"Excuse me, miss?" "Could you direct me to Cletus Summer's office?" " It's up the stairs." " Thank you." "You're not the new coach?" "You expecting somebody different?" "Younger, I guess." "Sorry to disappoint you." "No, I must've misunderstood Cletus." "You see, he said he was hiring someone who'd never coached high school before" "I coached in college." "I hear you're our new history and civics teacher, as well?" "That's part of the job, as I understand it." "Have any experience teaching?" "Tell me something:" "Am I being interviewed here?" "I thought I already had the job." "Straight up." "You know, if everyone is as nice as you, country hospitality is gonna get an awful name." "What a pleasant thing to say." " Cletus?" " Hmm?" "What are you doing down there?" "Floatin'." "Norman Dale?" "I hardly recognized you." "It's been 20 years." "Buffalo State Teachers College, spring of '31." "You know, I've had a hell of a time tracking you down." "I didn't know you were still in the service." "I'm here now." "You really made good time." "Wasn't it just yesterday, or the day before that we settled this thing?" "You said practice started last week." "I figured I'd get here as soon as I could." "It's been a while for you." "Yeah, I really appreciate what you're doin'" "Let's not be repeating ourselves." "Your slate's clean here." "We've got a job to do." "So, come on, Coach, let me show you around." "This is where it all happens." "It's not exactly what you're used to, but we're proud of it." "And during the season, we'll put over 800 people in here, every Friday night." "When does practice start?" "Well, we'll practice at noon this week, 'cause some of the boys gotta get ready for threshing on Saturday." "Jimmy!" "I want you to meet someone." "This is Norman Dale, our new coach." "Hi." "Real friendly town you got here." "Can be." "Let's go on back out to the farm." "Got a place fixed up out there for you, get you squared away." "That's it." "Thank you." "Say hello to Chester." "Hello, Chester." "Say goodbye to Chester." "You say this kid Jimmy, he wouldn't play basketball after the coach died?" "Well, the coach was kinda like an old man to him, you know?" "Kid never had any family of his own, to speak of." "At least he comes on down to the school to shoot some buckets." "Aside from that, he's just about backed away from everything." "I don't know why you're going on so about this kid being irreplaceable." "It's my experience that nobody's irreplaceable." "Well, I think there's something you don't understand." "In over 40 years of looking at the best this state's ever had," "I have never seen a better ballplayer than Jimmy Chitwood." "Never!" "I'm glad you're here, Norm." "I think it's gonna work out." "Well, it's gotta work out this time, or that's it for good." "Last time you coached was 12 years ago?" " Yes, that's right." " Where?" "Uh, that was in Ithaca, New York." "Um, what you been doin' since?" "I've been in the Navy for the last 10 years." "I was a chief petty officer." "Well, looks like you're gonna need a little help." "Since I've been running practices the last couple weeks," "I'll help you out 'till you get your feet wet." "This town doesn't like change much, so we thought we'd get together here tonight, and show you how we do things here." "We trust that you're a fine, upstanding, God-fearing man, with Christian morals and principles, who will set an example and a standard of leadership for our boys." "Tell me, do you believe in man-to-man or a zone defense?" "Zone defense is all we've played in the past, and it's the only thing that'll work this year." "Them boys are too small, but remember:" "We were 15-10 last year, and we've got all our boys back but one." "Listen, I ain't interested in talking defense, here, and I don't have a hair of a notion why we hired someone that's been in the water for the last 10 years." "Now the main point here is we don't get Jimmy Chitwood back playing ball, we don't have a prayer." "He switches over to Terhune, we're in big trouble." "He's right, coach" "Gentlemen, it's been real nice talking to you." "Good night." "Miss Fleener?" "Good morning." "Heard the boys weren't real generous with you last night." "Oh, I keep forgetting, there are only about 50 people in this town." "This hick town, you mean?" "I didn't say that." "That's what you're thinkin', Isn't it?" "I thought we were gonna be friends." "Guess you're gonna want to talk about Jimmy." "Why would I?" "Well, certainly you've been told you can't win without him." "Too many times in the last 24 hours." "What's it have to do with you?" "I look after him- His mother's sick and his father passed away and we're neighbors." "And he and I decided that it's best not to play" " I see." "Well, that's fine." " You hear me?" " He's not going to play." " That's fine." "Well, I'm sure you're gonna be convinced to go after him." "Well, if I am, you'll be the first to know." "Ok." "Good morning." "Good morning." "Come on, give me two outside!" "Quit throwing the ball around and shoot it!" "Move it!" "That's it!" "Outside, Buddy!" "Get on the boards!" "Give me two!" "Give me two outside!" "Get it up there." "You can't score if you don't shoot!" "Shoot from outside!" "Quit throwing it around!" "Get it in the hole!" "Oh, there you are." "I thought we'd go 20 minutes on, 10 off and 20 on." "I had a different schedule in mind." "Look, mister, these boys got a routine they're used to." "You throw a new coach, with newfangled ideas at 'em, might get 'em all confused." "We'll ease into it real slow." "Hell, their first game's less than two weeks away." "First of all, let's be real