Gene Hackman portrayed a long list of acclaimed characters in his career: Buck Barrow, Little Bill Daggett, Popeye Doyle. But one of his most beloved roles was that of Coach Norman Dale in “Hoosiers,” a 1986 film that is often cited as one of the greatest sports movies ever made.

In the film, set in the 1950s, Hackman’s character arrives at tiny Hickory High in Indiana. Ups and downs, and eventual sporting triumph, await. The story is inspired by the real success of Milan High, a small school that won an Indiana state title in 1954.

While Hackman, who was found dead on Wednesday in New Mexico, didn’t win either of his two Academy Awards for the film, his character’s presence and quotability make him one of the actor’s most memorable creations.

After Hackman’s death, we spoke to cast members from the film about working with him to make an enduring underdog story.

‘Leave the ball, will you George?’

“My first day on the set was the ‘Leave the ball, George’ scene,” said Chelcie Ross, who played George, the movie’s antagonist. In the scene, George starts coaching the team without permission, only to be ordered out of the gym by Coach Dale, who says: “First of all, let’s be real friendly here. My name is Norm. Secondly, your coaching days are over.”

“As a young actor walking in to do a scene with Gene Hackman, it was a little intimidating,” Ross said in a phone interview. “I was very nervous, and we did the one and only rehearsal.