Original subtitles

SHERYL: In Virginia, high school football is a way of life.

It's bigger than Christmas Day.

My daddy coached in Alexandria.

He worked so hard my mama left him,

but I stayed with Coach.

He needed me on that field.

Up until 1971 in Alexandria,

there was no race-mixing.

Then the school board, forced us to integrate.

They combined the white school and the black school into one,

called T. C. Williams High School.

ALL: Murderer! Murderer!

SHERYL: That summer, a black teenager was killed

by a white store owner.

And the city was on the verge of exploding.

(THEM CHANGES PLAYING)

You've caused enough damage!

- This is my store! - Back off!

PLAYER: Go left! Go left! Left!

(GRUNTING)

Come on, Kirk, don't let Ray back you down like that!

You're twice his size!

What are they doing?

If they keep playing like that, we'll lose every game!

I didn't think that was so bad.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Looks good, Gerry. I see you been working.

Thanks. Thanks a lot, Coach.

Listen, with the schools integrating and all,

some of the guys are worried about losing

their starting positions.

Well, that's something we're just gonna have to figure out,

but you don't worry about that now.

You just keep at it. All right?

Yes, Coach.

Hey, guys!

It's coming down!

It's coming down at the store!

They want to burn the place up 'cause that colored kid got shot.

Come on, man, let's go.

Hey. Hey!

Coach?

You just get Sheryl to the school now, Herb.

(CROWD CLAMORING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

Get in the truck.

Gerry, Alan, Ray,

if you ever want to play for me again,

get in the truck, now.

You boys are gonna cool off, come with me to my office,

help me finish packing my things.

Gerry, son, your heart's in the right place,

but you ought to know better than to embarrass the coach like that.

BERTIER: Hell, why don't you just kick them all off the team?

I don't want to play with any of those black animals.

I see him.

Who are you?

I'm Herman Boone. I'm the new assistant coach.

TYRELL: Well, from the looks of things,

I'd say we got all the help we need around here.

Why ain't you outside there with all your little friends, hollering?

This was the time that was arranged for me

to meet with Coach Yoast.

I never miss an appointment.

Well, maybe you just better reschedule.

Coach Boone, the school board made the decision

to put you on my staff. I did not hire you.

Well, I came up here to coach at G. W.

I didn't ask the schools to redistrict.

I didn't ask to be assigned to your staff.

So I guess we're both in a situation we don't want to be in.

But I can guarantee you this, Coach.

I come to win.

Win? Coach Yoast here has been nominated

to the Virginia High School Hall of Fame.

Fifteen winning seasons.

I won a couple of titles down in North Carolina.

That's AA ball.

This here's Virginia. We play AAA.

What an opportunity for me, then.

To learn

from the best.

(I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE PLAYING)

MAN 1: Are those people the movers?

WOMAN 1: No. Looks like they're moving in here.

WOMAN 2: Lord, how many of them are there?

MAN 2: It only takes one. Then we're gonna be overrun by 'em.

NICKY: Mommy, where are you taking my teddy bear?

That. Come on, y'all.

Where is everybody?

Nicky, yes.

MAN 3: Look there, here comes some more of 'em.

WOMAN 3: That's Dr. Day, that Negro from the school board.

What's he doing here?

The school board has decided that Negro, Herman Boone,

is gonna be the head coach at T. C.

It's not fair! My daddy's head coach!

This is gonna be his Hall of Fame year!

And no one is trying to take away your daddy's future place in the Hall.

You can't just walk in here and take my daddy's job away!

That is enough, Sheryl. That's enough.

Sheryl!

It's all right, Bill. I feel the same way.

It's those agitators and race-mixers I feel like taking a swat at.

Troublemakers in the Berg are ready to put a torch to the city.

You want us to burn up like Watts?

Every head coach in the system is white.

We had to give them something.

It's the world we live in, God help us all.

BOONE: I left North Carolina because I was passed over

for a job that I had rightfully earned.

Gave it to a white coach down there.

Couldn't even tie up his own football cleats.

Now you are asking me

to do the same thing to this man?

I can't do that.

CAROL: Herman?

Folks in Carolina say you marched with Dr. King.

Say you stood toe-to-toe with the Klan.

Said you're a race man.

That's right. I'm also a family man.

Coach Boone,

black folks have never had anything in this city to call their own,

except humiliation and despair.

Dr. Day, excuse me.

Herman, I think you'd better look outside.

(APPLAUDING)

(CROWD CHEERING)

So, you see, we need you, Coach Boone.

Come on, meet the people.

Coach Boone, I'm Charles Campbell.

This here is my boy Julius.

He can be the finest defensive end

in the whole state if you push him to it.

I've heard a lot about you.

You're like an answer to our prayers.

Now, wait a minute. I'm not an answer to your prayers.

I'm not a savior or Jesus Christ,

Martin Luther King, or the Easter Bunny.

I'm a football coach, that's all.

- Just a football coach. - You're our coach.

You're our coach!

MAN: Coach Boone!

ALL: Boone! Boone! Boone!

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

What do you want?

Is Coach Yoast here?

We're busy

interviewing for head coaching jobs.

Gotten 11 offers and certainly no time for you.

Well, come on in. I've got an office out back.

BOONE: Look, I can't even spell diplomacy,

and I'm sorry about the way things went down,

but make no mistake, I am qualified to be this school's head coach.

Sure. You've been in, what, 4 or 5 programs in the past 10 years?

With 4 or 5 championships.

This isn't about me.

I'm worried about my boys.

Well, I ain't gonna cook 'em and eat 'em.

The best player will play. Color won't matter.

From the looks of our little situation we got us here,

I'd say it's about all that does.

Yeah, you're right.

We're in a tough spot, Coach, you, me, the whole city.

I think it would go a long way to smooth things over

if you would stay, work on the staff,

be a defensive coordinator, assistant head coach.

Work under you?

If that's the way you see it.

Good night, Coach.

It's been a rare privilege to have lived here as long as I have

coaching your boys.

I'll be taking the year off...

MAN: No.

...after which I'll be moving to Loudoun,

taking the head coaching job at Loudoun High.

- I say boycott T. C. Williams! - Tell 'em, Fred!

Our boys aren't playing for some Coach Coon!

Coach, he stole your job.

I'm not playing for him.

I started a petition, and I'm sitting this season out.

Only place you're going to sit is right back in that chair, Gerry.

I appreciate it, though.

MR. BOSLEY: Boycott T. C.! Boycott the school!

Stop this, Fred. You know that none of these boys

can afford to go to some other district just to play ball.

They sit this one out, they put their futures on the line.

Coach, I'm out, too.

- I ain't playing for no thief. - Don't do this.

Don't make this any harder for me than it already is.

Coach, if you go, I go.

PLAYER 1: I only play for you, Coach Yoast!

PLAYER 2: Don't go, Coach. You can't leave us.

ALL: Coach Yoast! Coach Yoast! Coach Yoast!

We'll be all right, Coach.

I've coached most of these boys since they were your age.

I've seen them grow up in front of my eyes,

almost like they were my own kids.

Almost.

This is a heck of a time to be abandoning them

to look out for themselves, ain't it?

So, what are you gonna do?

PETEY: We gonna play some ball, y'all!

Black inside, black inside, black inside.

(EXCLAIMING)

Yo, Petey, how many yards you figure you gonna get this season, bro?

You know, I ain't one to brag, big Blue,

but I figure on at least a thousand.

But I ain't one to brag.

Didn't I tell you all them white boys weren't gonna play for no brother?

Well, who needs 'em, baby?

From now on the Titans is gonna be powered by soul power, bro.

(SINGING) He said soul power

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

- JULIUS: Shut up. - You shut up.

Put your hand down.

You're smiling.

- Yes. - "Yes, sir. "

- Yes, sir. - Why are you smiling?

'Cause I love football. Football's fun.

- "Fun, sir. " It's fun? - Fun, sir.

- Yes. - You sure?

- I think... - Now you're thinkin'.

First you smile, then you think.

You think football is still fun?

- Yes. - "Sir. "

- Yes... No, sir. - No?

- It was fun. - Not anymore, though, is it?

- Is it? - Not right now.

It's not fun anymore. Not even a little bit.

- No. - Make up your mind.

Think, since you're thinking. Go on, think. Is it fun?

- No, sir. - No? Absolutely not?

Zero fun, sir.

All right, listen up. I'm Coach Boone.

I'm gonna tell you all about how much

"fun" you're gonna have this season.

We leave for camp, Gettysburg College,

August 15th, 7: 29 a. m.

If you report at 7: 30,

you will not be playing football this season,

you will be watching.

You will wear a jacket, shirt, and tie.

If you don't have one, buy one.