friendly, here, ok?" "My name is Norm." "Secondly, your coaching days are over." "Look, mister, there's... two kinds of dumb." "Guy that gets naked and runs out in the snow and barks at the moon, and the guy who does the same thing in my living room." "First one don't matter, the second one, you're kind of forced to deal with." "Translate." "Is that some sort of threat?" "I don't know why Cletus drug your tired old bones in here." "He must've owed you something fierce." "Fact is, mister, you start screwing up this team," "I'll personally hide-strap your ass to a pine rail, and send you up the Monon Line." "Leave the ball, will you, George?" "Thank you." "Huddle up!" "Let's see what kind of hand I've been dealt here." "Seven players." "Is that it?" "Six." "I really don't count." "Why is that?" "Too short." "I'm not no good." "I suit up for practices to be a body." "Equipment manager's my trade." "I thought everybody in Indiana played basketball." "Sir?" "Most do, but not all go out for the team." "We only got 64 boys in the whole school." "This is gonna be a lonely bench." "Well, those of you who don't know, my name is Norman Dale." "I coached college ball for 10 years, but it's been 12 years since I've blown this." "So I'll be learning from you just like you learn from me." "I'm gonna be setting up practices a little bit differently than you're used to, but, as you'll find out, everything has its reasons." "Basketball is a voluntary activity." "It's not a requirement." "Any of you feel you don't want to be on the team, feel free to leave right now- did you hear what I said?" " Me?" " Yes, you." "Sure, I'm just curious to know when we start." "We start when I say so." "Ok, would you kinda let me know?" "Cause I'm kinda" "All right, out." "Out of here, right now." " You're kicking me out?" " Yes." "Don't come back until you learn to keep your mouth shut and listen." "Break my heart." "Come on, Will." "Let's fly this chicken coop." "Didn't you say you'd rather be down at Terhune, anyway?" "It's your funeral." " Let's move, Gizzard!" " I ain't no gizzard." "Have fun, Coach, trying to win with five... well, make that four and a half players." "Ok, let's get those folding chairs, line 'em up right here, about 10 feet apart." "Come on, little man!" "Let's move!" "Come on, let's move!" " When do we scrimmage?" " We don't scrimmage." "No shooting, either." "Ain't no fun!" "My practices aren't designed for your enjoyment." "Let's go!" "Let's move!" "Come on!" "I've seen you guys can shoot, but there's more to the game than shooting." "There's fundamentals and defense!" "Come on, palms up!" "Palms up!" "Come on, pop it!" "Pop it!" "Get rid of it!" "Pop it!" "Hot potato, hot potato!" "Hold it." "Hold it!" "Hold it." "Let's be real clear about what we're after here." "Wipe that smile off your face." "This is not funny." "The five players on the floor function as one single unit." "Team, team, team." "Right?" "No one more important than the other." "Pop 'em, pop 'em." "Get rid of 'em." "Come on." "Team!" "Come on, big guy, let's go!" "Get rid of it!" "Higher!" "Come on." "Keep the ball going!" "Come on, come on!" "No team of mine will ever run out of steam before its opponent." "With only five players, we can't afford to." "Go!" "Get the lead out!" "Move!" "Let's go!" "Can I help you, gentlemen?" "Just checking on the boys." "We heard you got some crazy ways of coaching." "No shooting, practicing without a ball." "Is that right?" "We've got some concerns about the way matters..." "We're gonna be doing this every day of practice!" "You're gonna be in the best physical shape of your lives." "Seems like we're in the army." "You are in the army- you're in my army, every day between 3:00 and 5:00." "Listen guys, practice is closed to outsiders." "I don't want any distractions." " Outsiders?" " Coach Tidd never" "Well, that was Coach Tidd." "This is something else." "Yeah?" "Hi, I'm Tom Butcher." "My son's got something to say to you." "Sorry, Coach, about walking out." "I'd be obliged if I got myself another chance." "Won't happen again." "You're the boss." "Ok." "There's still an hour of practice, get dressed." "The boys get a little mixed-up from time to time." "You get any trouble from Rade or Richard, let me know." "Coach says he's closing practice" " What are you boys doing here?" " Listen, I'll handle this." "No, I got this." "Boys, this man's got a job to do." "He wants you out of here." "You better be on your way." "Make two lines facing me." "Let's go!" "Come on." "Spread your legs, bend your knees, get your butt down." "Left hand up, right hand down." "To your right!" "Let's go!" "To your left!" "Let's go!" "Come on, move!" "Oh, don't worry about George." "He'll be right with you when you start winning." "Cletus!" "My friend, my good friend!" "Friend of yours, friend of tears!" "You're looking fit and fiddle." "Wilbur "Shooter" Flatch, this is Norman Dale, our new coach." " How are you?" " Coach." "Clets, you tell him." "Sectionals of '33, one point down." "Five, four, three, two, one!" "Let her fly... in and out." "Yeah, well, I was fouled." "Cletus, if you had... some small change?" "The missus and I have had a parting' of the ways" "To get you something to eat." "Oh, my friend, my dear friend." "Give it up." " Listen, why don't we" " Give it up!" " Sorry, Everett." " It ain't your fault." "My friend." "My friend of years." "I don't want to hear it, Dad." "Jimmy, I didn't see you in class today." "Any reason you wanna tell me about?" "You know, in the 10 years that I coached I never met anybody who wanted to win as badly as I did." "I'd do anything I had to do to