In 1985, two novice moviemakers, director David Anspaugh and writer/producer Angelo Pizzo, began filming Hoosiers. They and their cast and crew faced the pressures of a short schedule, a small budget, and other challenges. Yet buoyed by the support of countless Indiana residents, they overcame their own self-doubt and the skepticism of outsiders to create a classic. This website showcases rare images from and not-widely-known facts about this much-loved movie.
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In Northern Indiana, a Legendary Coach Is Honored in a Nod to Hoosiers
Reminders of Hoosiers’ enduring popularity can be found around Indiana. In New Richmond, where the movie’s town scenes were captured, the post office window still says “Hickory, Ind.” The lobby of the Hoosier Gym, filming site of the Huskers’ home games, is packed with Hoosiers merchandise—T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, jackets. About 60 miles to the southeast, the Milan ’54 Hoosiers Basketball Museum displays memorabilia from both the movie and the small town’s 1954 team, who became unlikely state champions. And in Mishawaka, a new pocket park contains sculptures that re-create the movie’s most popular scene.
The statue of Marvin Wood, coach of the Milan Indians from 1952 to 1954, in the park named for him.
Mishawaka doesn’t have a connection to Hoosiers. But it does have a connection to the coach of the basketball team who served as partial inspiration for the film. Years after Marvin Wood led the Milan Indians to the 1954 state title, he ended up in Mishawaka, where he coached for 11 seasons. Subsequently he led college women’s teams at Bethel and at Saint Mary’s in nearby South Bend. He also served as a city councilman. He died in 1999 at age 71.
On the rain-soaked afternoon of October 5, 2023, the cleverly named Marvin’s Garden was dedicated in Wood’s memory. Located on the banks of the St. Joseph River, at 532 State Highway 933, the park is less than 7 miles from the Michigan border. Its focal point is a grouping of sculptures that depict a fan-favorite scene in Hoosiers: the Huskers in Butler Fieldhouse, measuring the distance from the basket to the court. Instead of showing Coach Norman Dale and the Huskers, however, the statues show Coach Wood observing three of his Milan Indians as they take the measurements.
Sculptural representations of 1954 Milan team members (from top to bottom) Bobby Plump, Ray Craft, and Gene White.
Undoubtedly many visitors to Marvin’s Garden will interpret the statues to mean that the Indians took measurements in Butler Fieldhouse upon their first trip to the state finals, in 1953. But according to Hoosiers screenwriter Angelo Pizzo, he invented this scene that takes place in Butler’s gym (renamed Hinkle Fieldhouse in 1966); it never happened to the real-life Milan players. “I have a firm vision of somebody telling me about a coach doing that [measuring the basket and court] in Hinkle when their team arrived there for the first time,” he said. “I think we were scouting Hinkle [for use as a filming site] at the time.”
A plaque in Marvin’s Garden explains that the sculptures are “an homage to the scene from the movie.” This peaceful greenspace and its bronze figures are meant to “provide inspiration to all underdogs, including small schools, towns, and cities like Mishawaka. As represented by the life of Marv Wood, the strength of one’s character and commitment is what will allow one to compete on any level, regardless of size and resources.”
Substituting real people for the actors in a movie scene is an unusual and unexpected way to pay tribute to Hoosiers. Those who view the Marvin’s Garden statues will absorb an amalgamation of fact and fiction. They will consider the paradox that a film inspired by a real team and coach has in turn inspired artistic representations of that team and coach that are based on the film.
Bobby Plump, whose game-winning shot secured Milan the 1954 Indiana state basketball crown.
Starting guard Ray Craft supports Bobby Plump on his shoulders.
Gene White, Milan’s 5-foot-11 center, helps with the measuring.
Neighborhood park Marvin’s Garden looks north toward the St. Joseph River in Mishawaka.
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For more stories like this one, read the updated and expanded The Making of Hoosiers, Second Edition. Also available for Kindle! New to this edition are photos and images, as well as additional stories, quotations, details, and information on the production of this classic motion picture. The most complete account of the creation of the movie, it’s a must-have for anyone who loves Hoosiers. Paperback; 312 pages; $16.50; published August 2016. Kindle edition $9.99. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Copyright © 2013–2024 The Hoosiers Archive
I love the Hoosiers movie. I watch it often. I always wondered how Buddy got back on the team. That should be shown.
Live in South Dakota. Love Hoosiers. We have 3 classes of high school basketball. I know some years the small schools would match up well with Sioux Falls big schools.