Can't afford one, then borrow one from your old man.

If you don't have an old man,

then find a drunk, trade him for his.

'Cause I can guarantee you there isn't a bum on the street

that looks as raggedy and ridiculous

as what I'm looking at right now.

This is no democracy.

It is a dictatorship.

I am the law.

If you survive camp, you will be on the team.

If you survive.

- Check 'em in, Coach. - Checking 'em in.

I'm Coach Hinds, your offensive line coach.

Yell out your name and position starting from the right.

Petey Jones, running back.

The running back, y'all.

Whatever, Petey! Get outta here!

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jerry Harris, quarterback.

ALL: Hallelujah! Hallelujah, Rev!

- Rev? - It's just a nickname.

(GASPING)

And who in the name of heaven might you be?

Louie Lastik, offensive lineman.

Naval family, just moved here from Bayonne.

Someone said football, so I come running.

What's going on, everybody?

(DOOR OPENING)

With him calling the shots, ain't none of us

gonna see nothin' but the bench this year.

He ain't calling the shots. You'll play.

You have just disrupted my first team meeting

in an unacceptable fashion.

This is my team now. Either you're with that or you're not.

- I'm here, ain't I? Let's talk football. - Let's talk football.

- I run the defense... - As a part of my team strategy.

Now, I have never seen an assistant coach's name

in the newspaper for losing a game.

I want a job for Coach Tyrell. He's been with me for 10 years.

I won't leave him out in the cold.

You don't get me without him.

You're overcooking my grits, Coach.

All right. I will allow Coach Tyrell

to coach the special team, but I will have my eye on him.

And you.

(EXPRESS YOURSELF PLAYING)

Good morning, good morning, good morning, Coaches. How are you?

YOAST: Good morning to you. BOONE: Looks good today, doesn't it?

Just wanted to let you know what the offense is doing.

Awful skinny playbook, ain't it?

I run six plays, split veer. It's like Novocain.

Just give it time, always works. See you on the bus.

Be patient, Bill. Your time will come.

- Herman, here we go. - Here we go.

- How can I help you boys? - I'm Gerry Bertier,

the only Ail-American you got on this team.

You want any of us to play for you,

you reserve half the open positions for Hammond players.

Half the offense, half the special teams.

We don't need any of your people on defense.

We're already set.

Don't need none of my people?

What did you say your name was? Jerry?

Gerry.

No, you must have said Jerry, like Lewis,

which would make you Dean Martin, right?

Ladies and gentlemen, I got an announcement to make.

We got Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin

going to camp with us here this year.

Jerry tells the jokes,

Dean sings the songs and gets the girl.

Let's give them a round of applause.

Where's your folks, Gerry?

Your parents, are they here?

Where are they?

- That's my mother. - That's your mama?

Very nice. How are you?

Take a good look at her.

'Cause once you get on that bus, you ain't got no mama no more.

You got your brothers on the team,

and you got your daddy.

Now, you know who your daddy is, don't you?

Gerry, if you want to play on this football team,

you answer me when I ask you who is your daddy.

Who's your daddy, Gerry?

Who's your daddy?

You.

And whose team is this?

Is this your team, or is this your daddy's team?

Yours.

Get on the bus.

Put your jacket on first and get on the bus.

Dean?

Fix that tie, son.

(CLAMORING)

All right, listen up, I want everybody off the bus.

Let's go. Follow me. Everybody. Let's go right now.

BOY 1: Why we got to get off the bus?

BOY 2: What are they doing, man?

All right, everybody, off the bus.

Listen up, I don't care, if you're black, green,

blue, white, or orange,

I want all of my defensive players on this side,

all players going out for offense over here.

Right now. Let's move! Let's move! Let's move! Let's move!

You and you, offensive bus. Sit together.

You and you, defensive bus. Sit together.

Get comfortable, too.

Because the person that I have you sitting next to

is the same one you'll be rooming with

for the duration of this camp.

(SINGING) 'Cause, baby

There ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Blue, shut up.

I don't want to see your smilin' and shufflin',

and hear all your minstrel show singing on this bus.

You, too.

Got that right.

You can shut up, too.

(SPIRIT IN THE SKY PLAYING)

That's my bed.

And that's his bed.

I ain't lookin' at that for two weeks, man. Take it down.

You can close your eyes for two weeks, all I care.

Why don't you look at your wall and I'll look at mine?

I'll look wherever I want to,

and I don't want to be looking at that for two weeks.

Then you better use your X- ray vision, Superman,

and look right through it, 'cause it ain't coming down.

(BOTH GRUNTING)

(GROANING)

Fight!

BOY1: Fight?

BOY 2: Fight!

BOY 3: Follow me!

BOY 4: Come on! Come on!

BOY 5: All right, wait up!

Get off me! Get off me!

Get him off!

Get off of me!

Bunch of tough guys, huh?

You look like a bunch of fifth-grade sissies

after a cat fight.

You got anger. That's good. You're gonna need it, son.

You got aggression. That's even better. You're gonna need that, too.

But any little two-year-old child can throw a fit.

Football is about controlling that anger.

Harnessing that aggression into a team effort

to achieve perfection!

Some coaches, they cut a player

if they think he's not up to snuff.

When they think he's hurting the team.

This is a public school program. I will never, ever cut a player

who comes out to play for me. But when you put that uniform on,

that Titan uniform, you better come to work.

We will be perfect

in every aspect of the game.

You drop a pass, you run a mile.

You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile.

You fumble the football,

and I will break my foot off in your John Brown hindparts.

And then you will run a mile.

Perfection!

Let's go to work.

(ALL CLAMORING)

BOONE: Move! Move those feet!

Get up, boy! Get up! Get up!

Get up! Get up! Get up!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

YOAST: Keep that head up! Keep those heads up!

Keep those feet moving!

BOONE: Everything we gonna do is changing.

We are change.

We're gonna change the way we run.

We're gonna change the way we eat.

We're gonna change the way we block.

We're gonna change the way we tackle.

We're gonna change the way we win.

Defense is desire!

Fire and desire.

SHERYL: Defense! Come on!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Get up. Get outta here. Go run. Go.

(ALL GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

YOAST: Keep those legs movin'! Keep those legs apart!

Keep moving, keep moving.

Keep that ball with you till you get out of the briar patch.

Show me, son! Show me, 'Bama!

Show me, 'Bama!

Jump on that ball carrier like a starving man

on a Christmas ham.

Hut!

(GRUNTING)

BOONE: Fumble! Fumble!

What is wrong with you? Why are you fumbling my football?

- My blockers were bad. - Your blockers?

Your blockers ain't got nothing to do with you holding the ball!

Did your blockers fumble the football, or did you fumble the football?

- I did, sir. - All right. How many feet are in a mile?

How many feet are in a mile?

Five thousand two hundred and eighty feet!

You pick this ball up, you run every one of them!

You're killing me, Petey! You're killing me!

What you doing, man?

Eating lunch.

I see you eating lunch. But why you eating over here?

Why don't you go on over there and eat with your people?

I don't have any people. I'm with everybody, Julius.

He's just a light-skinned brother.

Yeah, and I'm a dark-skinned cracker.

(ALL GIGGLING)

Come on, Julius, he's just another blessed child

in God's loving family.

(BLUE HUMMING AMAZING GRACE)

Come on, Blue, let me...

(ALL HUMMING)

BUCK: Lord, we come before you today

and ask you to soften big Julius Campbell's heart.

Look at that traitor.

And Rev? He better be praying

I block for his black behind.

Yeah, but, Ray, if you don't block you're not gonna start.

I'll start.

I'll just bide my time.

I got some plays we won the city title with last year.

Got some trick plays, some stuff that might

fire up the boys' imaginations a little bit.

Trick plays?

I think unless the boys start having a little fun,

they're not gonna put points up on that board for you.

You worry about your defense. Let me worry about the offense.

All right.

Lastik!

I want you to tell me something about one of your black teammates.

Sir, yes, sir! I'm rooming with Blue, sir,

and I noticed he wears those leopard-spotted underwears,

bikini-style, sir!

Okay, maybe somebody who's not your roommate.

Sir, I eat lunch with Rev.

That's Jerry Harris, sir!

People call him Rev 'cause he's always praying,

and he won't abide a foul tongue, sir!

And what is the Rev gonna do after high school?

I don't know.

Go to college and all that, I guess.

What about you? You gonna go to college?

Oh, not me, Coach. I ain't a brainiac like Rev.

Think you got a future in football?

Heck, no. I just figure if I got to be in school

I might as well hit some people while I'm at it.

All right, I like that.

A self-aware man, I like that.

But if you don't go to college,

it's not gonna be because you're not qualified.

So I want you to bring me your test scores

at the end of every week, and we'll go over them together, okay?