increase my advantage." "Anybody who tried to block the pursuit of that advantage," "I'd just push 'em out of the way." "Didn't matter who they were or what they were doing." "But that was then." "You have a special talent." "A gift." "Not the school's, not the townspeople, not the team's, not Myra Fleener's, not mine." "It's yours to do with what you choose." "Because that's what I believe," "I can tell you this." "I don't care if you play on the team or not." "Mr. Dale, I wanna talk to you." "Leave him alone, all right?" "He's a real special kid, and I have high hopes for him." "And I think if he works really hard, he can get an academic scholarship to Wabash College, and can get out of this place." "Why, do have something against this place?" "For him, yes, I do." "He could do better." "You know, if Jimmy's as good as everybody says he is," "I would've thought that a basketball scholarship would've made a lot of sense." "Who'd ever see him play?" "The only thing that ever comes into Hickory from the outside is a train." "It's here for about five minutes." "Basketball scholarship." "You know, a basketball hero around here is treated like a god." "How could he ever find out what he could really do?" "I don't want this to be the high point of his life." "I've seen 'em, the real sad ones." "They sit around the rest of their lives talking about the glory days, when they were 17 years old." "You know, most people would kill to be treated like a god, just for a few moments." "Gods come pretty cheap nowadays, don't they?" "I mean, become one by putting a leather ball in an iron hoop." "And I hate to tell you this, Mr. Dale, but it's only a game." "Why so unfriendly, Ms. Fleener?" "I know men like you." "You don't know anything about me." "I know you're here." "I know this, this place doesn't even appear on most state maps." "A man your age comes to a place like this, he's either running away from something, or he has nowhere else to go." "What I'm doing here has nothing to do with you." "Just stay away from Jimmy." "I don't want him coaching in Hickory when he's 50." "Now. folks. let's make him feel welcome." "Our new coach..." "Norman Dale." "First of all, I'd like to thank those of you who have made me feel so welcome here." "Thank you... the boys and I are getting to know each other." "See who we are and what we can be." "So far, I like what I've seen." "I'm very excited to be a part of Indiana basketball." "This is your team." "We want Jimmy!" "I would hope you would support who we are, not who we are not." "These six individuals have made a choice to work, a choice to sacrifice, to put themselves on the line 23 nights in the next four months to represent you, this high school." "That kind of commitment and effort deserves and demands your respect." "This is your team." "Coach, you all right?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "Now, remember to discipline your game." "Absolutely no shots until you've passed off four times." "Set your offensive patterns before you go to score." "All right?" "Is that clear?" "Yes." "How many times are we gonna pass off?" " Four." " How many?" "Four." "Let us pray." "Be strong and of good courage." "For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." "Lord, bless these boys and the season before them." " Amen." " Amen." "Ok, let's go!" "We can beat these guys." "We can beat 'em." "Hold it up." "Strap?" "How long's he gonna go on like this?" "I don't know." "He'll come when he's ready and not before." "Hope that'll be sometime before tip-off." "Ok, let's go." "How do you feel?" "Like it's my first game." "Well, in a way it is." "I'll be right there with you." "Welcome to Indiana basketball." "Good luck." "Fight!" "Fight!" "Fight!" "Ollie, you get ready." "You're gonna play till Strap gets here." "If he ever does." "I'll go get him." "Ok, guys, a minimum of four passes before you take a shot." "All right?" "Get yourself set before you let go." "Five pistons firing together." "All right?" "Come on." "Here we are." "Come on, team." " Thank God." " Team!" "We got spirit, yes, we do" "We got spirit, how 'bout you?" "We got spirit, yes, we do" "We got spirit, how 'bout you?" "We got spirit, yes, we do" "We got spirit, how bout you?" "Four passes!" "Don't just stand there, move!" "Shoot the ball, Rade!" "Set some picks!" "What's wrong with you?" "Get a good shot!" " Put the ball up!" " Just shoot it!" "Basket!" "Set up your defense!" "Call out the switches!" "Is that what you call coaching?" "Pass it!" "Pass the ball in!" "Work it in for the good shot!" "Work for the good shot!" "Strap, come on, move!" "Come on, defense!" "Block it out!" "Block it out!" "Come on, set up the offense!" "Pass it off!" "Pass it off!" "Four passes!" "Damn!" "Work for the good shot!" "Shoot the ball!" "I want you to close down those passing lanes." "Your defense is awful!" "What about our offense?" "We can't when unless we sco" "You keep your mouth shut until I tell you to open it." "Coach Dale, what's that stunt you trying to pull out there?" "Get out." " Christ's sake, there" " Get out!" " Get out!" " It's embarrassing!" "Stay out!" "I don't want anybody in this locker room at half-time." "Now, keep 'em out of here." "Norman, I'm trying hard to believe that you know what you're doing." "I know what I'm doing." "You got three fouls." "Guys, remember what we worked on in practice, all right?" "I wanna see it on the court!" "How many times are we gonna pass before we shoot?" " Four." " How many?" "Four!" "Four!" "Set it up..." "Set it up!" "Rade!" "Rade!" "Pass the ball!" "Ollie, go in for Rade." "Now, move!" "Come on." "Good