Shooter moved from the title game to the hospital; Chitwood actor's later life; filming locations; NCAA suspensions; Hopper's drunk trick; Chitwood's one-take final shot; real Milan details; Hackman's joke to Hopper; Merle actor's death
Shooter was scripted to attend the title game, but Hopper, newly sober, objected that the character would fear relapsing, so he was put in the hospital.
Jimmy Chitwood's actor, Maris Valainis ('Maris Valanis'), became a golf pro in California and was the only player who didn't play college ball.
Most Hickory scenes were shot in Richmond, Indiana.
The NCAA suspended five college-player actors for being paid in the movie.
For drunk scenes, Hopper's trick was 10 seconds' notice before action and spinning in a circle to look disoriented, a trick from James Dean in Giant.
The fans-rushing title shot could be filmed only once; the Chitwood actor missed in rehearsal but made it on the take.
The locker-room blackboard lists real Milan names; Milan won 32-30 in 1954 on Bobby Plump's shot from about the same spot; it was filmed at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Hopper's laugh in a montage came from Hackman saying they would never work again after this movie.
The actor who played Merle, Kent Poole ('Kent Pool'), killed himself in 2003.
