1963 Loyola of Chicago Ramblers – NCAA Champs

1963 Loyola Ramblers – NCAA Champs

Written by Lawrence Tanter

This Thursday (3/22/18)...the small university on Chicago's near north side will be the subject of many newscasts and sports commentators across the country. I've attached an articile I wrote 8 years ago to refresh the memory, and add a bit of perspective to the historical significance of the 1963 NCAA basketball tournament.

The Loyola Ramblers are one of many schools that have made "March Madness" a national phenomena. Although it's only a basketball game...the 'game of change' has become a powerful reminder of the social fabric and political landscape of America during the 1960's.
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1963 Loyola Ramblers – NCAA Champs
Lawrence Tanter 2010

Now that Hoop season reaches an apex this month – a stroll down Basketball lane would be timely. The year was 1963 (47 years ago)...Loyola University of Chicago played Mississippi State in the NCAA regional basketball tournament. The Bulldogs of MSU took the bold step of defying the Mississippi governor's wishes, going up to East Lansing, Michigan, to play a predominantly-black Loyola squad. Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett banned the Mississippi school from traveling to the tournament to play against Loyola's black players. Sending a decoy team to divert state police, the Mississippi State team successfully sneaked out of the state to play the Ramblers. Loyola won 61-51. Jerry Harkness, the Loyola guard still remembers all the camera flashbulbs that went off simply because Joe Dan Gold, the MSU captain, shook his hand before tipoff.

The NCAA sponsored a special screening of the documentary "Game of Change," that chronicles the historic 1963 NCAA regional semifinal game between Loyola University of Chicago and Mississippi State University. The documentary detailed events surrounding that 1963 game.

Loyola went on to play two- time defending champion Cincinnati later in the tournament at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. Throughout most of the game it looked as if the Bearcats were headed for a third straight title. They were dominatingthe Ramblers and were up 15 points (45-30) midway through the second half. Loyola though, made a remarkable comeback, and in the final seconds of regulation, tied the score at 54, sending the NCAA title game into overtime.The Ramblers were able to pull it out in overtime, winning the game 60-58. Loyola won the game despite shooting only 27.4% from the field, and playing the starting line-up the entire game.

The Ramblers only committed three turnovers for the game. So when you’re clued to the tube this month...remember how tiny Loyola University opened the door, and helped this nation move in a positive direction.