Hoosiers was released in 1986, starring Gene Hackman as Coach Norman Dale, Barbara Hershey as Myra, Dennis Hopper as Shooter (the town drunk), and Sheb Wooley as Principal Cletus. The movie follows the boys basketball team of fictional Hickory, Indiana, as they journey from the season's beginning to the state championship game. Taking place during the 1951/1952 school year, the story is loosely based on the real-life Milan High 1953/1954 team out of Milan, Indiana. Coach Dale's fiery courtside demeanor and no-nonsense attitude is loosely based on legendary college coach, Bobby Knight. Jimmy Chitwood, one of the players, also has a loose basis is history. Jimmy Chitwood is seen taking the final shot of the state championship game to bring the win home to the Hickory Huskers. In real life, Bobby Plump took the final shot of the game to boost Milan over Muncie Central in 1954.
Having been raised by a tried-and-true Hoosier, I knew the story of Milan/Muncie Central before I could walk. I still remember hearing that the movie Hoosiers was being made. I fondly remember going to see it in the theater on opening weekend, and knowing even then that it would always be one of my favorites.
I am not the only person to think Hoosiers is a great movie. Hoosiers is consistently rated as one of the best sports movies in history. The American Film Institute (AFI) voted Hoosiers as #13 on it's 100 Years...100 Cheers list of most inspirational movies, and #4 in the sports genre in it's Ten Top Ten list. Hoosiers has also been selected by Library of Congress to be preserved in the US National Film Registry. Coach Dale's locker room speech is also commonly played on the jumbotron at college sporting events (particularly baseball and football).
If you have not seen Hoosiers, pick it up from your local rental facilities, or put it on your Netflix queue. You won't regret it.
Opening credits
Team arrives at State Championship facilities
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