job, Rade." "Foul, number 12." "Hang it up, son." "That's five." "Where are you going?" "In the game." "Sit down." "What do you mean?" "We got to have five out there." "Sit down!" "Sit!" "Coach, you need one more." "My team's on the floor." "Ok." "What are you trying to do?" "Those of you down on the floor at the end, I'm proud of you." "You played your guts out." "I'm only gonna say this one time." "All of you have the weekend." "Think about whether or not you wanna be on this team or not under the following condition" "What I say, when it comes to this basketball team, is the law." "Absolutely and without discussion." "Come on, guys." "Let's listen to what he said." " Shut up." " No, you shut up, Rade." "Hey, Coach." "How 'bout a haircut?" " Who cut your hair?" " Yours truly." "Oh, no... no..." "Hey, Coach, gonna play with three next time?" "Those aren't bad odds, five against three..." "Let me help you there." "Oh, appreciate it." "Opal Fleener." "Been hearing plenty on you." "Mother likes basketball." "That's the truth and then some." " Here..." " No, no." "It's all right." "I can do it, thank you." "Mother, it's getting late, we better get going." "Come on." "Sun don't shine on the same dog's ass every day, but, mister, you ain't seen a ray of light since you got here." "I believe it's time we had a talk." "Sunday." "Supper." "I accept." "Coach, tell me about the boys." "You think you can bring 'em around?" "Well, there's a lot of talent there." "It's just raw and undisciplined." "What are you gonna do about that?" "I'm gonna break 'em down, then I'm gonna build 'em back up." "This fire needs more wood." " I'll get it." " No, you won't." "Basketball." "Every game my brother ever played was the most important thing ever happened to this family." "Mother wouldn't be able to sleep the night before." "And if they lost," "Daddy walked the floor until morning." "I just could never figure out why it meant so much, not to that extreme." "I don't get it." "Well, what're you doing here, living in Hickory?" "I haven't always been here." "Went to college. three years, graduate school, a year." "Graduate school?" "Surprised?" "You sound like my father." "He found it strange I ever wanted to leave town." "Kept telling me I'd be back." "Guess he was right." "Why'd you come back?" "Didn't work out." "Daddy died, mother got sick." "I had to come back." "You never plan on leaving?" "You ever consider getting married?" "Come on, you must have had a lot of opportunities." "You know, during all those years away, there were a few things I missed not being here." "I missed knowing that nothing ever changes." "People never change." "It makes you feel real solid." "I also missed knowing that people's private affairs stay pretty much their own." "Ok..." "I'm sorry." "Hey, Coach." "Isn't it a little late to be calling on folks?" "Ha, I wouldn't trust old rooster neither." "Well, it's a nice place you got here." "Ah, it's a nice night for a fire." "Whew." "That's a hell of a team you had there." "You knew that team?" "I know everything there is to know about the greatest game ever invented." " Did you know about" " That doesn't-don't matter." "Man's got to do what he's got to do." "You're playing Cedar Knob tomorrow." "Ain't nobody knows 'em better than me." "I been watching how you been breaking the colts." "But my friend, you cannot play them all the way man on man." "They got no head toppers." "Cedar Knob:" "a bunch of mights, run you off the boards." "You got to squeeze them back in the paint." "Make 'em chuck it from the cheap seats." "Watch that purgatory they call a gym, no drive, 12 foot in." "That'll do." " How'd your father get this job?" " Well, it's our bus." "Oh." "It doesn't look like a preacher's bus." "Well, after sectional's over, we paint it white for the summer tent shows." "Every fall, back to red, after his revelation." "God told him." "To paint the bus and drive the team?" "These guys are like animals!" "Coach, Coach!" "How can anybody play in this cracker box?" "That boy Nelson, he can't go to his left." "I know that." " Time out!" " Time out!" "Time out, white." "Hey, oh!" "Hey, come on!" "Leave me alone!" " Ok, guys, listen up." " We can run on these guys." "Their two guards are never getting back." "Sorry, I can't help my mouth." "You be sorry on the bench." "Strap, go in for Rade." "Buddy, get the ball between their guards." "Watch for Everett and Merle cutting to the basket, all right?" "Ok, let's go." "Team!" "That's a flagrant foul!" "That person should be taken out of the game." "He didn't do nothing wrong." "Come on, that's hillbilly justice." "Ah, you ain't been around these parts too long" "I've been around long enough to recognize a hometown referee." "Boo!" "Technical foul." "Look, it's bad enough we gotta play in this cage you call a gym," "Your players are playing like a bunch of gorillas!" "Who you calling a gorilla?" "You, for one!" "Bust off." " Come on now, boys!" " Hey, come on!" "You wanna stay in this game, son, you just go back to the bench." "Come on, move back!" "Move back!" "Come on, come on, break it up!" "Hey!" "I ain't gonna see you again." "Not in this game, you're out!" "You're gone, both of you, out!" "Number 12, sit down." " Come on, boys." " Sit down!" "All right, calm down." "Are you all right?" "You better get outta here." "I'll go the best I can." "Good riddance, you jackass." "Got him a good one, didn't I, Coach?" "Yeah, you did." " How's" " Just a little while, ok?" "How you feeling?" "Just tired." "Simms said my pump's going bad on me." "Why didn't you tell me?" "It's a little late for that." "I guess the doctor says you better