- Okay. - We'll keep that between you and me.

Okay.

So, what kind of music does the Rev like?

LOUIE: Me and Rev both dig on The Temptations.

Oh, yeah?

(SINGING) I know you want to leave me

But I refuse to let you go

If I got to pray

Plead for your sympathy

I don't mind

'Cause you mean that much to me

Ain't too proud to beg

Okay, all right. Stop begging.

Anybody else?

No volunteers?

Campbell?

Bertier?

No, huh?

Each one of you will spend time every day

with a teammate of a different race.

You will learn about him and his family,

his likes, his dislikes.

You will report back to me

until you meet every one of your teammates.

Until that time, we go to three-a-day practices.

You continue to ignore each other, we'll go to four-a-day practices.

(ALL MUTTERING)

Now, is there any part of this you don't understand?

Let's see. What's your daddy's name?

I mean, you do have a daddy, right?

I have a father and his name is Eric.

And what's he do?

Wait, he does have a job, right?

(COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING)

Huh? Yes! This one.

I don't even have to ask, but I will.

What do you think of this one?

Does the term "cruel and unusual punishment"

mean anything to you?

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Two minutes to go in the game.

The other team is out there, they're tired.

Fourth quarter. Fourth quarter. Fourth quarter.

LOUIE: Nobody from my family ever went to no college.

- I'll tutor you, Louie. - I'm white trash!

I ain't gonna get no C-plus grades! I'm just down-home, no-good,

never-going-to-no-college white trash, man! All right?

Would you hurry up and get off the phone?

- I got to call my girl, too, man! - Say it right now.

Oh, don't do this right now.

Hey, man, what is this, Wild Kingdom?

Shut up, y'all!

Mating habits of the mountain gorillas?

Gerry, you say it, or I'm not hanging up the phone.

Say it right now.

I love you, sugar.

"I love you, sugar!"

(ALL YELLING)

BOY1: Let's go! BOY 2: Watch it! Watch it!

Set! Hut!

YOAST: Get him! Get him! Get him!

What are y'all doing?

44 stack! You're supposed to know your jobs!

Campbell, you're playing selfish, show-off football.

- Hold your man down. - Don't you single me out like that.

What, you think I'm stupid or something?

Listen, I'm the team captain, and I don't need you up in my face...

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

BLUE: We're here to play football, y'all. Let's play football.

(SIGHING)

- Doc? - I got it.

Y'ail didn't come out here to practice! 'Cause champions pay the price!

Lookin' like a bunch of bums out here!

BOONE: Let's go. Who's a coward? Cowards won't block.

Cowards won't tackle.

Cowards won't go after fumbles.

BLUE: Coach, we need a water break. We been out here all day.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

What did you say?

- I said we need a water break. - You need a water break.

Water is for cowards. Water makes you weak.

Water is for washing blood off that uniform,

and you don't get no blood on my uniform.

Boy, you must be outside your mind!

We are going to do up-downs

until Blue is no longer tired and thirsty.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Coach!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

There's a fine line between tough and crazy,

and you're flirting with it.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

BOONE: All right, get some water.

(ALL PANTING)

I'll take that.

Hey, wait your turn, boy.

Who you calling a boy, cracker?

Quit it, jerks!

Come on! You're all acting like a bunch of sissies!

Quit it!

(ALL CLAMORING)

(GASPING)

All right, man, listen. I'm Gerry, you're Julius.

Let's get some particulars and just get this over with, all right?

- Particulars? - Yeah.

No matter what I tell you,

you ain't never gonna know nothing about me.

Listen, I ain't runnin' any more of these three-a-days, okay?

What I got to say, you really don't want to hear

'cause honesty ain't too high on your people's priority list.

Honesty? You want honesty?

All right, honestly, I think you're nothing.

Nothing but a pure waste of God-given talent.

You don't listen to nobody, man.

Not even Doc or Boone!

Shiver push on the line every time, man.

You blow right past 'em!

Push 'em! Pull 'em! Do something!

You can't run over everybody in this league,

and every time you do, you leave one of your teammates

hanging out to dry, me in particular!

Why should I give a hoot about you? Huh?

Or anybody else out there?

You want to talk about a waste, you the captain, right?

Right.

Captain's supposed to be the leader, right?

- You got a job? - I have a job.

- You been doing your job? - I've been doing my job.

Then why don't you tell your white buddies

to block for Rev better? 'Cause they have not blocked

for him worth a plugged nickel, and you know it!

Nobody plays! Yourself included!

I'm supposed to wear myself out for the team?

What team?

No. No, what I'm gonna do is,

I'm gonna look out for myself,

and I'm gonna get mine.

See, man?

That's the worst attitude I ever heard.

Attitude reflects leadership, Captain.

(FOG HORN BLOWING)

BOONE: Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go!

Wake up, gentlemen, it's late.

It's 3: 00 a. m. in the morning.

All right, listen up.

You will follow Doc, myself, and the other coaches.

We're gonna take a little run through the woods.

If you get lost along the way,

don't bother coming back to camp.

Just hitchhike your hindparts on home.

Any questions?

Coach, this is a high school football team.

We're not in the marines here.

Let's go.

YOAST: Let's go.

(A HARD RAIN'S A-GONNA FALL PLAYING)

- Oh, no, no. - Shoot!

Come on, baby. Can't take no rest.

Anybody know what this place is?

This is Gettysburg.

This is where they fought the Battle of Gettysburg.

Fifty thousand men died right here on this field,

fighting the same fight

that we're still fighting amongst ourselves

today.

This green field right here

was painted red.

Bubbling with the blood of young boys.

Smoke

and hot lead pouring right through their bodies.

Listen to their souls, men.

"I killed my brother with malice in my heart. "

"Hatred destroyed my family. "

You listen

and you take a lesson from the dead.

If we don't come together,

right now, on this hallowed ground,

then we, too, will be destroyed.

Just like they were.

I don't care if you like each other or not,

but you will respect each other.

And maybe...

I don't know, maybe we'll

learn to play this game like men.

PLAYER 1: Hut!

(CLAMORING)

PLAYER 2: Here we go!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

All right.

We'll be out here all night, until we get this thing right.

- Let's go. - BERTIER: Let's go, team, pick it up!

- On the ball, Rev. - BERTIER: Come on, everybody.

- Get it right! - BERTIER: Ready!

Set!

(WHOOPING)

BOY1: Check Blue! BOY 2: There it is.

Let's go! Hut!

Go! Go!

(GRUNTING)

What was that, Ray?

Whatever it is, it ain't blockin'!

Give me a break, Gerry.

You want a break? I'll give you a break!

Wait a minute, wait, wait. Let them handle this.

If they get to Rev once, just one time,

I swear to God, I'm gonna hit you so hard,

by the time you come to,

ooh, boy, you're gonna need a new haircut.

You understand me?

(GIGGLING)

BERTIER: Let's play, fellas!

On the ball. Let's run it again.

Ready!

All right.

Set!

Hut!

(GROANING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Get off me!

(WHOOPING)

You all right, big Petey? You all right?

You really stuck him, Campbell.

Yeah, I love me a little contact, Petey!

This is left side!

- Strong side! - Left side!

- Strong side! - Left side!

Strong side!

Left side!

- Strong side! - Left side!

Strong side!

(BOTH SCREAMING)

(SPILL THE WINE PLAYING)

BERTIER: What wins games? ALL: Defense!

- What wins games? - ALL: Defense!

BERTIER: What wins games? ALL: Defense!

(ALL CLAMORING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Hey, fellas.

Look at that fruitcake.

(PLAYER CAT-CALLING)

Gerry, just keep your mouth shut

and get back on that field.

Coach Boone, I'm Colonel Bass.

I just got transferred here from Huntington Beach, California.

This is my son Ronnie, and he's a quarterback.

How you doing, Ronnie? This is Coach Yoast.

My pleasure.

We're pretty set at the quarterback, Colonel,

but, if the boy's any good,

you may want to check out Wilson or Hamilton.

Well, I met Coach Taber.

He won't let blacks play on his team.

The way I see it, if these boys can fight a war together,

they can play football together.

Now, he's a pretty good runner.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Yeah, a fruitcake, huh?

I think we can find a place for your boy.

With one or two conditions.

Hey, Sunshine.

Sunshine.

Sunshine.

Sunshine.

PETEY: Hey, man, all that rubbin'

ain't gonna make them golden locks

grow back no faster now. You know that, huh?

(ALL GIGGLING)

BLUE: (SINGING) Sunshine, Sunshine, Sunshine

- Sunshine? - Sunshine.

Yeah. Choke it up, huh?

That's cool. I can dig it.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

SUNSHINE: Come on, now. Don't leave me hangin', bro. Come on.

