Hoosiers

The term Hoosiers has for almost 200 years referred to anyone born in or resident of the State of Indiana.  Its derivation is not clear.  

In 1986, Hoosiers became the title of what I consider the best sports movie ever.  It was written by Angelo Pizzo, directed by David Anspaugh and stars Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper, Sheb Wooley and Barbara Hershey.  

15 years earlier, Hackman portrayed Popeye Doyle in the marvelous police drama The French Connection (see 12/19 post), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

27 years earlier, Hopper received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay (co-written with Peter Fonda and Terry Southern) for the film Easy Rider (award won by William Goldman for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid).  Hopper and Fonda also starred in the film.     

34 years earlier, Wooley played Ben Miller, one of four gunmen determined to kill Marshal Will Kane (Gary Cooper) in the great western High Noon (winner of four Academy Awards - see 3/15 post).  The brother of Frank Miller (Ian MacDonald), the leader of the gang, Ben was the first to be killed on the streets of Hadleyville.

In the same year (1986), Hershey portrayed Lee, one of three sisters in Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters (see June post).

Hoosiers is based on the true story of the 1954 Indiana state high school boys basketball champions, Milan High School.  With only an enrollment of 161 students, their basketball team defeated Muncie Central, a much larger school, in the championship game.

In the film Hoosiers, Norman Dale (Hackman) is hired by the principal (Wooley) to coach the Hickory (Indiana) High School boys basketball team.  He then hires the town drunk and father of one of his players to be his assistant (Hopper).  Dale develops a romantic relationship with a teacher at the school (Hershey).  

Hoosiers follows the team's ups and downs through their very successful basketball season (1951-1952), culminating in the Indiana state championship.

Before the semi-final game, Coach Dale gives an incredible motivational speech to his team.  To me, it speaks volumes about what athletic competition should be about.

"There's a tradition in tournament play not to talk about the next step until you've climbed the one in front of you.  I'm sure going to the state finals is beyond your wildest dreams.  So, let's keep it right there."  

"Forget about the crowd, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms and remember what got you here.  Focus on the fundamentals that we've gone over time and time again.  And most important, don't get caught up thinking about winning or losing this game.  If you put your effort and concentration into playing to your potential, to be the best that you can be, I don't care what the scoreboard says at the end of the game.  In my book, we're gonna be winners."