{"id":10401,"date":"2023-12-01T10:53:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T15:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=10401"},"modified":"2023-12-01T11:29:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T16:29:07","slug":"anspaugh-hoosiers-players-are-reunited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2023\/12\/01\/anspaugh-hoosiers-players-are-reunited\/","title":{"rendered":"Anspaugh, \u201cHoosiers\u201d players are reunited"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By BOB SHRALUKA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time in a long time, Dave Anspaugh was together again with his \u201cHoosiers\u201d. Last weekend’s three-day autograph show in Chicago sparked the reunion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was really a hoot. We all went out to dinner \u2026 I had never been together with all of those guys since the premier (of the movie in November of 1986),\u201d the Decatur native said over the phone this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was so good to see those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were all there: Jimmie Chitwood, Ollie, Strap, Rade, Whit, Buddy, Everett \u2026 the seven members of the Hickory Huskers, immortalized by the Anspaugh-directed film based on the legendary true story of Milan’s 1954 Indiana state basketball champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

They got together at last weekend’s Chicago Sports Spectacular autograph and memorabilia show held at the Rosemont arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few years back, Anspaugh said, some of the Hickory players attended at an Indiana Pacers game when the NBA team wore Hickory uniforms for a game. \u201cBut one or two guys didn’t make it,\u201d Dave recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though it’s been 37-38 years since the movie was made, a strong bond remains exists among many of the Hickory players. \u201cSome of those guys are still really, really close; they really like each other,\u201d Bloomington-resident Anspaugh remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The entire bunch had not been photographed together since 1986, but the autograph show changed that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how was it that after all those years they were all able to finally reunite? Money!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe (the show organizers) pay you so much you can’t afford not to go,\u201d Dave chuckled. \u201cThey cover your travel expenses and they pay you handsomely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anspaugh and the Huskers were on the Sunday card. Some of the other \u201cnames\u201d on hand included Peyton Manning, Pete Rose, Brett Hull, Chris Chelios, Dennis Eckersley \u2013 even Tony LaRussa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first two days brought out people like Mercury Morris, Brett Favre, Jerry West, Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Reggie Jackson, Bob Griese, George McGinnis and Rod Carew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some rather hefty sums were paid by autograph seekers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’d never been to one of these shows,\u201d Dave said. \u201cWe signed stuff for four hours. I’ve signed a lot of things in my career, but this was probably the most ever. I signed all kinds of stuff, even \u201cHills Street Blues\u201d (the TV show he directed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey (show organizers) just keep bringing them; stacks and stacks of ‘Hoosiers’ and ‘Rudy’ posters. Honestly, I literally got to a point that I could hardly sign my name. It was hypnotic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MEET MANNING: The \u201cHoosiers\u201d bunch was the subject of an Indy Star story this week by Gregg Doyel. In part, it told how the group of Huskers got together with Peyton Manning, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
TOGETHER AGAIN: \u201cHoosiers\u201d cast members got together with Peyton Manning last weekend. From left are, Everett (David Niedorf), Ollie (David Schenck), Strap (Scott Summers), Rade (Steve Hollar), Peyton, Buddy (Brad Long), Jimmie Chitwood (Maris Valaines), Whit (Decatur native Brad Boyle). Director Dave Anspaugh is in front. (Photo courtesy of David Anspaugh).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo the cast from ‘Hoosiers’ is signing autographs over here and Peyton Manning\u2019s signing over there, and Anspaugh has already told one of the show\u2019s organizers that he wants to say hello to Peyton,\u201d Doyel wrote. \u201cThey\u2019ve been friends for decades, since Manning was playing for the Colts and holding parties at his Downtown home. Anspaugh attended one. That\u2019s how it happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt started with someone from the autograph show approaching Anspaugh and quietly letting him know: Peyton\u2019s almost done. Anspaugh leaves the ‘Hoosiers’ table. When he reaches Peyton\u2019s area, Manning barks, ‘Anspaugh! What are you doing here?’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSheepishly, because that\u2019s Anspaugh, he asks Manning if he has time for one more photo. The answer: Of course. Now Anspaugh hears a commotion behind him, looks over his shoulder and sees them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNext thing I know,\u201d he says, ‘I turn around, and it\u2019s the whole Hickory team. Neidorf goes, \u2018We weren\u2019t going to let you have this alone!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe players from ‘Hoosiers’ are beaming, but you should\u2019ve seen Peyton. This guy was beaming. You can imagine, right? He was 10 when he first saw the movie. No telling how many times he\u2019s seen it since, but this happened next:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeyton points at every player, says their character\u2019s name and jersey number, then quotes a line from each of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the ensuing Monday night, Anspaugh’s phone is blowing up. Friends from all around the country have seen the photo of the Hickory bunch and Manning on Peyton’s Monday Night Football show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat picture was 37 years in the making,\u201d Doyel wrote. \u201cShow it again. And again and again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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