BLUE: Hey, he got a little soul power.

Look at this man here.

He called me "bro"!

Hey, but, hey,

I liked him better with the long hair, bro.

Reminded me of Bertier's mama.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

What? What?

Now, how do you know what Bertier's mama looks like?

Brother, don't you know, me and Bertier's mama

went out on the town last night, bro?

- What are you say... - Hold up, hold up. Listen, now, Blue.

Why are you talking about Bertier's mama like that?

See, now, you making me angry, man.

Look like I ain't gonna be able to take your mama

to the prom no more.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

What you laughin' at, Jerry Buck?

You need to tell your mama to shave them old legs of hers, bro.

And, Julius, when she's done,

maybe your mama can borrow the razor

and shave that old nasty back of hers.

BLUE: Wait, wait, wait.

You mad because she lookin' like a wolfman, bro.

Hey, hey. Lastik, man, what happened to you?

Man, I just gave your mama a piggyback ride,

and she weighs twice as much as I do.

That ain't funny.

That's a mama joke.

(AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH PLAYING ON RADIO)

(SINGING) Listen, baby

Ain't no mountain high

Ain't no valley low

Ain't no river wide enough, baby

If you need me, call me

No matter where you are

No matter how far

No, no, darlin'

Just call my name

I'll be there in a hurry

You don't have to worry

'Cause, baby, there

Ain't no mountain high enough

So, Julius, I was thinking that we...

He's in the shower.

What do you want, man?

You know what I want.

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

Hey, Bertier!

Get off! Get off!

You have no idea who you messed with, man!

There's too much male bonding going on in here for me.

I'm out. You dig?

BERTIER: All right!

What is going on here?

He kissed me, man!

(ALL GIGGLING)

Ain't no mountain high enough

Ain't no valley low enough

Ain't no river wide enough

To keep me from getting to you

- Ronnie Bass. - Yes, sir.

I like that haircut. Get in there and show me what you got. Option eleven.

PLAYER 1: Let's go, baby. Rookie quarterback.

PLAYER 2: Side field, come on.

BERTIER: Left! Left!

Set! Hut!

Ball! Ball! Ball!

Hard step.

Read the tackle.

- Got to see the pitch, all right? - Yes, sir.

Now, you can throw it a mile, but you can't pitch it three yards.

Gotta see it. If you don't read it, you weave 'em.

- Rev! - Yes, sir!

- Show him how. - Yes, sir.

JULIUS: You want this milk, Bertier?

Yeah, I'll take your milk.

- Hey, can you slide a bit, Gerry? - Hey, Ray, this is the defensive table.

- Hi, Petey. - What's up, man?

Hey, Sunshine.

It's not like I care or nothing, but being your roommate and all,

you was just messing with Bertier, right?

You was just messing with his mind, right?

You're not really...

What are you talking about, Petey?

Look, man, it don't matter to me, you know?

If, you know, if... I just got to know, you know?

If it don't matter, what's the big deal?

- I got to know. - Know what?

You know what I got to know? Don't mess with my mind!

Looks like Coach been keeping Petey out in the sun for too long, bro.

- Coach. - Hey, sweetie. Sit down.

YOAST: Have my dessert. SHERYL: Coach Boone?

You did a good job up here.

You ran a tough camp, from what I can see.

Well, I'm very happy to have the approval of a five-year-old.

I'm nine and a half, thank you very much.

Why don't you get this little girl some pretty dolls or something, Coach?

I tried. She loves football.

What are you?

ALL: Mobile! Agile! Hostile!

What is pain?

ALL: French bread!

- What is fatigue? - ALL: Army clothes!

- Will you ever quit? - ALL: No!

ALL: We want some more! We want some more!

We want some more!

BOONE: Turn in!

Let me ask you something, Mr. Campbell.

What kind of power you got?

Oh, man, you know I got some soul power.

What kind of power you got?

What kind of question is that? I got soul power!

- Yes, you do! - Right on!

Let me ask you something now, Mr. Bertier.

- How strong are you? - I'm too strong!

- What? - I'm too strong!

- How strong? - Too strong!

I want a victory!

Oh, I want a victory!

I want a victory!

No, I want a victory!

You all want a victory?

ALL: Yeah!

You all want a victory?

ALL: Yeah!

(SINGING) Goodbye

Na na na na

Hey, hey, hey

Goodbye

Let me hear you!

Up in the front! Up in the front!

Whole school!

Hey, hey, hey

What'd they do up there, brainwash 'em?

They must be high on something.

- Hey, Mom. - Welcome home.

Dad.

- How you doing, sweetheart? - CAROL: I missed you so much.

Hey, man. Look, are we cool?

Yeah, we're cool, man.

- Mrs. Boone, nice to meet you. - You, too.

Yeah, this is little Karen.

This is Nicky. Nicky, that's Sheryl.

Why do you dress so weird?

(EXCLAIMING IN PAIN)

Look who's talking.

(NICKY EXCLAIMING IN PAIN)

Well, we're just all getting along, aren't we?

WOMAN 1: We don't want you!

WOMAN 2: Get out!

WOMAN 3: We don't want them here!

(TIME HAS COME TODAY PLAYING)

LOUIE: What you doing in my school, boy?

Man, this stuff is messed up.

Yeah, anything serious happen,

they shut the school down,

and our season go down the drain.

This here's real messed up.

But there are a lot of pretty women here.

BERTIER: Hey.

Look at 'em, Gerry.

They hate us.

Nah. Just a bad day. Things'll cool down.

No, Gerry. They're always gonna hate us.

(ALL CLAMORING)

We don't need you here, either, hippie boy.

You hear what he said?

- Hey, man. - Hey, Julius.

Man, it's crazy out here, man.

Yeah, well, what did you expect?

I don't know. I ain't quite expect it to be like this.

Sorry. Julius, this is Emma.

(EXCLAIMING)

Camp over now, huh?

Back to the real world, Bertier.

This is what they're integrating us for?

We'd have been better off staying where we were.

(EXCLAIMING CONTENTEDLY)

Yeah, this is my sanctuary right here.

All this hatred and turmoil swirling around us,

but this... This is always right.

Struggle.

Survival.

Victory and defeat.

It's just a game, Doc, but...

I love it.

Coach, I'm afraid I've put you into a no-win situation.

I just found out the board didn't even think

you'd make it out of camp.

And now that you have,

I've learned that at the first sign of trouble...

Trouble? What kind of trouble?

Lose a game,

they'll fire you

and turn it back over to Yoast.

One game, just like that?

What about my family?

We just got here.

They just expect me to pick up and move?

What about my girls?

I don't know what to say, I...

I'm sorry, Coach.

Pump, pump, pump it up!

Pump, pump, pump it up!

Pump that Titan spirit up!

Look at 'em.

They come here to watch the game, and they still don't want no part of us.

Give us more. Do your stuff, let's go!

(ALL CHEERING)

All right, everybody on their feet. On your feet, on your feet.

Let's go, let's go.

(CLAPPING)

Listen up.

I'm not gonna talk to you tonight about

winning and losing.

You're already winners,

'cause you didn't kill each other up at camp.

Tonight, we got Hayfield.

Like all the other schools in this conference, they're all white.

They don't have to worry about race.

We do.

But we're better for it, men.

Let me tell you something. You don't let anything,

nothing,

come between us. Nothing tears us apart.

Greek mythology,

the titans were greater even than the gods.

They ruled their universe with absolute power.

Well, that football field out there tonight,

that's our universe.

Let's rule it like titans.

Got it!

(GRUNTING)

ANNOUNCER: So the Titans defense

takes the field for the first time

against the Hayfield Hawks,

led by quarterback Daniel Cullum

on the Hawks' 32-yard line.

We're moving like molasses out there, for crying out loud!

I mean, come on!

(EXCLAIMS IN FRUSTRATION)

Mama.

- Are all white girls that crazy? - What?

You guys can do better than that...

Yeah!

Huddle up. Fellas, huddle up.

Bosley? Where's Alan?

Alan, you've got to stick your man!

They're gonna score on us all night if you don't...

He's too fast, Gerry. I can't stick with him.

Let's go, let's go!

22! Hut!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

ANNOUNCER: Touchdown, Hawks!

- Shape up that defense, Yoast. - You just worry about your offense.

Hey, they score again, I'm taking over.

(BAND PLAYING)

Ready!

That's it!

PLAYER: Watch him! Watch him!

Set!

Hut! Hut!

(GRUNTING)

Petey, get over here! What are you doing, son?

You missed the block by a mile.

You didn't even have the football to fumble this time.

There's no excuse! No excuse!

You want to play football or not?

Do you want to play football... Boy, get over there on the bench.

