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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Were the Huskers Really Interchangeable?
Upon the release of Hoosiers, a few movie critics complained that the Huskers were indistinguishable from one another. “The young players are never sharply defined,” wrote Kirk Honeycutt in the Times-Advocate of Escondido, California. David Mannweiler of the Indianapolis News commented that, of the eight members of the home team, only three stood out to him: Jimmy, because he was the shooter; the “preacher’s son” who knelt for prayer before games; and the “blond half-pint” who secured the regional-game victory. “It’s impossible to match names with players,” he wrote. “They’re interchangeable cardboard figures.”
In actuality, the Huskers were written with differing personalities, as seen in the shooting script. Rade is described as the class talker, known for his frequent departures from reality. His brother, Whit, is simply dumb. Merle is the tallest and best player and is afraid of missing out on the Korean War. Everett, Shooter’s son, is built like a rock and about as conversant. Strap, son of a Pentecostal preacher but not a proselytizer himself, smiles a lot for no apparent reason. Buddy, son of troublemaking townsman George, is good looking, cocky, and a great ball handler. Short and frenetic Ollie is the team’s equipment manager. Sharpshooter Jimmy is a taut, angular boy.
From the beginning, the filmmakers planned to hire real-life basketball players instead of professional actors to portray seven of the Huskers. (The exception was Everett.) Therefore, screenwriter Angelo Pizzo gave each Husker only a small amount of dialog. This limited number of lines, along with the screenplay’s descriptions of each Husker, were all the basketball-playing novice actors had to go on when crafting their performances. Nevertheless, their personalities do come through in the movie — some more than others.
Jimmy, whose last-second shot hands his team the state title, is the most mysterious character. He rarely speaks and is absent from the team until midseason. Although his reasons for supporting Coach Dale are not spelled out, the screenplay offers a clue. A scene that didn’t make it into the film has Coach Dale missing a game early in the season to help Jimmy and his brother after they are involved in a traffic accident.
Whit is the Husker we learn the least about. But clearly he is a follower rather than a leader. He walks out of the first practice when goaded to by Buddy, after looking to brother Rade for assistance. The next day he apologizes to Coach Dale and asks for a second chance at his father’s urging. And the screenplay mentions that, when Rade defies the coach’s orders in the first game by shooting without first passing four times, Whit then does the same.
The character of Strap displays an interesting contradiction. Although generally peaceful and prayerful, he enjoys a good fight, as evidenced by his grin as he joins the brawls that break out during the Cedar Knob and sectional games.
Merle is empathetic in general and sympathetic toward Coach Dale in particular. In the locker room before the season opener, noticing Dale’s nervousness, Merle asks, “Coach, you all right?” In a deleted scene, he rallies his teammates in an attempt to enter the town meeting and express their support for Dale. And before the climactic state-finals game, he delivers one of the movie’s best lines: “Let’s win this one for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here.”
As the shortest, youngest, and only blond Husker, Ollie stands out visually. Called upon to become a substitute player rather than just functioning as team manager, this underdog achieves both personal and team victories while providing comic relief.
Rade is impulsive. He talks out of turn and is benched during the first game for disobeying the coach’s instructions.
Buddy works through initial anger issues to become team captain. In the screenplay, a subplot is devoted to his leaving Hickory High after being ejected from the first practice. He transfers to neighboring Terhune High and joins their basketball team, only to soon change his mind and ask Coach Dale if he can rejoin the Huskers. All these scenes were cut for time.
Because he appears in several scenes that show him dealing with his father’s alcoholism, Everett is one of the more well defined team members.
The fact that movie critics saw Hoosiers only once before rendering their verdict meant that some of them missed subtleties in the characterizations. The Huskers’ personality traits are more easily discernable with multiple and careful viewings of the film.
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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.