966, Texas Western College, now The University 
of Texas at El Paso, faced the No. 1 ranked University of Kentucky 
men's basketball team in the National Collegiate Athletic 
Association (NCAA) national championship game; and
	WHEREAS, The University of Texas at El Paso Miners made NCAA 
history as the first college team to start an all African American 
lineup, starting five in the national championship game against the 
University of Kentucky Wildcats; and
	WHEREAS, The University of Texas at El Paso, which was 
overlooked in preseason ratings, became the collegiate basketball 
champion for the first time by defeating longtime powerhouse 
Kentucky; and
	WHEREAS, The Texas Western players' rebounding strength and 
fine shooting kept them ahead from after 9 minutes, 40 seconds, of 
the first half until the end of the game, when the Miners defeated 
the Wildcats 72-65; and
	WHEREAS, This win made Coach Don Haskins, a.k.a. "The Bear," 
a coaching legend and changed the face of college basketball 
forever, ultimately leading to his induction into the Basketball 
Hall of Fame in 1997; and
	WHEREAS, To this day, The University of Texas at El Paso 
remains the only school in the Lone Star State to win a Division I 
national championship in men's basketball; and
	WHEREAS, The 37th anniversary of this landmark event provides 
an ideal opportunity to honor the exceptional achievements of these 
remarkable student-athletes and their coach; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize April 28, 2003, as The University of 
Texas at El Paso 1966 NCAA Basketball Champions Day.