(CHEERING)

Herb, take over for me.

You got it.

Petey! You all right?

I was a two-year starter at G. W.

All this yelling he's doing,

it don't do nothing but make me play worse.

I can't play for this man.

You come play linebacker for me.

23's killing us. I want you to get out there,

I want you to cover him for me.

- You want me to go in now? - Yeah.

I can't! I...

I haven't practiced with the defense. I can't.

That doesn't matter. I just want you to get out there.

I want you to cover 23. That's all you have to do.

We'll talk about the rest of it when we put this one away.

You think Yoast is trying to let them score on purpose?

What?

- Do you? - Oh, come on, Herman.

YOAST: Okay, let's go.

What is Petey doing in there?

HINDS: Looks like Yoast is trying him out on defense.

He's taking Alan out. Yoast!

Herman, Herman, Herman.

Come on. Let's see. Let's see what happens.

- It might be all right. - MR. BOSLEY: Yoast!

It's okay. You're okay. You're okay. Okay.

Don't you take out my son!

He's getting beat like he stole something, Mr. Bosley.

You just stay out of it, girl!

He's just getting beat, that's all I'm saying.

Yoast!

Set! 22! Hut! Hut!

HINDS: Yeah!

Down!

(SUPERSTAR REMEMBER HOW YOU GOT WHERE YOU ARE PLAYING)

Hut! Hut, hut!

(CROWD CHEERING)

Go, defense.

Set!

Hut!

(CROWD ROARING)

(CROWD CHEERING)

Yeah!

ANNOUNCER: Touchdown! Game, Titans!

Yeah!

The Titans are here, y'all, and we ain't going nowhere.

Yo, you got to be loud all the time, man?

Virginia can hear you, baby.

I think they all heard you fumble, man.

First of all, the hand. Second of all, who won the game?

My dad is...

Don't worry about it. It's not your fault.

They like to show off,

and that's what they do.

Wait, wait, wait. "They"?

- Yeah. What? - I heard you say "they. "

Yeah, they. Them. Them over there.

But what you mean by "they"... You talking about Pete...

JULIUS: You're you, and they are them.

(CAR HORN HONKING)

EMMA: Gerry.

RAY: Hey, Gerry. Hop in, buddy.

We're heading over to the hill, Gerry. Everyone's gonna be there.

Why don't you hang out down here with us?

We're... You know...

What are you trying to do, Gerry?

Listen, when something unexpected comes,

you just got to pick it up and run with it.

I'm not running in the same direction as you are, Gerry.

Come with us.

Look, standing up for what you believe in,

it's all well and good, but...

you got your priorities real mixed up this time.

Are you coming or not, man?

(GIRL GIGGLING)

Petey Jones.

Come on, man.

No, man.

What, man? It's on me, man. We party on. Let's go.

Look... Look here, man, all right?

This here's Virginia. All right?

They got problems with, you know...

They don't want us in there, man.

Oh, man, that's history, bro. It's on me. Come on.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING ON JUKEBOX)

We're full tonight, boys.

What? There's tables all over the place, man.

What are you talking about?

Well, this is my establishment.

I reserve the right to refuse service to anybody.

Yeah, that means you, too, hippie boy.

Now, y'all want something to eat,

you can take these boys out back and pick it up from the kitchen.

What'd I tell you, man?

Yo, come on, Petey, man!

Petey, I didn't know, man.

I told you! What you mean you didn't know?

You think I was playing with you?

Man, he didn't know, Petey.

Blue, he don't want to know.

You pull some crap like that,

you better be able to back it up.

Man, let's go, man.

- Why don't you cool out? Cool out! - Let's go, Rev.

- BLUE: Man, let's go, man. - What happened?

BLUE: This man acting a fool tonight, man.

JULIUS: Petey.

BLUE: Man, don't even talk to that man, man.

He acting all crazy and stuff, man.

It don't even make no sense.

JULIUS: Petey.

BLUE: He know the man's from out of town.

Five times. Five times, player of the week.

He's not some walk-on scrub, Yoast.

The boy's a player. He's a star.

And he busted his butt for you.

This is all your doing, you blacks.

That is enough.

It's my call.

Now listen.

You just go on home now, Fred,

before you do something that you're going to regret.

Yeah, well...

I guess we won't be seeing much of him, huh?

I will. He's on the deacon board with me.

All right, listen, about Petey...

No thanks required, Coach.

Thanks?

You challenged my authority

in front of the entire football team, Coach.

Now, you think you're doing these boys a favor

taking them aside every time I come down on them,

protecting them from big bad Boone.

You're cutting my legs from under me.

Some of the boys just don't respond well

to public criticism.

I tell them what they need to know, but I don't humiliate them

in front of the team.

Which boys are you talking about?

Which ones you talking about?

I come down on Bertier. I don't see you coddle him.

Come down on Sunshine.

Don't see you grab his hand, take him off to the side.

Which boys are you talking about?

Now, I may be a mean cuss, but I'm the same mean cuss

with everybody out there on that football field.

The world don't give a damn about how sensitive these kids are,

especially the young black kids.

You ain't doing these kids a favor by patronizing them.

You're crippling them.

You're crippling them for life.

(WHOOPING)

Gerry, what are you doing?

I'm going down to the Berg.

- The Berg? - Yep.

What are you doing at the Berg?

I'm going to play basketball with Julius.

Then we're going to come back here for dinner.

Gerry, if your father was still alive...

Ma, would...

Just give him a chance. Just get to know him.

Listen to him for two seconds.

I don't want to get to know him.

You are coming to church with your mother.

Right, right, right!

He's mine! Hut!

(GRUNTING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

You blew your assignment!

Man, I'm covering for you. Don't get in my face.

Cool out. Cool out.

Where you at?

What planet you on tonight?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I mean, it's fine, man. I knew you was going to stand me up.

I figured you weren't going to make it out to the Berg, no way.

I knew you was all talk, but now you making us look bad

- out there on the field. - Don't talk to me, man.

- You ain't got nothing to say to me. - Why the clouds, Sunshine?

I can't make that pitch, Petey.

You ain't gonna never play anyway, unless we're up by 50 points.

And seeing as how we ain't never gonna be

up by no 50 points, you might as well just sit back, relax,

and enjoy the bench.

- How's it going, yo? - Man, I didn't sign up to play like this.

These guys we're playing got no heart.

We play like this against Groveton, we're going down.

BOONE: Okay, Offense. Offense, let's go.

Hut!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Touchdown, Titans!

Game, Titans!

BOONE: How you doing, Coach?

Good morning.

- Where's your dad? - He's in his office.

Nicky, you all right?

- Yes, Daddy. - Okay.

What you doing?

Shooting some hoops.

Want to play?

I just did my nails.

How you doing? Tyrell.

Coach, if you don't need me,

I'm going to...

I'm going to wait out back.

YOAST: All right, Herb.

Coach Boone, to what do I owe this surprise?

Have a seat.

I'll get straight to it.

We won't survive another game

like the one we played last Friday,

so I spoke to Mr. Vernon, the math teacher,

asked him to look at the game film from Groveton,

who we got next week.

I asked him to analyze it for me.

Every coach has certain tendencies.

All of them except Ed Henry.

The only time we'd be seeing Ed Henry

is at the State Championship.

Well, gosh, this is...

This is great stuff.

Every quarter broken down,

how many times they run each play. I mean...

You like that, huh?

We'll be very tough defensively with this.

I think so.

I brought Nicky by.

She was asking me about Sheryl.

I'm getting ready to take her over to some of her friends' house.

Anytime you want to bring her by the house,

we'd be more than happy to have her.

(VENUS PLAYING)

GIRL 1: He's so cute.

GIRL 2: He's in my third period class.

(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)

PETEY: What y'all staring at old Sunshine for?

I'm the one dominating on the field.

- He ain't played a minute all year. - Who cares about the field?

Well, I don't want to be the one to break your heart,

but Sunshine's from California.

Yeah. A California dreamboat.

No.

Sunshine is from California.

He's a Californian...

You talking to my girl?

I don't see any livestock around here,

so I don't know what you talking 'bout.

(PETEY GRUNTING)

BOY: It's a fight! GIRL: Guys, stop it!

PETEY: Get off me. Get off me.

Hey!

BOY: You want some?

Hey, hey, break it up.

Break...

Get your hands off me, man!

Hey, get off me!

Come here, man.

Petey, get these girls out of here.

Get out of here!

- Uncle Tom! Traitor! - Uncle Tom!

I know you didn't call me no Uncle Tom.

Y'all better back off me now, man.

Go! Move!

Looks like you went to the zoo and made some new friends, Bertier.

BERTIER: Oh, big smart guy, huh?

