Great 80s show. Ken Howard (wig and all) was terrific as the coach. Very believable character.

Its unfortunate that its creator, Bruce Paltrow, passed away. We'll never see the extras that could have been.

Kevin Hooks (Thorpe) and Tim Van Patten (Salami) are two of the best directors in television today, and I'd kill to hear some audio commentary from them (although it would never happen). I also can't imagine Ken Howard is being kept busy by not appearing in a Crossing Jordan episode for almost a year now. Of course, in the unlikely event this ever does hit DVD, it will almost certainly be as bare bones as possible.

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Don't forget that Thomas Carter (Hayward) directed the features 'Coach Carter' & "Save the Last Dance'.

This was a great show, and very different for its time. I'd snap it up if it ever came out on DVD!

Yeah, and it was cool because the "Warren Coolidge" character apperead every so often on "St. Elsewhere" as a hospital orderly. Guess he moved to Boston.

From Imdb

Trivia for "The White Shadow" (1978)

*Coach Reeves attended Boston College, which is where he met principal Willis, who was on the basketball team with him.

*After graduating from Carver, Goldstein joined the Marines, Hayward went to college majoring in pre-law, Gomez became a mechanic and got married and Reese became a cab driver while pursuing his dream of becoming a singer. Coolidge moved to Boston and worked as an orderly at St. Eligius Hospital (AKA St. Elsewhere).

*The character of Jackson never graduated from Carver because he was killed when he accidentally walked into a store while it was being robbed.

More Imdb:

"This show was by far one of the best shows ever. Set in an inner city, the directors worked hard to make it realistic. And they did. Jackson got killed. Thorpe and Coolidge got herpes from the same woman. Reese fell victim to an unscrupulous high school coach. Salami had an affair with a teacher. Hayward's cousin died of a drug overdose. Goldstein struggled with his faith. Coach Reeves struggled with the death of a player during practice. Gomez joined a gang. The show's honesty and wonderful direction and script was so good it was even played on public television in some areas."

There was an episode that Tim Van Patten guest starred in. When Coolidge saw his character he asked,"Salami?" then said,"Sorry. I thought you were someone else."

I believe the connection is that Bruce Paltrow worked on both shows. That's it I'm starting a similar thread for St. Elsewhere and Hill Street Blues.

Ken Reeves: [Coach Reeves has just pulled all of his starting players from a game except his center] I'd pull you too Coolidge but you're so fat, you need to run.

I was just wishing for this last week. It pick it up for sure!