take it easy." "No more basketball games for a while, huh?" "Well, looks like you're on your own." "No, that's fine." "You kind of like being on your own." "I'd kinda like to see you up on your feet." "You can count on it." "Anybody home?" "Identify!" "It's Norm!" " Coach?" " Yeah." "What you doing out here?" "What happened to my scout?" "We're playing Birdy tonight." "Bairdye, huh?" "Well, we'll talk." "This is my domicile here." "Sit yourself down over there by the fire and warm up." "This is it, huh?" "Yeah." "It gets pretty rough here in the winter, but I manage." " I'll bet." " You want a little snort?" "No, thanks, no." "Don't mind if I do." "I gotta proposition for you." "Uh-huh." "Uh, Cletus is gonna be laid up for a while, and, uh, I want you to give me a hand." "Well, I can, uh..." "I can tell you anything that you need to know." "No, you- you don't understand." "I want you to be my assistant." "Want you to come to practices and, uh... sit on the bench with me during the games." "Me?" "You want me?" "Yeah, what do you say?" "Under the following conditions:" "That you... clean yourself up, and... you shave and... you show up at the games on time, and the practices, and you wear a shirt and tie." "I got myself a suit, right there." "I got a wing-dinger." "I was married in that suit there." "And that you're sober." "Oh, no." " My wife sent you." " No." " My son?" " Uh-uh." "What-what has my... drinking got to do with my knowledge about basketball?" "You can't drink in front of these boys." "If I smell even a trace of liquor on your breath, you'd be finished." "Don't have to hear that from you." "You're embarrassing your son." "I don't need to hear that." "I'd-I'd..." "I'd like you to leave." "I'd like you to leave now." "Ok." "Take him, take him." "Time out, ref!" "Nice shot, Rade!" "Come on, let's get 'em now." "Guys, you're playing real well." "Real well!" "Put more pressure on the ball." "Be real patient on your offense when" "What's he doing here?" "Shooter here is gonna be one of our assistants." "You got it?" "You got anything you wanna" "Coach, you guys figure on playing ball or not?" "Yeah, we'll be there." "Ok, come on." "Let's go!" "Team!" "Come on, play ball, play ball!" " I ain't feeling real good." " You'll be fine." "The kids are starting to get it." "I mean, it's really fun." ""Progress:" "progress is electricity." ""school consolidation, church remodeling," ""second farm tractors, second farm cars," ""hay bailers" ""corn pickers, grain combines, field choppers, and indoor plumbing. "" "All right, you're dismissed." "Come on, let's go." "What's on your mind?" "Well, Coach, what you're doing with my dad I'm not seeing it." "Why not?" "'Cause he's a drunk." "He'll do something stupid." "When's the last time somebody gave him a chance?" "He don't deserve a chance." "Go on." "How are you?" "I've been asked as acting principal to inform you that a petition has been issued requesting a referendum on your removal as basketball coach." "The vote'll be made at a town meeting on Saturday." "I guess that gives me until Friday night's game to prove myself, huh?" "I think it goes a lot deeper than one game, don't you?" "Take it away!" "Take it away!" "Take it away!" "Take it away!" "Take it away!" "Call a time out, time out!" "Technical foul." "On the playing floor while the game is in progress." "What are you talking about?" "The ball was dead." " I was trying to call a time out." " That's it, you're gone." "Out of the game." "I'm putting you on file with the state commission." "What, are you crazy?" "What are you talking about?" "I'm not leaving here!" "You're gone!" "You don't have to leave right now." "Come on." "That ain't fair." "It ain't fair what the people in this town are trying to do to you, neither." "You stay in the game." "I need your help." "Stay in the game." "Come here." "Shooter's gonna take you home." "You pay attention." "Hi." "Sorry." "It's me." "Cletus told me where I could find you." "I used to play in these fields." "Used to wonder what it would feel like to start walking and just keep going." "Hmm, that's tempting." "Aren't you the kind who'd rather look for a fight than run away from one?" "What?" ""Norman Dale," ""coach of the National Champions Ithaca Warriors," ""was given a lifetime suspension" ""to be honored by all N.C.A.A. signatories" ""for physically assaulting his own player" ""in Ithaca's last season's game." ""This was the latest in a series" ""of controversial incidents involving a successful," ""though highly volatile coach." ""The New York High School Athletic Association has stated they will honor this suspension as well. "" "Where'd you find that article?" "Library in Deerlick." "I was curious." "I want to tell you that I think your efforts in regards to Shooter have been noble, they've been fine." "And I appreciate you staying away from Jimmy the way you have." "I don't think you better be there tonight." "It won't be pleasant." "I've made some mistakes, but they're mistakes" "I take full responsibility for." "I was hired to teach the boys the game of basketball, and I did that to the best of my ability." "I apologize for nothing." "You may not be pleased with the results, but I am." "I'm very proud of these boys." "And I..." "I think in order to be fair I think it'd be a big mistake to let Coach Dale go." "Give him a chance." "Look..." "Sam and Roland here will pass out the ballots." "Yes vote means he stays, a no vote, he goes." "Let's do this as quickly as we can." "Jimmy, what are you doing here?" " What can I do for you, Jimmy?" " I got something to say." "Son, you better say what you gotta say." "I