Milan Miracle

NARRATOR 1: This Indiana Bicentennial Minute is made possible by the Indiana Historical Society and the law firm of Krieg Devault.

Black and white footage from the 1954 state championship basketball game plays on screen, including the fans in the field house, and a player holding on to the basketball and then shooting the basketball into hoop.

JANE PAULEY: In a state that’s known for basketball one story stands above all, the 1954 Milan miracle. Tiny Milan high school was led by Bobby Plump. Making it to the state championship game against one of the state’s biggest schools, Muncie Central. In the fourth quarter, to keep the score close. Plump literally held the ball for four minutes and fifteen seconds, while 15,000 screaming fans raised the roof on Butler Fieldhouse. Sports writer Bob Collins called it the loudest four minutes in the history of sports when nothing was going on. Plump hit the winning shot as time ran out, the shot of Indiana legend.

Text on the screen reads visit indianahistory.org for more information with film footage a the national championship trophy being hoisted into the air while fan cheer in the background.

JANE PAULEY: I’m Jane Pauley with this Indiana Bicentennial Minute.

NARRATOR: Made possible by the Indiana Historical Society and the law firm of Krieg Devault.