35 Years Ago: Minnesota Brawl

[greyscarlet]

From what I have been told(by relatives of someone on the bench), this was a racially motivated attack. My understanding is our white players were bloodied while our black players were untouched. If this is indeed the case it makes it even that much more appalling. I too would like to see a video to gain perspective, and not just hearsay, of this event.

[Yertle]

My grandfather has told me about this event many times, but being born in 1972, I have never seen the actual footage. Anyways, he's an EXTREMELY unemotional person, but always gets outraged when he speaks of this brawl. Also, being big Clippers fans growing up, we were all Yankees fans, but he strongly rooted against Winfield.

Without a doubt, even to this day, he dislikes only one team, and it's Minnesota. I'd like to learn more about this brawl.

[Taosman]

Freakin' Musselman got the Minny crowd worked into a frenzy, days in advance.
Ready to explode, all it took was some pushing and shoving to start a riot.
People from the crowd came onto the court and attacked Witte(center) and other players. Merchant? And Wager.
Dave Winfield(Minny) was involved. (Yep! That one!)
I've hated Winfield ever since!
Alan Hornyack was on that team. Maybe Jim Cleamons ,also.
Hope Musselman went to his grave with that game on his conscience.

[gracelhink]

The career of Luke Witte was certainly highlighted by his soph year in '71 when he grabbed 331 rebounds, ranking him for 7th place all time individual rebounds in one season in the OSU records and was voted All Big Ten. After the brawl 1/25/72 and missing much of the latter part of the '72 season, he still recorded a career (1971-73) total of 819 rebounds for 6th place in individual OSU records. I too remember a long rehab period followed by tentative play afterward.
What is most amazing to me is his testimony of the will to forgive in spite of personal assault and a career that was hindered whether it was racially inflamed or not. What Witte has done with this significant event that no doubt has shaped much of his life speaks of the positive that can result from a deplorable situation. Witte, in addition to his responsibilities as a minister at his congregation, gives talks about what happened to him, how he has arrived at the ability to forgive those who hurt him so and the meaning of forgiveness in his life.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Forgiveness helps Witte heal after 1972 brawl
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Rob Oller
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


Like so many others who witnessed the ugly brawl, Luke Witte cannot forget, but he might be one of the few who can forgive. The events of Jan. 25, 1972, remain burned not only into Witte?s brain, but also into the collective memory of Minnesota and Ohio State basketball fans who remember how the Golden Gophers ganged up on several Buckeyes in the final minute of a tense Big Ten game in Williams Arena, where OSU plays today, 35 years later.

Continued.....

[xaun]

I was reading that many people in this forum haven't seen footage of the infamous 1972 brawl. I have uploaded the video to youtube at the following URL:

YouTube - 1972 College Basketball Brawl -...

This is definitely one of the most embarrassing moments in sports' history and shouldn't be forgotten.

~Hilario

[OH10]

Why does it say the video is no longer available?

[OCBuckWife]

Undeletube won't pull it back up either.