don't know if it'll make any change, but I figure it's time for me to start playing ball." "I told you, once we got rid of him." "One other thing," "I play, Coach stays." "He goes, I go." "Now look, wait... he..." "Coach is... dismissed by a vote of 68 to 45." "I think we should vote again." "Yeah." "Let's call for a re-vote." "Now, all those in favor of the coach staying, say aye." "Aye!" "Those opposed?" "Nay." "Coach stays." "Hey." "You listen to me." "I stuck my neck out for you, now you live up to your end of the bargain, or get yourself in a hospital and dry out." "I don't think I can cut it." "You could cut it." "I didn't think I could cut it the other night either, but after what Jimmy did, it would take the Indiana National Guard to get me out of here." "My nerves are shot" "Hey, we're coming together as a team." "With Jimmy, all the pistons are firing." "We've got 10 games to play, right?" "We're gonna be a tough team to beat." "Now, you come along for the ride, ok?" "Oh, but you've got to give me your word that you will not be kicked out of no games." "Scout's honor." "Scout's honor." "That's a foul on number 21 of the Red Demons." "Take it easy." "I just want to discuss this with him." "All right?" "Just take it easy." "You got pigeon shit in your eyes?" "Now relax, I didn't have the best angle" "You're pathetic, you know that?" "You're a disgrace to your profession." " Relax, will you?" " Kick me out of the game." " You're putting me on." " No, kick me out of the game, and I'm gonna start screaming like a mad fool." "Well, I guess you've got your reasons." " You're outta here!" " What!" "Oh, come on!" "No!" "Come on!" "That's- that's ridiculous." "I've done it again." "It's up to you now." "I told him not to." "Time out!" "Time out." "You reckon number four will put up their last shot, Dad?" "Yeah, probably." "They've been picking low all night." "Yeah Rade." "Let yourself get taken out." "Buddy, you drop down and take his place." "Close that lane." "All right." "Ok, team." "Team!" "Come on!" "Time!" "Time!" "Time out!" "Come on in, come on in." "All right, now listen to me." "This is the last shot that we got, all right?" "We're gonna run the picket fence at 'em." "Merle, you're the swing man." "Jimmy, you're solo right." "All right, Merle should be open, swinging around the end of that fence." "Now, boys, don't get caught watching the paint dry." " All right, team!" " Team!" "We did it!" "You did good, Pop." "You did real good." "You did it, Shooter." "Congratulations." "Whoo!" "Where's your father?" "He said he wanted to be alone, sir." "Too much pressure." "Hey, you keep in the game, all right?" " Yes, sir." " Mentally." " Yes, sir." " All right." "Hey, ref!" "Call it both ways!" "Come on!" "He's got his hands all over him!" "I got 12 red, 1-2 red." "Oh, no." "What are you talking about?" "Hey, hey, hey." "That was no foul!" "Hey, you're in a position to make the call." "Charging all the way, his feet were planted." "Charging all the way, his feet were planted." "We know that, we know that." "Come on." "I'll get my hat." "Get that bozo to wear glasses." "Come on, come on, come on." "It's ok." "He's an assistant coach, it's fine." "That's a technical foul on the play." "What are you talking about?" "Wait a minute!" "He just wandered out on the floor!" "Don't tell me that!" "Aw, Jesus!" "You keep in the game, Everett, you understand?" "Come on." "Play hard." "Look at that." "Oh, mercy." "Let's get him on his feet." "Come on, forfeit that team." "My boy can't even play." "He's all wracked up." "Hey, if you lose, then we'll protest." "All right?" "That's the gutless way to win." "That's the gutless way to win." "Get back." "Let's play ball." "Get the ball!" "Get the ball!" "Dad!" "Shooter!" "Shooter!" "Dad!" "Dad!" "What, a couple months in here and you'll be dry as the Sahara Desert." "Aw." "It's goblin visiting time now." "Aw, come on." "I'm gonna be here for you." "Yeah, you and the little green monkeys." "Oh, god." "How's my, my son doing?" "Oh, he's fine." "He had eight stitches," "But your boy played his heart out." "He was just..." "Doc said he's gonna be ok for the regional's in about a week." " He's a good boy." " Yeah." "I'm so proud of you, Coach." "I am." "Sectional champs?" "I know what that means to these folks around here." "A lot." "I... remember what it meant to me." "You're a big part of it." "No." "Coach, I'm freezing." "Yeah, ok." "I'll get it." "Could we have-could we have a blanket, please?" "God damn." "You know I didn't mean to," "I didn't make a lick of difference, you know that?" "But you got yourself a shiftless knock-down drunk." "Oh." "Oh, God." "I'm so sorry." "Basketball meant so much to me, Coach." "I'm so proud of you." " I'm so sorry I let you down." " Come on, Shooter," "Nothing could be further from the truth." "Nurse?" "I'm so thirsty." "I'm so sorry, Coach." "There's not enough apologizing" "Just get the team in the gym, will you?" "I've never seen nothing like this." "At least they can wait until after the game." "Come on, let's go." "Let's go." "Come on, let's go, guys, let's go." "Let them through." "There's a tradition in tournament play to not 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 just keep it right there, huh?" "Forget about the crowds, 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." "Ok?" "!" "All right!" "Let's go!" "Let's go!" "Let me hear it!