This was not one of my favorite sports movies, just didn't care for much of it. How much of it is true? I find the final premise a bit lacking...what coach would diss his team in favor of playing only one color of player, whether they were the best or not?
Also seems like a lousy thing to do for the Seniors. Thier last game and they are on the bench.
I believe its all true. I think Mr. Haskins said in an interview it was all true. And may he rest in peace.
share A fictional take on factual events is the best way to look at it. There is no disputing Haskins was a tremendous coach. Equal to any in NCAA history.
My father new Jerry Armstrong and said he never gave up his starting position as the movie portrayed.
I went to Cirque du Soleil and a Lady Ga Ga concert broke out.
>My father new Jerry Armstrong and said he never gave up his starting position as the movie portrayed.
Jerry Armstrong didn't have the starting position in the first place. The substitution Haskins actually made in the title game was Willie Worsley for Nevil Shed. (ie one black player for another, unlike what Disney tried to make up).
FWIW, I don't know if Armstrong started any games for Western that year.
I no longer remember much about the movie, but I find it very distasteful that a coach would not respect his players enough to give the seniors a last chance to play in the game. For many college players, the last game the team plays is the last time they will play.
share"I no longer remember much about the movie, but I find it very distasteful that a coach would not respect his players enough to give the seniors a last chance to play in the game. For many college players, the last game the team plays is the last time they will play."
Any coach who chooses to play seniors instead of his best players, especially in a national championship game, won't be a coach for very long.
Haskins was good but not equal to Coach K, Rupp, Wooden, or some others.
shareLike Coach Haskins said, "I played my best team." In 1966, that meant a National Championship. From the interviews I've seen with several players from that team (black and white), and there are many, no one was upset that they played extensively or didn't play at all. They were just thrilled they won the NC. There was no "diss" on the seniors.....pathetic comment. And, yes much of the story was true (actually tamed down for a Disney release). But this isn't a basketball movie or even a sports movie per se. Its a textbook social commentary film in the classic tradition. Basketball is just a vehicle in which to make said commentary. "Glory Road" just happens to be a true story.
"Religion is the opiate of the people" - Karl Marx
Thank you for your post. I just saw the movie for the first time and was wondering about the very things you mention.
shareThe events were mostly true but they go way out of their way to make it seem both teams were focused on race. Players from both teams said they didn't even think about it. All they were focused on was winning a national championship. The players on Texas western said they didn't realize the significance of it until years later. Also, a little known fact is the entire u.k. team had the flu and were up all night the night before with fluids coming out of both ends.
Adolph Rupp was a racist. That part was certainly true. Being an alum of the University of Maryland, where the Final Four was played that year, I'm disappointed they did not film the final game there, since the building is still there and still looks the same.
shareMy second cousin Harry Flournoy was #44 and featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated cover along with Pat Riley. I'm not sure about the other player's portrayal in the movie but I will say his experience wasn't accurate.
In the movie, Harry was shown working in a local factory and being discovered by Coach Haskins during a game of pickup one night. He still scratches his head at this change since he was recruited out of high school and the original events are far more interesting. Coach Haskins wanted to recruit Harry so bad he drove up to meet him in Gary, Indiana. During this visit, Harry discovered that his high school basketball coach hid all of his offer letters from interested white schools. I believe there were more than 75 letters in all. The same coach and his high school principal blocked Haskins from talking to Harry on school grounds. They also did not tell Harry the coach was in town looking to recruit him. The next day, Haskins followed Harry from school and met him at his parent's home. That scene is played out in the movie. And yes, she did offer him some pie.
The scene where Harry's mother shows up at school is a great but unfortunately not true. He was Mr. Social and as a result his grades dropped. His mother didn't drive down to Texas and sit in the classroom but gave him a stern lecture on the phone which Haskins initiated. Harry said Haskins was a great man and he looked to him like a second father like all the guys on the team.
I've never asked him about Rupp. I was just wondering if the players said racist things during the game and he said no they were all great sportsmen unlike their fans who were really nasty and that the Confederate flag was huge. LOL! Oh, he particularly singled out Pat Riley as a great player and really nice.
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