Production note The movie cost about $6 million and grossed $28.6 million.
Production note Hackman reportedly hated making the film and thought it would flop.
Production note The film was shot partly in Knightstown, Indiana, and the gym scenes used Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler.
Production note Russillo says he visited the Hoosiers gym and it felt almost religious.
Production note The director said Hackman wanted him fired, but the dailies saved his job.
Production note Hopper used a 10-second spin to fake drunkenness on camera.
Production note Five college-basketball-player actors were suspended by the NCAA for appearing in the film and getting paid.
Production note The real Jimmy Chitwood was Bobby Plump, and actor Maris Valainis became a golf pro.
Production note The movie's final-state title game is based on Milan High's 1954 title run.
The Natural Used as the main comparison point for all-time great sports movies and as a childhood favorite/foe to Hoosiers.
Rocky Discussed as a major sports-movie ancestor and part of the genre's lineage.
Bad News Bears Cited as another sports template that had already covered part of the genre terrain.
Slap Shot Named as one of the great sports comedies that helped define the era before Hoosiers.
Breaking Away Ebert's comparison point for Hoosiers' heart and human nature.
Blue Chips Used to illustrate a great coach/scene with Bob Cousy shooting foul shots.
Major League Referenced through Eddie Harris and the 'that guy' discussion.
Teen Wolf Used as an example of implausible sports-movie details and repeated plays.
Unforgiven Cited as another Hackman/Western-era favorite and a film they want to revisit on the show.
French Connection Mentioned as Hackman's best film by legacy but less rewatched by younger audiences.
Enemy of the State Mentioned as another Hackman rewatchable.
The Conversation Named as a great Hackman title with acclaim.
Brubaker Cited as the film where Russillo says the slow clap likely originated.
Hoop Dreams Discussed as a top sports documentary and possible all-time sports movie inclusion.
Network Mentioned when trying to remember the source of a famous classroom speech clip.