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Go!" "Ref, he's moving his pivot foot!" "He's moving his pivot foot!" "Block him out!" "Block him out!" "But 40 went over the baseline!" "Ok." "Come on!" "Everett, you've gotta stop that pass at the low post, all right?" "Rade, you come off your man and give us some help inside." "Buddy, 41 is killing us, just killing us, all right?" "Stick with him." "I mean, think of chewing gum." "By the end of the game, I want to know what flavor he is." "All right?" "Nice shot!" "Nice shot!" "Check him off!" "Pluck him off the base line!" "Down, number 25, Butcher." "That's Butcher's fifth personal foul." "His feet were planted!" "He was there first!" " Hold it." " The stitches are pulling." "Patch him up." "Come on, patch him up." " I can't do it." " Patch him up!" "What are you, out of your mind?" "Hey, you keep blocking out, all right?" "We're gonna win this game." " Yes, sir." " All right." "Call time out." "Time out." "Time out, white." "Everett, you're on the bench." " No, I want to play." " Come on, you're on the bench." "Strap, you're gonna play for Everett." "Don't shoot the ball unless you're under the basket all by yourself, you understand?" "Ok." "We've got two minutes and fifteen seconds, all right?" "Be patient." "Work for the good shot." "You got it?" "Team!" "Let's go, guys, come on." "Let's go, Strap, let's go." "Strap." "God wants you on the floor." "That was a nice shot!" "Time out, Hickory." "What's gotten into you?" "The Lord." "I can feel his strength." "Well, keep your strength in the dribble, all right?" "On me?" "Oh, no!" "Foul on number 14, white." "Are you joking?" "Come on, give us a break!" "Good game." "Ollie, we need you." "Ollie, we need you now." "Go!" "It was for the team." "Whoa!" "Let's go!" "Foul him!" "Hey, come on." "Let's go." "Let's go, you can do it." "Come on, let's go, Ollie." "I got number 10, orange, two shots." "Time out." "Time out." "That's time out for orange." "Now, let's go, guys." "All right, listen." "After Ollie makes his second shot, and you will make your second shot, get back on defense right away." "It may just be enough time for them to throw in a desperation toss, ok?" "All right." "Let's go." "Put 'em in, Ollie." "Team!" "Make it a good one, Strap." "Didn't know they grew 'em so small down on the farm." "Hey, don't worry about that, ok?" "You just concentrate on what you're doing, and put it in the hole." "All right?" "You can do it." "Let's go." "One shot." "Yes!" "One more, Ollie, one more, and we're going all the way, all right?" " Concentrate." " Ollie!" "Just one more!" "Just one more!" "Get him out!" "Get him out!" "Whoo!" "Whoo!" "Yeah!" "You always garden in the mud?" "The almanac says it's time to start planting." "Is the almanac always right?" "Always." "The farmer's daughter." " Miller's." " Miller's daughter." "Your mother cut my hair." "Yeah, I saw your car." "Like to take a walk?" "That's pretty." "Yeah, in late spring, those fields... so green, it looks like Ireland." "How I always imagined Ireland would look." "I've seen it in pictures and postcards." "Would you like to go to Deerlick some evening, take in a movie?" "Norman Dale, coach of the Ithaca Warriors, was suspended for" "I can't really explain that." "It's been a number of years, and it still kind of goes around in my head." "I I slow it down." "Sometimes I really think that I can... stop my fist from hitting that boy's jaw." "One second, everything I'd worked for, it's just all finished." "The funny thing, too, he's the best kid that ever played for me." "Tough, stubborn or willful, he..." "Sounds like someone I know." "I imagined kissing you ever since I first saw you." "It was the start of imagining." "It's been a long time." "Me, too." "All right, let's go." "Let's go." "Coach, how did you do it?" "It wasn't me, it was the boys." "Miss that final shot?" "No, I knew I had it all the way." " Really?" " Well, I'll tell you about it later." "The team you're matched against in the finals," "South Bend Central, is one of the power teams in the state." "Their front line is 6'4", 6'5", and 6'5"," " How can your little guys compete?" " I don't know." "Do you have a scouting report?" "Well, more important to me than a scouting report, my boys only know basketball, farming, and school, probably in that order." "Most of 'em never seen a building taller than two stories except in a photograph." "So, taking them to Indianapolis, and to play in front of 15,000 people, is kind of like you and me goin' to the moon." "So, what team we play is the least of my concern." "Will you be back at Hickory next year?" "Aw, come on." " It's a good question!" " One more question, Coach." "One more question." "Will you have any trouble..." "No school this small has ever been in the state championship." "I know." "I was coach for awhile." "I won a big game for 'em." "I was coachin' the last two minutes," "I took 'em right down to the wire." "I run the picket fence on 'em, and we won!" "And my son, my son, he's on" "Hi." "How ya doin', Dad?" "The conquering hero." "I" " I heard the game right there on that- that little Philco." "And, uh, I heard old Ollie dribble on his foot, and then make that charity shot." "And I started bawling', and they-they bring the white coats in here, and they put a jacket on me." "Um, I was feelin' so good, I didn't even mind..." "Too much." "You doin' good?" "Well, I..." "I feel real empty inside... and I have some bad visions." "Son..." " The other night..." " No, it don't matter, Dad." "You're gonna get better." "Couple of months, when you get out of here, we're gonna get a house." "Both of us." "I love you, Dad." "I got to get back." "Son..." "Oh, I wish I could be there." "I'll be thinkin' of ya." "Son... kick their butt." "Anyway, I'll tell you one thing." "No school this small has ever been in a state