Laurentian University

Hoosiers
A Story of Overcoming the Odds

Nicholas McGonigal

PHIL 2536

Mr. Parker

September 30, 2015

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Nick McGonigal

Mr. Parker

PHIL 2536

September 27th, 2015

Hoosiers

Set in the early 1950’s, Hoosiers on the surface is a film about a small town named

Hickory’s high school basketball team adjusting to a new season with a new coach, and the

absence of their star player. As the story progresses, it is obvious to the viewer that the film

demonstrates that many of the characters are trying to find themselves rather than find their

way to a championship.

In one of the opening scenes where Coach Norman Dale is introducing himself to his

new team, he is interrupted by a player named Buddy Walker holding his own conversation with

another player (Hoosiers). Dale immediately orders Buddy to leave, demonstrating the first of

many times that Dale makes a poor choice because of his short temper. This type of behaviour

can be modeled using Plato’s four traditional cardinal virtues. Wisdom is the ability to judge

between actions with regard to appropriate actions at a given time, while courage is the ability

to confront fear, uncertainty and intimidation. Temperance, coach Dale’s weakest virtue, is also

known as restraint, or the practice of self-control, the final and what Plato calls the most

extensive and important virtue is justice (The Fourfold Virtues of Augustine & Plato &

Confucius), which is also known as fairness.

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At the beginning of the film, Coach Dale demonstrates a very high use of both justice

and courage. Dale is often put into situations where it is him versus the rest of the townsfolk,

like when the townsfolk come to watch the team practice like they have always done, he has no

problem telling them they all have to leave (Hoosiers), not fearing the repercussions that may

come with angering the locals. This overabundant presence of certain virtues is not always

optimal in the grand scheme of things, a perfect example of this is when Dale decides to bench

one of his five players in order to be fair when the player did not follow the coach’s “four pass”

plays (Hoosiers). Dale also shows a major lacking of both the wisdom and temperance virtues,

this is clearly demonstrated every time he is kicked out of a game. He places so much value on

justice that every time the ref makes a bad call he snaps and yells at the ref, often ignoring the

ref’s repeated warnings (Hoosiers). His inability to judge that his actions will result in negative

consequences end up hurting his team because they have to finish the remainder of the game

with either an underqualified coach, or no coach at all (Hoosiers). Later on in the film as Dale’s

character develops further, the viewer sees a direct relationship between how the team plays,

and Dale’s balance of the four cardinal virtues. The final game is the most obvious

demonstration of how Dale has changed. During the game one of his players suffers and injury

and is visibly bleeding (Hoosiers), Dale’s first instinct was to keep him in the game against the

Doc’s orders. Dale rethinks his plan and realizes that the wisest move would be to keep him out

of the game to prevent further injury, even though he would have to put a less skilled player in

his place. From the beginning the coach was very set in his ways on exactly how they are going

to practice, and the plays they will do in games (Hoosiers). During the final seconds of the game,

Dale calls a time out and explains the planned play to the unsure team. He asks for their
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opinions, and when star player Jimmy says “I’ll make the shot” (Hoosiers), he goes with that play

instead. This goes to show as Dale’s character was able to find a balance between Plato’s four

cardinal virtues, the better he could help his team.

As Norman Dale fits the ideals described by Plato, he also shares similarities to Plato’s

mentor, Socrates (Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle). Dale can be described as a “socratic figure” in a

few different ways. He was very passionate about winning, and would often do anything such as

arguing bad calls to the point of eviction from the game, just as Socrates was passionate about

defending his teachings of wisdom when he was on trial near the end of his life (The Trial of

Socrates). Socrates was also deeply respected and idolized by his peers, although Dale did not

always see eye to eye with many of his players, his players defended him time and time again. A

perfect example is when the player that Dale kicked out of practice the very first day, comes to

his defense during an argument and punches an opposing team’s player in the face (Hoosiers).

Overall, the story of the Hickory’s basketball team shows the audience what it takes to

be the absolute underdog, and still overcome the odds. Each individual player has their own

struggles to face, whether it be dealing with being much smaller than the other players, or

trying to stay focus with the presence of an alcoholic father. The coach himself has to overcome

the negative perception the rest of the townsfolk have of him, and it is later revealed that he is

also trying to forgive himself for striking his own player years ago (Hoosiers). They all deal with

these odds in a similar fashion, they all use basketball as an outlet to escape from, but also try

to fix the past. Everett, the son of local ex star basketball player Shooter, who is now an

alcoholic, seems to find peace on the court. In both the diner scene where Shooter is asking for

money, and then again when Shooter is in a rehabilitation center, Everett is visibly distraught by
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the fact that his dad is suffering so much from his alcoholism. On the court however, even with

Shooter present on the bench, Everett is able to retain composure and even encourage his own

father into having the confidence to coach the team (Hoosiers). This goes to show how justice is

more easily obtained in sport than in other areas of life because the sport brings two opposing

parties together.
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Works Cited

Hoosiers. Dir. David Anspaugh. 1986. Film.

"The Fourfold Virtues of Augustine & Plato & Confucius." Cardinal Virtues of Plato, Augustine

and Confucius. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

"Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle." Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

"The Trial of Socrates: An Account." The Trial of Socrates: An Account. Web. 15 Sept. 2015.