Failed college coach Norman Dale gets a chance at redemption when he is hired to coach a high school basketball team in a tiny Indiana town. After a teacher persuades star player Jimmy Chitwood to quit and focus on his long-neglected studies, Dale struggles to develop a winning team in the face of community criticism for his temper and his unconventional choice of assistant coach: Shooter, a notorious alcoholic.

Gene Hackman
as Norman Dale

Barbara Hershey
as Myra Fleener

Dennis Hopper
as Wilbur "Shooter" Flatch

Sheb Wooley
as Cletus Summers

Maris Valainis
as Jimmy Chitwood

David Neidorf
as Everett Flatch (#21)

Brad Long
as Buddy Walker (#14)

Steve Hollar
as Rade Butcher (#25)

Brad Boyle
as Whit Butcher (#43)

Kent Poole
as Merle Webb (#12)
CinemaSerf
I really found it quite hard to get excited about this rather predictable story, even though Dennis Hopper turns in one of his best character efforts. The story centres on basketball coach “Dale” (Gene Hackman) who takes over a third rate school team in Indiana. Their team spirit is pretty non exist...