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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A Lieutenant Governor Was Hoosiers’ Unexpected Ally

Assisting with the production of a motion picture would seem to be an unusual job function for an elected official. But Indiana Lieutenant Governor John Massie Mutz did just that. Serving under Republican Governor Robert D. Orr from 1981 to 1989, the Indianapolis native was director of the Indiana Department of Commerce, of which the Indiana Film Commission was a part.

Mutz’s first public involvement with Hoosiers occurred when he and Orr attended a September 1985 press conference at Hinkle Fieldhouse. There the filmmakers announced the towns that were in the running to become filming locations, and they gave updates on how preproduction was going. Addressing the crowd, the lieutenant governor commented that the movie “will make it possible for us to share something we hold very dear with the entire world.”

Mutz witnessed the filming for himself as he stopped by Knightstown one day as scenes were being captured on the Huskers’ home court. The cast and crew surprised him with a cake to celebrate his 50th birthday.

The Huskers hold a birthday cake.

At the Knightstown filming, Indiana Lt. Gov. John Mutz is presented with a cake on his 50th birthday, November 5, 1985. Left to right: Director David Anspaugh, writer/producer Angelo Pizzo, Mutz, Steve Hollar (Rade), Scott Summers (Strap), Wade Schenck (Ollie), Kent Poole (Merle), Brad Long (Buddy).

An issue arose when some high school principals hesitated to allow their students to miss class to attend game filming. The moviemakers were counting on the participation of young people from around east-central Indiana to fill the bleachers. However, because the State Department of Education mandated that kids could be excused from school only for an educational experience, some principals were uncomfortable with the idea of giving their students the day off. But Mutz stepped in and told school leaders it was okay for kids to participate in the filming.

An even more serious problem occurred during the four-day shooting of the state-finals game. Thousands of extras were needed to fill Hinkle Fieldhouse, but only a couple hundred showed up the first evening. A camera operator suggested having two local high school basketball teams play a game at Hinkle on one of the remaining nights. Their fans could double as fans of the fictional Hickory Huskers and South Bend Bears for the filming. Mutz had his executive assistant, Guy Johnson, put producer Carter DeHaven in touch with the basketball coaches and athletic directors of Broad Ripple and Chatard high schools. After DeHaven explained the situation, the two schools agreed to move their boys’ basketball game scheduled for that Friday at Chatard to Hinkle.

The lieutenant governor also had the distinction of being the first person to publicly (and correctly) predict that Dennis Hopper would be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Mutz did so after seeing a sneak preview of Hoosiers held for Indiana state officials and members of the IFC. His prognostication came five and a half months before the nominations were announced.

At Hoosiers’ world premiere in Indianapolis, Mutz presented director David Anspaugh and writer/producer Angelo Pizzo with the Sagamore of the Wabash award, the highest honor given in the state of Indiana.

Shortly after the movie’s Indiana premiere, the lieutenant governor tried to intervene when the NCAA declared ineligible several college basketball players who appeared on teams in the film, including Hickory Husker Steve Hollar. They had broken the NCAA’s rule forbidding athletes from accepting compensation for playing their sport. As such, they faced the prospect of being suspended from their college teams and having to repay the money they earned. Mutz wrote to Steve Horton of the NCAA’s Enforcement Division, asking him not to penalize the novice actors. “It is my hope the eligibility committee … will find that no deception was intended on the part of these young ballplayers,” Mutz wrote. “Let’s settle this soon and let our boys do what they do best—play roundball.”

For his varied assistance to the production, Mutz was thanked in the closing credits.

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For more stories like this one, read the updated and expanded The Making of Hoosiers, Second Edition. Now 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; published August 2016. Kindle edition $9.99. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Copyright © 2013–2024 The Hoosiers Archive

27 thoughts on “”

  1. I love the Hoosiers movie. I watch it often. I always wondered how Buddy got back on the team. That should be shown.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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!

  5. 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

  6. 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!

  7. 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.

  8. 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!’

  10. 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!

  11. 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. 🙂

  12. Excellent site – one of my favorite movies of all time. Thank you for building this site for fans and friends.

  13. Went to New Richmond today. Everything is there except Coach Norman Dale. Great site, great book, too!

  15. Gayle,
    Just found the site. I am #5 on the Linton team. I did not know a team photo existed. Great site!

  17. 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.

  18. 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!

  19. 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….

  21. 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.

  23. Awesome job with the site,Gayle–you are a true “HOOSIERS” expert!(Buddy-#14)

  24. 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.

  25. Gayle,
    I enjoyed talking with you in Milan. I wish you much success on the new book.
    My Best,
    Steve Hollar aka Rade Butcher

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