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January 25, 1972: Minnesota Brawl

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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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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.
 
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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.....
Click to expand...
 
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1972 college brawl - Minnesota vs Ohio Buckeyes

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:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxnCY0CZ1pE]YouTube - 1972 College Basketball Brawl - Minnesota vs Ohio Buckeyes[/ame]

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

~Hilario
 
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Steve19;1098788; said:
That's okay. For those of us who saw it, it is indelibly incribed in our memories.
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Totally agree. I wasn't sure I really wanted to see it again after watching it live. I was just curious as to how much editing they did on that video. Even though coaches have changed every time we play Minnesota in basketball I want to beat their asses just because of the bad taste that fiasco left in my mouth. For those who have not seen it, there is no way to describe it.
 
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For those of us who haven't seen it, it would have been interesting to see it however. Reading about it isn't the same impact. Experiences both good and bad shape us, both as humans and as sports fans. You don't have to rewatch it if you don't want to.
 
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OCBuckWife;1098805; said:
For those of us who haven't seen it, it would have been interesting to see it however. Reading about it isn't the same impact. Experiences both good and bad shape us, both as humans and as sports fans. You don't have to rewatch it if you don't want to.
Click to expand...

I sure wasn't saying don't watch it. The account on Wikipedia Luke Witte - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is accurate. We had the game in hand. Minnesota players became frustrated and started a fight in the most disgusting way, knocking our star center unconscious. it went on and on, fans got involved. And no one would hold Minnesota to account.

If you think Matta is held in esteem, Fred Taylor was held in greater esteem at the time. He said that the way he and the team were treated by the Big Ten and NCAA robbed him of all enthusiasm for the game. He left coaching shortly thereafter.

Let's not lose this image.

witte.jpg


During a basketball game in Minnesota in 1972, Ohio State's Luke Witte (pictured) was kneed in the groin by Corky Taylor while going up for a layup. Taylor then hit Witte in the head, and Minnesota's Ron Behagen kicked Witte while he was still on the floor. Taylor and Behagen were suspended for the remainder of the season.
Link
 
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my dad has told me about this mugging on more than one occasion. I usually have to tell him to stop talking about it because he gets real worked up about it and in turn gets me worked up. i have never seen footage of this but i despise minny all the same. The fact that it was racially motivated makes my blood boil...
 
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