Few movie quotes enter the ears and go straight to those hairs on the back of your neck (even though back hair is gross). The 1986 movie "Hoosiers" is one that sports movie fans will not soon forget: "... and David took a stone from the bag and slung it ... knocking the Philistine to the ground."
Just before Hickory took the floor in Butler University's famed Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Reverend spoke those words to eight Hickory Huskers, minutes before they beat South Bend Central in one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
The Huskers slung the stone and knocked South Bend Central to the ground, becoming the 1954 Indiana State Basketball Champions.
An enrollment of 64 boys defeated Goliath, with an enrollment of 2,800 boys. Did you know the actual Hoosiers team defeated a sophomore by the name of Oscar Robertson in the semi-finals that same year?
Another underdog is taking on the beast this Saturday. With the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular-season crown already wrapped up, Capital comes into the Rike Center Saturday with thoughts of slaughter on their minds.
After thrashing the Cardinals 86-57 at the Cap Center, (really, Capital, that's all the more creative you could be in naming your gym?), those darn Crusaders will take the short trip to Westerville for what they perceive to be a cake walk.
In 1980, a hockey team made up of all amateurs headed to Lake Placid, NY for the winter Olympics with hopes of at least getting to the medal round. The Soviet Union had won gold in 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976.
Coach Herb Brooks had a dream of slaying Goliath in the 1980 Winter Games.
That thought was all but crushed when the U.S. lost to the Soviets 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Garden. Clearly, the U.S. was no match for the best team the hockey world had ever seen.
As the famous story goes, the red, white and blue then took down the Commies 4-3 in the greatest upset the sports world had ever laid eyes on.
Getting smashed 10-3 earlier in the year; Otterbein losing to the heaven-sent Capital Crusader basketball team 86-57, in a game they trailed 38-6 at one point; the U.S. then pulling the upset in the Olympics ... You see the parallels, I won't insult your intelligence.
With a stone in hand, David will go toe-to-toe with the Philistine known as Capital this Saturday in the Rike Center. Aren't sports great?