Grew up in Lewisville, Indiana, 9 miles east of Knightstown. Played basketball in the Knightstown gym back in the ’60s. Played basketball for Lewisville Bears 61-64 with Marion Pierce. Marion graduated in 1961 after becoming the state’s all-time leading scorer with 3,019 points during his high school career. These were 32-minute games (4 8-minute quarters). Marion held the title until Damon Bailey broke his scoring record with 3,134 career points.
Hi all,
We’re in no-basketball country here in Quebec, where hockey is #1. But Hoosiers has a lot of fans here. No movie that inspirational has ever been made about the so-called major sports. I personally love how the details are true to history, how the players gradually gain respect for Coach Dale, and how Indiana autumn looks like ours. Long live the Huskers!
My grandson played an all-star game at Hoosier Gym today. The restoration is really something. I took a lot of pictures. After reading your fabulous website I watched Hoosiers again with a new perspective. Thank you for your dedication.
Boyd (Bloomington). 09FEB2020
I was a letter carrier in Knightstown when the movie was being shot. While I was delivering in the area of the Hoosier Gym one day, a man was walking around by himself in the schoolyard. I wondered if it could be one of the actors. I walked over and got to meet Gene Hackman. Very nice guy just out enjoying the area!
GREAT site!!! Thanks for sharing. I was an extra at the Regional game filmed in Lebanon, Indiana. I have a few photos and part of a script autographed by the entire team plus the main stars. Lots of wonderful memories from working on this film.
Thanks so much Gayle for your fine and insightful book, truly a labor of love. And thanks too for this site, so full of fascinating material. I learned a heap. Both a great tribute to the thrilling, vibrant, melancholy, warmhearted poem that is Hoosiers.
Coming back to the film again, I seem to see and hear Coach Dale – ‘They put themselves on the line… This is your movie!’
your site is an amazing resource! thanks for all the hard work!
Wow, the great rebel Steve “Rade” Hollar left a comment. That’s a tribute to this interesting BTS site for one of the greatest movies ever. How ironic that the character with the biggest mouth ended up as a career dentist. Found myself watching HOOSIERS again today with a different perspective from all of the times before. That’s what wisdom will do to you. What an amazing discovery to learn that Ray Crowe was Oscar Robertson’s high school basketball coach from this site. Thank you David, Angelo, Steve and everyone who collaborated on this timeless work of inspiration. May you rest in peace, Kent Poole!
I was watching “Hoosiers” this morning and noticed something that I don’t see mentioned anywhere on this site. The scene in the locker room before the Championship game opens with Coach Dale going over the top players for the opposing team. Their top player is named “Boyle”. Then I noticed that all the top players listed on the chalk board share the last names of the actors playing the Hickory Huskers: Hollar, Long, Poole, Schenck. I had never noticed that before. 🙂
Excellent site – one of my favorite movies of all time. Thank you for building this site for fans and friends.
Went to New Richmond today. Everything is there except Coach Norman Dale. Great site, great book, too!
Gayle,
Love this site and your book!
Troy
Gayle,
Just found the site. I am #5 on the Linton team. I did not know a team photo existed. Great site!
Hey, Gayle!
Great site! Keep up the good work!
I just purchased the book and have found a lot of information on the movie. I grew up in Knightstown and my grandmother lived on the alley next to the Hoosier Gym. I spent many years playing ball in the gym. I plan on a road trip to see some of the other filming locations. Love the movie and will finish the book soon.
Absolutely love this site and just purchased the book! Can’t get enough of this movie and really enjoyed going down memory lane. Loved the movie as a young girl! Thanks for collecting the facts and sharing with all of us fanatics!
I’ve loved this film for years….stumbled on this site by chance…great pics and info about the locations would love to come over to the states and visit them ……great site….will buy the book as well….
You have a great site!!!
I found your website by accident the other day and I just love it. We’ve visited the gym several times, went to New Richmond twice and try to collect as much info and memorabilia as possible. We have many relatives up near Kokomo and we always come to Knightstown before going up there. We are thrilled with all the information on your site. Thank you so much.
Awesome website! I’ve watched this movie countless times and love it!
Awesome job with the site,Gayle–you are a true “HOOSIERS” expert!(Buddy-#14)
You have done a fantastic job of collecting information and memorabilia. Kudos to you for all of your hard work! This is a great resource for fans of the movie.
Gayle,
I enjoyed talking with you in Milan. I wish you much success on the new book.
My Best,
Steve Hollar aka Rade Butcher
What a great site. Started to re-read your book!
Great job Gayle. Can’t wait for more to come.