Marie has asked about Sheryl.

Wanted to know if she could come over and spend the night.

I told her I'd run it by you, see what you thought.

Yeah.

She's over at the Boones' tonight. I was going to swing by

on my way home and pick her up.

Over at the Boones', huh?

Yeah.

So that's the way it is, huh?

Yeah, you haven't changed a bit.

You was the one trying to please everybody,

be the nice guy.

Sooner or later, a man's got to pick sides.

As for me, well, I'm... I'm not going to put myself

through the rest of the season with that uppity...

Hey!

I brought you here.

I want you with me,

but you got to do what you got to do.

That's all you can say to me after all we've been through?

- "Do what you got to do"? - Hey, Herb...

You go to hell.

SHERYL: That veer's getting better. I'll admit that.

But you're still weak on the left side.

We're not weak on the left side.

We just got to work harder on the left side, that's all.

- That's not the problem. - What is the problem?

You think it is, but it ain't. It's your pass reads.

It's not... It's a run anyway.

It's not a pass. The veer is a run. Not a pass.

All right, you two, that's enough of that.

Sheryl, don't you want to play with Nicky?

I hate playing with dolls.

I'm not playing. I'm accessorizing.

Yeah, why don't you go accessorize?

Don't you want to go accessorize with...

MAN: Hey, Coach Coon!

(CAROL SCREAMING)

(SCREAMING)

In the back. In the back.

NICKY: Mommy!

(GUN COCKING)

(TIRES SQUEALING)

(MAN WHOOPING)

(DOG BARKING)

Where's Coach, man?

What do he want with us now?

Coaches ain't called this meeting tonight.

- We did. - We outta here.

JULIUS: How y'all gonna walk out on your teammate?

He say he got something to say. Y'all got to listen to him.

Turn around, turn around.

Where you going? Turn around.

Coach Boone brought us this far, y'all,

but he ain't going to be there for us forever, man.

So what? We won a few games.

And y'all fools think that's something?

Man, that ain't nothing, y'all.

And you know what else?

We ain't nothing, either.

Yeah, we came together in camp. Cool.

But then we're right back here, and the world tells us

that they don't want us to be together.

We fall apart like we ain't a damn bit of nothing, man.

And y'all think we done won something?

Man, we ain't won nothing, y'all...

Nothing.

Rev, what's that you're always telling me when I get sick

of trying to keep up with my grades and stuff?

Even youths

Grow tired and weary

Even young men stumble and fall

But those who trust in the Lord

Will renew their strength

Say amen.

Amen. That's what I'm talking about.

Amen... amen, right?

That's right, Rev.

They will soar on wings like eagles

Oh, like eagles, y'all

Like eagles, y'all

They will walk

And not grow faint

Yeah. Can I get an amen?

ALL: Yeah!

Yeah.

Yeah.

We're playing Groveton Friday night, y'all.

You all gonna play like you ain't got no heart?

ALL: No!

- Do you all want a victory? - ALL: Yeah!

- Do you all want a victory? - ALL: Yeah!

Turn in!

(ALL GRUNTING)

Yeah!

Like I said, we will not be intimidated.

We're going to play football games.

Hatred, violence will not intimidate us.

MAN: Is that why you need the state troopers, Coach?

Look, I don't need no John Brown state troopers.

And you can tell whoever threw this brick through my window

they can come visit me anytime. I'll be at home.

I think it's time you stopped

antagonizing everybody and learned a little humility.

Humility, huh?

You know, if you could just keep your mouth shut

and if you didn't brag so much...

I see. So you're blaming me

for what happened last night?

No. I am talking about setting a good example

for our boys and for the community.

I don't scratch my head unless it itches,

and I don't dance unless I hear some music.

I will not be intimidated. That's just the way it is.

If you want to carry your sinful pride with you

to your grave, that's your business.

But when your sins endanger my little girl,

it becomes mine.

My sins?

You think my sins had something to do with what happened last night?

I'm sorry about what happened to your daughter,

I really am,

but maybe you got a small taste

of what my girls go through.

Welcome to my life, Yoast.

What's going on?

Coach.

We wanted to let you know we was going to warm up a little

different tonight.

ANNOUNCER: This is the first true test of the season

for the undefeated T. C. Williams Titans,

'cause tonight, they're going up against

the undefeated Groveton Lions.

Their all-state noseguard, Kip Tyler,

is as mean as a copperhead snake.

And here come the Titans.

They're playing in front of a capacity crowd

for the first time this season.

(BAND PLAYING)

Hoo, ha, we feel

Hoo, ha, real good

Hoo, ha, we feel

Hoo, ha, real good

Hoo, ha, we feel

Hoo, ha, real good

Hoo, ha, we feel

Hoo, ha, real good

Hoo, ha, we feel

Julius Campbell is playing strong-side linebacker.

- Sheryl. - He's so good. He's got All-American...

Sheryl.

- And Gerry Bertier... - Sheryl.

I do not care.

BLUE: Five, six!

Five, six, seven, eight!

Everywhere we go

People wanna know

Who we are

So we tell them

We are the Titans

The mighty, mighty Titans

Who do they think they are, the Beatles?

All right, quit gawking. Warm up.

- Tyler. - Coach?

Shut 'em up. Hard.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Ready!

Omaha, Budds, Omaha.

- Set! - Omaha!

Hike!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Song's over, Sambo.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

MAN: Let's go, baby. Let's go, let's go.

- What happened, Lastik? - I audibled.

Rev, I swear to God I audibled.

- I didn't hear it. - MAN: All right, fellas, coming through.

Swear to God.

MAN: Let's take a look at that, son.

(GASPING)

Well, he broke a bone in the wrist.

He won't be throwing anymore this season.

(REV GRUNTING)

You got one minute, Coach.

Take the other time-out, Coach.

- Ronnie Bass! - Coach.

Rev's going back in, right?

Not at quarterback, son.

- I can't make that pitch, Coach. - Yes, you can.

When I was 15 years old,

I lost my mother and my father

in the same month, Ronnie. The same month.

12 brothers and sisters. I was the youngest one,

but they were all looking up to me.

Now, I wasn't ready yet, either, but they needed me.

Your team needs you tonight.

You're the colonel. You're going to command your troops tonight.

- Do you understand? - Yes, sir.

Twins right, 48, zero read.

Let's go.

Let's go.

Let's go.

What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a football injury before,

you wimps? Let's go. Show some life in those legs.

I got it. It's going to be all right.

Budds, you release this time.

- Louie, let him through, all right? - What?

Just let him through. Trust me.

You had 12 brothers and sisters?

- Eight. - Yeah. Twelve sounds better.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Ready!

Set!

Blue, 21!

Hut!

(CROWD CHEERING)

(WHOOPING)

(BOOING)

Ref! Unnecessary roughness!

That's a penalty!

On the quarterback? Are you kidding me, Coach?

(WHOOPING)

Did you see that, man?

That's a bad white boy, man.

Hike!

(NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE PLAYING)

We've got ourselves a football player.

Hut!

Hut!

All right, listen up, listen up, listen up.

Listen up, listen up. Listen up.

Game ball.

Ronnie Bass.

Hey, this ball right here... Hey, this ball right here

goes to the real king right here.

- Thanks for teaching me the veer, Rev. - Aw, come on.

ALL: Rev!

Rev! Rev! Rev!

Rev! Rev! Rev!

Come on.

Coach?

Can I speak with you in private?

Sure.

What's on your mind, son?

I want Ray off the team, Coach.

- You know my policy, Gerry. - Yes, I do,

and I respect it,

but I know that Ray missed that block on purpose.

Sometimes you just got to cut a man loose.

Well, you're the captain.

You make a decision, but you support your decision.

We're going to remember this for a long time.

PETEY: Hey, guys, wait up. I want to catch a ride with you.

Ray?

PETEY: Oh, man, not a word.

You're out.

What?

I'm not going to let you play for this team anymore.

Oh, yeah, Jerry Lewis?

Going to go and tell Coach Coon what to do, just like last time?

But, then, that's right.

He is your daddy now, isn't he?

Boone don't cut anybody.

Remember, Gerry?

I had you cut, Ray.

You're willing to just throw away our friendship for them?

You can keep them.

(PEACE TRAIN PLAYING)

Hi.

Officer?

Heck of a game you boys played last night.

Thanks.

Thank you, Officer.

Best defense I've seen in 20 years.

Tell that coach of yours to keep up the good work.

Oh, yeah. I'll do that.

BERTIER: Yo, man, your taxi had a siren.

Superman!

Hey, man, what's going on?

Doing all right.

(LONG COOL WOMAN IN A BLACK DRESS PLAYING)

WOMAN ON RADIO: This song goes out to the undefeated Titans.

