The city of Mishawaka unveiled its newest park last week, named after famous Indiana high school basketball coach Marvin Wood, who was depicted in the famous film "Hoosiers."
The park includes a bronze sculpture of the former head coach, paying homage to the scene from the movie where Gene Hackman has his small-town players measure the court and rim height at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to illustrate the dimensions are exactly the same as their tiny gym at home.
The park is named Marvin's Garden and was built to provide inspiration to all underdogs, including small schools, towns and cities.
As depicted in the 1986 film, all but a handful of the 1,150 citizens of Milan were on hand to see the storied 1954 title game as the Indians took on Muncie Central High School, which had won four state championships.
Tickets were being scalped for approximately $50 and it was estimated that 90 percent of Indiana's residents were watching or listening to broadcasts of the contest.
The final 18 seconds of the game were so tense that the movie reproduced them almost exactly as Bobby Plump – who was on hand for the park unveiling – faked left and connected on a mid-range jump shot with five seconds remaining to propel
Milan to a 32-30 victory.
The Indiana Star called the game the top sports story in Indiana history.
Wood was born in Morristown and grew up on a farm there before attending Butler University, where he played basketball. He began his coaching career at French Lick High School before moving to Milan in 1952 to take over from a coach who had been dismissed. He compiled a 52-7 record with Milan, including winning the 1954 title.
