6 Things You Never Knew About ‘Hoosiers,’ Gene Hackman’s Basketball Classic
The 1986 basketball drama Hoosiers, which airs tonight at 8pm EST on TCM, has been singled out by both the American Film Institute and USA Today as one of the greatest sports films of all time — and it’s not hard to see why. The film, directed by David Anspaugh and written by Angelo Pizzo, tells the inspiring, almost-true story of a small-town Indiana high school basketball team’s journey to the state championship finals. Starring Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey and Dennis Hopper, the movie showcased the determination and spirit of a team that defies the odds, and became an inspiration to real-life sports underdogs everywhere.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or watching for the first time, here are six fun facts about the film that you might not know. And if you can’t catch it tonight, TCM will be showing Hoosiers again late night on May 12 (technically May 13) as part of their tribute to Gene Hackman.
1 Hoosiers was inspired by a true story
Orion/Everett Collection
While Hoosiers isn’t a direct retelling of the 1954 Milan High School team’s story, the film draws significant inspiration from their real-life victory. Milan was a tiny school in southern Indiana that achieved the impossible by winning the state championship.
Much like Hickory High in the film, Milan was an underdog with an undersized team, and the last-second shot that won the game for Hickory mirrors the real-life game-winner made by Bobby Plump of Milan. Another parallel? The film’s climactic championship game was filmed at the same gym, Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where Milan’s victory also took place.
2 Gene Hackman almost didn’t get the role (and Jack Nicholson almost did)
Orion Pictures/Everett Collection.
Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Coach Norman Dale is one of the film’s most iconic performances. However, Hackman almost didn’t take the role, fearing that starring in a sports film could hurt his career. He even predicted that Hoosiers would be a “career killer.” Jack Nicholson originally wanted to play Coach Dale, but was unable to film due to serving as a witness in a lawsuit at the time. He told production they could move on without him, and they cast Hackman instead. Fortunately for Hackman, despite his uneasiness, his portrayal of Coach Dale became one of his most beloved performances.
3 The film actually had a modest budget
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Hoosiers was made on a relatively modest budget of $6 million; this led the filmmakers to take money-saving measures including casting local actors and recruiting extras from the community. Despite financial constraints, the film grossed over $28 million and became a critical and commercial success.
4 Trouble with the NCAA
Orion Pictures/Everett Collection
After the film was released, controversy arose when the NCAA suspended five actors who had played basketball players in the film for violating eligibility rules; the actors were paid for their roles, which made them ineligible to play college basketball. For instance, Steve Hollar, who played for DePauw University at the time of filming, was eventually given a three-game suspension and had to return 5% of his pay — even though he was technically classified as an actor, not a basketball player, in the film.
5 Hoosiers helped revive interest in small-town sports
Orion Pictures/Everett Collection
The film’s release sparked a renewed interest in high school basketball across the United States, and its depiction of small-town teams and underdog victories inspired countless young athletes and fans. It also helped put the spotlight on Indiana’s basketball culture, making the state’s high school tournaments even more popular in the years that followed.
6 Hoosiers was renamed in other countries
Orion Pictures/Everett Collection
To make the film more understandable to audiences outside the U.S., Hoosiers was renamed Best Shot in several international markets. The change was made because many people outside of the U.S. wouldn’t be familiar with the term “Hoosier,” which refers to someone from Indiana.
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