championship!" "Hi, Coach Dale, Coach Butcher, welcome to Buffer Field house." "Your practice schedule Is from 10:00 to 12:00." "The game will be at 7:00." "If you need anything, why, just let me know." "And off the record," "I think this is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to Indiana basketball." "So, we're all behind ya." " Good luck and tear 'em up." " Thank you." "Good luck, guys." "Buddy." "Hold this under the backboard." "What is it?" " 15 feet." " 15 feet." "Strap, put Ollie on your shoulders." "Measure this from the rim." "Buddy." "How far?" " 10 feet." " 10 feet." "I think you'll find it's the exact same measurements as our gym back in Hickory." "Ok, let's get dressed for practice." "Hickory!" "It is big." "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the championship game of the Indiana State High School Basketball Tournament." "The most incredible and improbable confrontation in the illustrious history of the Indiana High School Basketball Tournament takes place in tonight's championship game." "where the pint-size." "hardly-big-enough-for 3- syllables Hickory Huskers." "enrollment 64." "take on the defending state champions." "The Mighty Bears of South Bend Central." "with an enrollment of 2800." "Already calling this the game of the century." "news people from all over the Midwest are here to witness Hoosier-Land's version of the Cinderella story." "Oh, say does that star spangled" "Banner yet wave" "O'er the land of the free" "And the home of the..." "Brave" "And now, the starting lineup for the Huskers." "We've been all over this before." "Their top player is Boyle, number 15." "He... averages about 20 points a game." "Buddy, you got to stick right with him." "No inside penetration, shut down those passing lanes, and you got to play tough off those boards, negate their height advantage." "Hickory, it's time to take the floor." " I'll get the preacher." " Ok." "Well, we're way past big speech time." "I want to thank you for the last few months." "It's been very special..." "for me." "Anybody have anything they want to say?" "Yeah." "Let's win this one for... all the small schools that never had a chance to get here." "Ok." "I want to win for my Dad." "Let's win for Coach, who got us here." "Thank you." "With God of Heaven, it is all one... to deliver with a great multitude or a small company." "For the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of hosts, but... strength cometh from Heaven." "And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it... and struck the Philistine on the head, and he fell to the ground." " Amen." " Amen." "Amen." "I love you guys." "Team!" "Call time out." "Time out!" "Time out, Hickory." "Man, those guys are good." "This is embarrassing." "I can't stop that guy." "Maybe they were right about us!" "Maybe we don't belong up here." "Let's go." "Come on." " Coach, can I say something?" " Yeah!" "I think Jimmy can take the guy who's guarding him if we set him up." "What about it, Jimmy?" "All right, let's go, come on!" " Come on!" " Let's go!" "Go get 'em!" "Come on!" " All right!" " All right!" "Hey, hey!" "Calm them down." "Be patient!" "Come on!" "Two minutes. ten seconds to go in the final period." "South Bend Central on top 40 to 34." "Hickory in possession." "Let's go!" "Buddy Walker with the basketball." "passes to Everett Flatch." "He throws to Merle Webb." "and then to Jimmy Chitwood." "baseline jump shot." "scores!" "Go!" "Back to Willy Long." "and it's back to Robley." "who's signaling a play." "Are they gonna release the basketball?" "Robley dribbles to his left." "passes over to Long." "Long holding the basketball." "Feeds down to Robley." "Robley takes the shot and misses!" "All right!" "All right!" "Yes!" "Buddy." "Full court press after this shot." "Seconds to play." "passes to Jimmy Chitwood." "Chitwood along the right sideline." "bounce pass to Flatch." "Flatch finds Walker." "Walker's shot not good." "Walker comes around." "steals the ball." "passes to Chitwood." "40 to 38." "33 seconds to go!" "Sensational comeback." "Boyle having trouble with the inbounds pass... intercepted by Jimmy Chitwood!" "Come on, come on, come on, come on!" "Wahoo!" "Whoo!" "Whoo!" "All right, listen up, listen up." "Here's what we're gonna do." "Jimmy, they're gonna be expecting you to take the last shot." "We're gonna use you as a decoy." "Buddy, you get the ball and then roll 'em on a picket fence." "He's gonna take the last shot." "All right, let's go." "What's the matter with you guys?" "What's the matter with you?" "!" "I'll make it." "All right..." "Buddy, get the ball to Jimmy at top of the key." "The rest of you spread the floor." "Let's go!" "Team!" "We may be seeing basketball history here tonight." "A sensational comeback by Hickory." "The score is tied at 40." "There are 19 fateful seconds remaining in the game." "It'll be inbounded by Hickory in the backcourt along the sideline." "Passed in by Rade Butcher." "who was responsible for the interception." "He throws in to Buddy Walker." "Take your time." "Take your time." "Be patient." "Be patient!" "Come on, let's go!" "Yes!" "Yeah!" "Jimmy." "I want you to meet someone." "He's from my old neighborhood. a coach." "I've seen you guys can shoot." "but there's more to the game than shooting." "There's fundamentals and defense." "The boys and I are getting to know each other." "See who we are. and... what we can be." "Let's be real clear about what we're after here. all right?" "It's team. team. team." "Five players are on the floor." "functioning as one single unit." "Ok?" "No one more important than the other." "I love you guys."