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FinalFourConcierge.com > NCAA Final Four History Champions > UTEP 1966 NCAA Basketball Champion |
NCAA Final Four Champs |
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NCAA Final Four Champion > UTEP > 1966 |
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1966 NCAA Final Four Information |
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1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Teams 22 Finals Site Cole Field House College Park, Maryland Champions Texas Western (1st title) Runner-Up Kentucky (5th title game) Semifinalists Duke (3rd Final Four) Utah (3rd Final Four) Winning Coach Don Haskins (1st title) MOP Jerry Chambers Utah Attendance 140,925 Top scorer Jerry Chambers Utah (143 points) |
The 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 22 schools playing
in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division
I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1966, and ended with the championship
game on March 19 in College Park, Maryland. A total of 26 games were played,
including a third place game in each region and a national third place game. Texas Western, coached by Don Haskins, won the national title with a 72-65 victory in the final game over Kentucky, coached by Adolph Rupp. Coach Haskins started five black players for the first time in NCAA Championship history. Jerry Chambers of Utah was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The 2006 film Glory Road is based on the story of the 1966 Texas Western team. |
UTEP's older version of Paydirt Pete, as seen from the UTEP locker room in Sun Bowl
Stadium In a letter to the dean of students, Dr. Ray demanded that something be done about that "sorry-looking, pot-bellied creature, not fit to represent the Miners." Clyde was surveyed out in 1966 and replaced by Henry, another burro. The name Paydirt Pete originated from a 1974 contest to give a name to the mascot. The name Paydirt Pete was selected from over 500 entries. The first animated Paydirt Pete was given a face in 1974. It was recreated in 1980. |
The Miners have had nearly as many mascots for its athletic teams as the school has
had names. Probably the first so-called mascot was a student dressed as a prospector leading a burro named Clyde. Some years after Clyde began making appearances at football games, then-president Dr. Joseph Ray became disenchanted with the animal's appearance. |
March 18, 2008 UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Host: University of Dayton UD Arena Concierge March 20 and 22, 2008 Honda Center Anaheim, California Host: Big West Conference Honda Center Concierge Pepsi Center Denver, Colorado Hosts: Colorado State University Pepsi Center Concierge Qwest Center Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Hosts: Creighton University Qwest Center Omaha Concierge Verizon Center Washington, D.C. Host: Georgetown University Verizon Center Concierge March 21 and 23, 2008 BJCC Arena Birmingham, Alabama Host: Southeastern Conference BJCC Arena Concierge Alltel Arena Little Rock, Arkansas Host: University of Arkansas Alltel Arena Concierge RBC Center Raleigh, North Carolina Host: North Carolina State University RBC Center Concierge St. Pete Times Forum Tampa, Florida Host: University of South Florida St Pete Times Forum Concierge March 27 and 29, 2008 East Regional Charlotte Bobcats Arena Charlotte, North Carolina Host: University of North Carolina Charlotte Arena Concierge West Regional US Airways Center Phoenix, Arizona Host: Arizona State University US Airways Center Concierge March 28 and 30, 2008 Midwest Regional Ford Field Detroit, Michigan Host: University of Detroit Mercy Ford Field Concierge South Regional Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas Host: University of Houston and Rice Reliant Stadium Concierge Final Four: April 5 and 7, 2008 Alamodome San Antonio, Texas Host: Univ. of Texas-San Antonio Alamodome Concierge |
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This was a lovable little ol' Miner which probably led to his being dubbed "Sweet
Pete." At any rate, ol' Sweet Pete was not a very popular mascot and, like Clyde,
he made a quick exit in order for the present Paydirt Pete to arrive on the
scene. This Paydirt Pete is meaner looking, has a major-league swagger and has become something of a goodwill ambassador for the school, as well as appearing at UTEP sporting events. This Pete stuck until the late 1990s and was built and designed by El Pasoan Richard Glass. Sometime after Pete made his appearance, he decided to kick the smoking habit and the cigar, which jutted to one side of his mouth, was removed. |