This city is alive with school spirit. Go get 'em, Titans!

We are here tonight to honor men

that are teaching our young people

leadership on and off the field

and high moral standards as well.

Ladies and gentlemen,

let me introduce to you the 1971 Hall of Fame nominees.

(ALL APPLAUDING)

Come on, Daddy.

(WHOOPING)

When we played Jefferson,

we were down by four with 10 seconds left.

So we blitzed the safety from the weak side...

MAN: Wow.

Heck of a season the Titans are having, Coach.

Too bad it's got to end.

Oh, we're still in it, Lyle.

Taber's boys are pretty good,

but I think we'll take 'em in the regional.

Well, not if we have anything to say about it.

You just leave this to us, Bill.

Boone's out, and you're head coach again.

And all roads lead to the Hall of Fame.

Coach Taber?

What do you think of the Titans, Coach?

Think you have a chance against that defense

they have over there at T. C.?

TABER: Ton, Billy, Ray, come on over here.

Boys. These are my Ail-American tackles.

Prize bulls who don't do nothing

but knock the chocolate out of folks.

REPORTER: Is it true you're not gonna trade films with Coach Boone?

I'm not gonna do anything to help that monkey

Well,

what are we going to do about this?

We're gonna get ready for Saturday. See you out there on the field.

Hut!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

BOONE: Hey, Mr. Official.

Mr. Official, can I talk to you for a second?

Back off, Coach, if you want to stay in this game.

Hut!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

I've got holding on 78 white.

Are you trying to cheat my boys out of the game?

15 more yards.

Let 'em play, Ref, let 'em play.

Let 'em play! Let the boys play!

- Cheater! - Coach, come on.

BOONE: Cheater! HINDS: Coach.

(CHEERLEADERS CHANTING)

Go, go, go, go!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

SHERYL: Oh, come on! What was that?

(EXCLAIMING IN FRUSTRATION)

What are you, blind? That wasn't a hold.

Oh, come on, that was such a bad call.

Titus!

MAN: Give him a piece of your mind!

I know all about it, Titus.

What are you talking about, Bill?

You call this game fair,

or I'll go to the papers.

I don't care if I go down with you,

but before God, I swear I'll see every last one of you thrown in jail.

- You dig your own grave. - Okay.

Defense! On me!

Okay, Petey, don't you drift to the strong side.

Coach, they're calling a holding penalty on me every time.

Did I ask for your excuses?

You want to act like a star, you better give me a star effort,

do you hear me?

Forget about him!

Alan, you're in!

Come on! All right.

Now, I don't want them to gain another yard.

You blitz all night!

If they cross the line of scrimmage,

I'm gonna take every last one of you out.

You make sure

they remember forever

the night they played the Titans.

(CHEERING)

Leave no doubt!

Set! Come on, y'all! Swing it left!

All right! All right! All right!

Set! Hut!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

You better make yourself comfortable down there.

Real comfortable.

(GRUNTING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

You did good!

- That one was for you, Coach. - All right, baby. All right.

You brought us here, Coach.

Run it up, Herman! Leave no doubt!

(I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER PLAYING)

Set! Hut!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Hut hut!

Good game.

Yeah.

Good game.

Coach. Coach.

I took a straw poll.

You just lost yourself the Hall of Fame.

BERTIER: Good game, y'all.

Hey, good job, 43.

Good job. Good job, men.

Hey, way to stick.

Good job.

Good game, Coach.

Coach.

ALL: Yeah!

(ALL CHEERING)

(BAND PLAYING)

CHEERLEADERS: Titans!

Yeah!

Petey! What happened out there, man? Come on, talk to me, Petey.

- Petey! - I'm so proud of you.

Hey, Julius. Julius.

Come here, man.

- Don't move. - Go on. It's okay.

- Man. - What's up, man?

Let's get out of here.

Let's go paint the town or something.

Let's go. Let's go.

I got to hang with my girl tonight.

- I got to hang with her tonight. - All right, all right.

Where you going?

I don't know.

I don't know, but I'm gonna go. All right?

- You gonna go? - Yeah, man.

I want to go, man, but you know what I mean, man.

I know. I'll see ya.

Looks like you weren't the one with the mixed-up priorities, huh?

Emma...

I think it's gonna take me a little longer than you might like.

But, um...

I just wanted you to know that I'm gonna try.

Goodbye, Gerry.

Emma?

Make me a promise?

You'll be there to root for us when we play Marshall for the title?

(FIRE AND RAIN PLAYING)

I know how much it meant to you.

I ain't gonna lie.

I wanted the Hall of Fame real bad.

Just plain old jealousy.

As old as Cain and Abel.

You know what?

I wanted it, too.

But there's always next year or the year after that.

As long as it takes for them to wise up.

Wouldn't want it now anyway.

Bunch of old rednecks.

Let's knock 'em dead at state, Coach.

Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!

Daddy! You're home!

My girls!

Give me a kiss.

- Congratulations, Herman. - All right.

What'd I tell you, baby, huh?

Yeah, we can't get too far ahead of ourselves.

We still got to get Ed Henry and Marshall.

We got all these...

MAN: You've done a good job, Coach Boone! Congratulations!

(WHOOPING)

Well, I'll be John Brown.

We cleaned up the kitchen, Daddy, so you could get right to work.

You did?

Well, I got news for you.

I ain't workin' tonight.

Tonight, we're gonna celebrate. We're gonna let these people know

- who's gonna win State. Right? - Right!

- Right? - Right!

- Right? - Right!

(NICKY WHOOPING)

BOONE: Everybody! NICKY: We're gonna win State!

We're gonna win State!

We're gonna win State!

(WHISTLING)

- BOY: Hey, Gerry! You, man! - No, you! No, you, you!

You! Yeah!

(TIRE SCREECHING)

MAN: Oh, shoot! Gerry! Are you okay?

How you doin', son?

He ain't all right? He all right?

He's, uh...

How's he doing?

Not too good. Not too good.

How well is he doing?

How bad is it?

How bad is it?

He's paralyzed from the waist down.

Don't say that to me. Don't say that to me.

(SNIFFING)

Sorry, Mrs. Bertier.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

He doesn't want to see anybody but you, Julius.

Yes, ma'am.

- You be strong. - Yes, ma'am.

Those tears are not gonna make my boy walk again.

Only kin's allowed in here.

Alice, are you blind?

Don't you see the family resemblance?

That's my brother.

All right.

Oh, man.

Well, you think I look banged up, you should see my Camaro.

Man,

I sure am sorry, man.

I should have been there with you.

What are you talking about?

You would've been in the bed right next to me.

You can't be hurt like this.

You're Superman.

I was afraid of you, Julius.

I only saw what I was afraid of.

And now I know I was only hating my brother.

I'll tell you what, though.

When all this is over,

me and you are gonna move out to the same neighborhood together.

Okay? And,

and we'll get old, and we'll get fat.

And there ain't gonna be all this black-white between us.

(CHUCKLING)

Left side.

Strong side.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

The Marshall film.

Well, that's good.

We're gonna have to be real sharp on the offensive and defensive sides

of the football.

Figure we give the kids a couple of extra practices this week,

make sure they stay focused.

Got a press conference today at 12 noon.

Press conference?

Listen, what we do here amongst ourselves is one thing,

but we are not gonna parade around talking about football at a time like this.

Hold on. I'm not talking about parading.

I'm talking about going out there,

presenting a strong, united front.

Now, I'm hurting

just like you are, Yoast, but the season is not over yet.

I did... We did not come this far

to just break down and lose now.

Everything's not always about winning and losing.

I'm a winner.

I'm going to win.

Is this even about football anymore?

Or is it just about you?

REPORTER: Coach Boone.

Coach, you lost Bertier.

Is your defense in trouble?

You cannot replace a Gerry Bertier.

As a player or person.

(CAROL SIGHING)

I don't know, Mama.

Maybe Yoast was right. Maybe I pushed 'em too hard.

Gerry had an accident.

Sometimes life's just hard.

For no reason at all.

You think I was blinded by my own ambition?

Whatever kind of ambition it took to do what you did around here,

this world could use a lot more of it, Herman.

BERTIER: Hey, Coach.

ALL: Hey, Coach.

This for me?

I want you to be my eyes out there, all right?

Any of these guys slack off, you just let me know.

You bet I will.

- How you doing, Gerry? - I'm all right, Coach.

I was just talking to these guys about Marshall, trying to get 'em...

You don't need to talk about football right now, Gerry.

I think this is a good time for reflection

- and for prayer... - Coach...

I'm hurt.

I ain't dead.

No, you're not.

No, you're not.

You know, I've been, uh, reading up

on the activities that they got for people

in wheelchairs and such.

