Q&A with Angelo Pizzo

Angelo Pizzo, a 1971 graduate, is best known for writing and producing “Hoosiers” and “Rudy.” After living in Los Angeles for 30 years, he returned to Bloomington to raise his two sons. Pizzo tells the IDS why Bloomington — and IU — will always be
his home.

IDS Are you looking forward to Homecoming?
PIZZO Oh, yes. I don’t miss Indiana football games and basketball games.

IDS Why did you move back to Bloomington?
PIZZO I came back to Bloomington six years ago to raise my two young boys. It’s a great environment, and there are so many great memories.

IDS Why aren’t you fond of Los Angeles?
PIZZO The only thing LA has going for it is the weather. I go back for the business. It’s a fun place when you are young, single and superficial, but that’s not the state of my life that I’m in.

IDS How important are IU sports to you?
PIZZO Big Ten football is special. And if it wasn’t for IU basketball, I would not have written “Hoosiers.” My dad moved from Chicago to Bloomington when I was 3 or 4 years old, and we lived on campus at what is now the continuing education building. When I was 7 to 8 years old I would go to IU football and basketball. I fell in love with the sports. One of the IU basketball players told me I was the mascot since I was at their practices so often.

IDS What do you like most about IU sports?
PIZZO  I love how students are part of the energy at every Indiana game as opposed to the crowd at any pro basketball game. The fans at pro games only get a little rubbed up, but IU fans are always going nuts. Bill Lynch and Tom Crean are my neighbors. They are a part of my world. I don’t know Phil Jackson, and I don’t want to know Phil Jackson. I don’t care about the Lakers.