50 Years Ago Today

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Mescalero

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A mugging occurred, more accurately a mob assault and battery, in "The Barn" at the University of Minnesota. Their fans and even their mascot got involved. Three Ohio State basketball players hospitalized, two in the ICU. Fans blocking the tunnel away from the court back to the visitors locker room. Dave Winfield is despicable and was part of it. Ohio State players thrown and dragged up into the stands to be beaten up. Minnesota players stomping on Ohio State players' heads. Not one of those Minnesota players was arrested. No fans were arrested. Bill Musselman went on to coach another three years at Minnesota and had an NBA career, but he finally got what he deserved. The Big Ten never disciplined that team and they ended up winning the Big Ten that year. Luke Witte was never the same and played only two years in the NBA. He's now a pastor. Fred Taylor, Ohio State's coach, had a 246-95 record and a national championship up to that point in his career, but went 49-63 after and retired three seasons later at age 52. That mugging just zapped his spirit. I was 10 at the time and remember reading about it in the newspaper the next day. Afterwards, the disdain my father, uncle, and grandfather had for U of Minnesota far exceeded any rivalry with the University of Michigan and it's the same for me to this day. Michigan is a fierce rivalry. I have only utter contempt and disdain for the U of Minnesota. A few weeks later Indiana beat Minnesota very bad, and Bobby Knight dedicated that win to Fred Taylor, who he played for at Ohio State. The next weekend after the mugging, Ohio State played in Ann Arbor and the Michigan fans gave the team a standing ovation.

This tragic event has been swept under the rug. BTW, Ohio State plays at "The Barn" this Thursday.

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"Their fans were on the court fighting with us. Coming up behind us. Tackling us. Punching us. I remember six or seven Minnesota players running around the court fighting with people. I was terrified,

Remember some people wanted to act like a thrown bottle of mustard was the worst thing fans ever did at a College sporting event.
 

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