They got Olympics.

(CHEERING)

ANNOUNCER: This is the granddaddy

of state high school football championships.

The Virginia AAA.

It just doesn't get any better.

We have Coach Herman Boone's Titans

versus the legend, Ed Henry,

with over 250 wins in 30 years.

BOONE: Amen. ALL: Amen.

ALL: Let's go!

Lastik, what's the matter?

I'm eligible.

Well, I'm glad to hear that, son, but I'm already married.

I got a C-plus average, Coach.

I'm going to college.

All right, fantastic.

Coach? Coach?

I just want to say I'm sorry.

You abandoned your team in their moment of need, Petey.

- "Sorry" won't make up for that. - Yeah, I know, but...

Listen, I want to play for you. I want to play for the Championship.

You can play for me next year. You sit on that bench.

Show me you can support your teammates.

You'll start again as a senior.

(ALL APPLAUDING)

MAN ON TV: Entering the stadium now is Jean Bertier.

Now, she's the mother of injured Ail-American linebacker, Gerry Bertier.

And the Titan fans are really giving her a warm reception.

ALL: Gerry! Gerry! Gerry!

Gerry! Gerry! Gerry!

Gerry! Gerry! Gerry!

Gerry! Gerry! Gerry!

MAN ON TV: And here come the Titans, entering the stadium

in what's become their own unique style.

We feel, hoo, hah Real good

Hoo, hah, we feel

Hoo, hah, real good

Hoo, hah, we feel

Hoo, hah, real good

Hoo, hah, we feel

Hoo, hah, real good

Hoo, hah, we feel

Hoo, hah, real good

(CHEERING)

Julius Campbell?

Hi, I'm Emma Hoyt.

Oh. Oh, I guess we never met, huh?

Excuse me, young lady. You can't be here right now.

You gonna have to get back to your seat.

Well, now we've met.

Yeah. It's nice to meet you.

Good luck, Julius.

2! 21!

- Wait! - What the hell's going on?

Shotgun.

Who do they think they are, the New York Jets?

Switch! Switch! Get 9!

Get 9! Bosley, move!

Move it up! Line up! Get Bosley! Get 9! Get 9!

All right, let's go!

Hut hut!

- Real good. - Keep it up. Shotgun rush.

Cover 3! Go to cover 3! Pass!

Hut!

(CROWD CHEERING)

Put some pressure on that Q. B.

They got all day to throw, Coach.

You just worry about your offense.

Let's go! Swing it! Swing it!

Set!

- Get set! Get set! - Hut!

Yeah!

(CHEERING)

No!

What's wrong, Gerry?

Do not come in here!

They got receivers everywhere out there.

It's like watching Monday Night Football.

Good hustle, good hustle, good hustle.

Just give him a little cushion. Just give him a little cushion.

And when they throw that ball, you stick him.

- Ready? - ALL: Break!

Ready?

Red, 57!

Red, 57!

Hut! Hut hut!

ANNOUNCER: Titans star quarterback Ronnie Bass gains six yards.

What you think? You think we got a chance?

Got to give me some way to disguise that coverage.

Let's start thinking about it. Let's go.

SUNSHINE: Ready!

Set! Hut!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

They're a mile ahead of us. He's a mile ahead of you, Coach.

If your defense would stop somebody, we'd get the ball a little more.

ANNOUNCER: Well, the Titans gave 'em a scare,

but Ed Henry looks supremely confident.

T. C. Williams goes in at the half

trailing 7-0.

SHERYL: Coach!

Sweetheart.

You better get back to your seat.

- I can't, Coach. - What?

Ed Henry's got Boone's number, sure as shooting.

And you ain't doing nothing against that shotgun.

Look, Coach, now ain't the time to be proud.

All right. We're in a fight.

You boys are doing all that you can do.

Anybody can see that.

Win or lose,

we gonna walk out of this stadium tonight

with our heads held high.

Do your best.

That's all anybody can ask for.

No, it ain't, Coach.

With all due respect, you demanded more of us.

You demanded perfection.

Now, I ain't saying that I'm perfect, 'cause I'm not.

And I ain't gonna never be. None of us are.

But we have won every single game we have played till now.

So this team is perfect.

We stepped out on that field that way tonight.

And, if it's all the same to you, Coach Boone,

- that's how we want to leave it. - YOAST: Yeah.

I hope you boys have learned as much from me this year

as I've learned from you.

You've taught this city how to trust the soul of a man

rather than the look of him.

And I guess it's about time I joined the club.

Herman! I sure could use your help.

Ed Henry's kicking my ass out there.

BOONE: Listen up. This is our time now.

Second half is our time!

We gonna make some changes on defense.

They're spreading us out too far.

We gonna put Sunshine, Alan, Glascoe, Davis.

You gonna play both ways, rest of the game.

I don't want a receiver to get across that line of scrimmage.

Coach Yoast will tell you where you're playing, all right?

Let's go. It's our time. Everybody in.

Our time! Our time! Our time!

Titans on three. One, two, three!

ALL: Titans!

Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!

All right, Julius.

We're gonna go 52 Monster. I know that's all you need to know.

All right, we're going zone, Alan. I need...

Sir, I could play with Roosevelt.

But I cannot play with these guys.

No, I tell you what. I didn't warm the bench all year

so I could watch us go down on my account.

Put Petey in. He's better.

You want him to take your spot, you go give it to him.

Thank you.

(LAUGHING)

(CROWD CHEERING)

(UP AROUND THE BEND PLAYING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

All right, Petey!

All right! That was beautiful!

Offense, let's go.

All right, Defense? Get out there!

Let's go! Let's stop 'em!

Let's go, let's go, let's go.

0-2 inside veer. 0-2 inside veer.

ANNOUNCER: A field goal attempt for T. C. Williams.

It's good!

So they trail Marshall 7-3,

heading into the fourth quarter.

Ref! He's lining up offsides! Look, 48's offsides!

Freeze right, 99 Z go.

Ref, I know you can see him! You got eyes!

Gun right, 84, X-flat.

And tell Tommy to watch the free safety. Go.

Get right in there, Blue. You know what I'm talking about.

You can't be afraid.

He's offsides! He's lining up offsides!

Got to hold them here, Defense!

Hold 'em right here!

Pass! Pass!

Let's go, Offense. Let's go.

MAN ON TV: Titans trail Marshall 7-3.

All Marshall has to do

is hold on to the ball,

and they will be the state champions.

Watch 'em on the weak side!

On the weak side!

Hold on to that ball, Petey!

Hold the ball! Hold the ball!

Hold on to that ball!

Hold on to that ball, Petey!

BOONE: All right! All right!

All right, Petey!

- Coach. - Get a time-out! Time-out!

Coach, they're slanting to our strong side every time.

You got to catch 'em in that slant and let 'em over-pursue.

He's onto your game.

You got to throw something at him he's not ready for.

- Rev! Where's Rev? - Yes, sir.

- All right, listen, you ready to run? - Yes, sir.

Fake 23 blast

with a backside George reverse.

You got that? Fake 23 blast

with a backside George reverse.

Like your life depended upon it.

Let's go. Let's go. Let's go get 'em!

ANNOUNCER: The Titans take the field

with time to run one final play for the State Championship.

I thought he was injured.

I guess not.

Why are they bringing in a Q. B.?

MAN ON TV: The Titans have 75 yards

to get to the end zone.

Oh, my gosh. I can't watch this.

- I can't watch this. No. - What? What? Sheryl, what's wrong?

- No, I can't watch it. - Sheryl!

No, it's too bad. Not now. Not now.

They're gonna throw it deep. Cover deep!

Watch the deep pass! Cover it deep!

Ready! Set! Hut!

(ALL CHEERING)

Well, that's it, boys.

That's it.

Good season.

It's all right.

Yes! Yes!

Come on.

- Congratulations, Coach. - All right. Thank you, Coach.

You did a good job. Played a fine game.

I know football,

but what you did with those boys...

You were the right man for the job, Coach!

You're a Hall of Famer in my book.

SHERYL: Yeah!

(WHOOPING)

SHERYL: The Titans danced their way into history.

13 and 0, the perfect season.

State Champions and first runner-up

for the National Championship.

Second-best high school team in the country.

Gerry Bertier won a gold medal for the shot put

in the Wheelchair Games.

Daddy coached him.

10 years later, Gerry died.

And that's what brought us back here today.

Gerry is gone, but his spirit lives on.

People say that it can't work, black and white.

Well, here we make it work every day.

We have our disagreements, of course.

But before we reach for hate,

always, always we remember the Titans.

(JULIUS HUMMING NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE)

(SINGING) Goodbye

Na na na na

Hey, hey, hey

Goodbye

(AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH PLAYING)