Years after a shadow of darkness swallowed up the nation's happiness, February 22, 1980 marked a day that reinvigorated the hope of the American people. Events in the 1970s and 1980s hurt American national pride: the fall of South Vietnam and the Watergate scandal that resulted in the resignation of President Nixon. In 1977, Jimmy Carter was sworn in as President of the United States of America. Three years later, the United States of America hosted the XIII Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York, in 1980. At that time, Americans had very little reason to turn to them : due to the Iranian hostage crisis, a struggling economy and the Cold War. February 22, 1980 will be remembered as the day when the young American ice hockey team would influence American culture by regaining the hopes of the American population thanks to an unexpected victory. With only six months to build and coach a team, head coach Herb Brooks selected 20 college-aged hockey players. With the odds already not in the team's favor, only one of the 20, Buzz Schneider, had any real Olympic experience. College hockey rivals Boston University and the University of Minnesota made up the bulk of the team. Brooks previously coached at the University of Minnesota; where he coached Bill Baker, Neal Broten, Steve Christoff, Steve Janaszak, Rob McClanahan, Mike Ramsey, Buzz Schneider, Eric Strobel and Phil Verchota; all of whom he had selected to play for the American team. On the other hand, the team captain, Mike Eruzione, and his teammates; Jim Craig, Jack O'Callahan and Dave Silk all played for the University of Minnesota's rival, Boston University. The University of Wisconsin was represented by Mark Johnson and Bob Suter; while Ken Morrow and Mar... middle of paper ... were a source of pride and celebration that had not been present in years. A team made up of amateur students had beaten a team that had trained all year. The game also inspired a generation of American children to play hockey. This brought attention to a sport overlooked by many. The 1980 Winter Olympics changed the world of Olympic hockey by allowing professional players and NHL stars to compete in the Olympics. The Olympic Games also brought the emergence of new technologies allowing all sporting events to be followed; only those who were in the arena at the time saw the event live. “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" –Al Michaels The "Miracle on Ice" changed American culture with the victory that no one expected would come from a group of young people chosen by Coach Brooks. The Americans were grappling with the difficulties associated with foreign and domestic problems..