The national champions in college basketball will be determined on Sunday and Monday, with a probable visit to the White House for celebration. However, after more than six decades, one team has finally earned the opportunity to visit Pennsylvania Avenue.
George Finley, a former player for the Tennessee A&I Tigers during their championship streak, expressed, “This is the greatest day of my life.” Finley, along with five of his teammates, now in their 80s, had the long-awaited chance to meet Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Friday.
The Tennessee A&I Tigers men’s basketball team secured their place in history as the first HBCU team to clinch a national championship in 1957. They further solidified their legacy by achieving a remarkable feat of winning three consecutive national titles from 1957 to 1959.
During a time marked by segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, Black college athletes faced numerous obstacles, often being denied recognition and opportunities to compete at the highest levels. Tennessee A & I, currently known as Tennessee State University, stands as a public HBCU.
In a meeting hosted by Harris, six members of the championship team, including Henry Carlton, Robert Clark, Ron Hamilton, Ernie Jones, George Finley, and Dick Barnett, gathered with their families and close associates in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.
Reflecting on the challenges faced both on and off the court, Harris commended the team for their perseverance and emphasized the importance of acknowledging and learning from history to progress as a nation.
The journey to the White House was marked by significant hurdles, including a bomb threat during their return from the NAIA championship game in 1957 and participation in civil rights protests. Despite the delays, the Tigers were eventually honored for their historic achievements and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Former Tiger and NBA star Dick Barnett played a crucial role in raising awareness about the team, leading up to their Hall of Fame induction in 2019. The story of the team’s recognition is featured in a documentary titled “The Dream Whisperer,” narrated by Barnett and showcasing interviews with former players and affiliates.
The players, expressing their gratitude for the recognition, presented Harris, an HBCU alumna herself, with a personalized jersey as a token of appreciation during their visit.
