Original subtitles

COMMENTATOR: All right, bowl bid ridin' here for ESU.

Fourth down on the Georgia Tech 18.

Four ticks left.

MAN: Set! COMMENTATOR: Kane sets 'em down.

Blue 80!

Blue 80!

Hut!

[PLAYERS GRUNTING]

Shit!

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

REPORTER: Coach, this is the second year in a row

you've failed to go to a bowl game.

Do you feel your program's in decline?

[CAMERAS CLICKING]

I think we have a young team on the verge.

We'll be goin' to a major bowl next year.

[INDISTINCT TALKING]

REPORTER: Coach, there have been rumors that you might be replaced

if you fail to get to a bowl game again next year.

Hey, Joe.

Good throw. It was there.

Another year home for Christmas.

Next year... Next year we sell out.

Next year we dominate!

REPORTER: You still need a deep threat

or a breakaway back to go with Joe Kane.

So, what are you gonna do to address this need?

Well, stop wastin' my time

talkin' to you guys, for one thing.

REPORTER: Coach, any media...

MAN: I'm not going to lead you into the fog here, Sam.

I'm concerned about our program.

It's always been a source of pride

to our students and alumni.

Two so-so seasons

is having a damaging effect on our fund-raising,

both public and private.

Just let me get this straight.

What you're trying to say here, Grant

is that after 12 years, my job's in jeopardy.

I'm not prepared to discuss your job right now.

I just want you to be aware of the situation.

The alumni and the legislature are unhappy

and they vote with their checkbooks.

I don't pretend to be an expert on football, Sam,

but I do know we need to win next year.

COACH CLAYTON: Tickets are in your bag.

Itinerary and player profiles

are in your briefcase.

You've got a 9:00 tomorrow morning

in Philly with this kid, Darnell Jefferson.

COACH: Damn.

Looks like I lost some weight.

COACH CLAYTON: This kid could be the game-breaker we're looking for.

He had a 108-yard

kickoff return against Taft.

Michigan's been down to see him twice.

Now what was the name of that high school again?

Taft.

Taft... Taft.

COACH: Now, Darnell, you have the potential

to start for us as a freshman?

That 108-yard kickoff return you made against Taft?

That was, probably, one of the greatest runs

I've ever seen a high school player make.

Now... [CLEARING THROAT]

Michigan, they're set.

A tailback for two years.

But with us and Joe, here,

getting you the ball in our thunder right.

Ah, hell... Excuse me, Reverend.

You could be an All-American by your sophomore year.

Yes, but I'm more concerned with Darnell's education.

He came here late.

He's got some catchin' up to do.

Well, education is the first priority in our program.

That's why all my players are smarter than me.

[ROOSTER CROWING]

ALVIN: Merry Christmas, Mama.

That's very pretty, Alvin.

When I turn pro,

I'm gonna get you the house to go with it.

Thank you, son.

MAN: Runnin' low on brew.

Didn't expect you home this year, Joe.

Won't be here next year.

Yeah, well, we won't rent your place on the couch.

Merry Christmas, Dad.

Yeah, merry fuckin' Christmas.

[CHEERLEADERS CHANTING] Woo, hey, ESU, we just wanna welcome you!

Darnell, ESU, we just wanna welcome you!

Darnell, ESU, we just wanna welcome you!

Darnell, ESU, we just wanna welcome you!

Darnell, ESU, we just wanna welcome you!

Whoo!

Hey, man, good to see you again. Welcome to ESU.

Glad to be here, man.

I got somebody I'd like you to meet.

This is Autumn Haley,

and she'll be showin' you around.

Hi, Darnell.

How you doin'?

It's nice to meet you.

The pleasure's all mine.

This is it, Wolf Den Stadium.

Damn!

COMMENTATOR: Now for the starting lineup

for the ESU Timberwolves.

At tailback, number 20, Darnell Jefferson!

They got that right.

Yo, thanks for showing me around the campus.

I don't get the chance to meet too many girls like you, you know?

You got a lot of class.

Real efficacious.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Hope I can see you in the fall.

Me too.

Good night. Good night.

DARNELL: ESU is where I'm goin'.

I'll be number 20,

but we're indubitably gonna be number one.

[CAMERAS CLICKING]

Hey, man, how you doin'? What's up, man?

Good to see you. All right.

This is Bud-Lite Kaminski, Darnell Jefferson.

How you doin'? Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.

Let's head out.

Hey, I got a question for you, man.

Yeah, what's that?

What happened to the band and the dancin' honeys

and all that good shit y'all used to make me come here?

Oh, yeah, well...

Regular students don't come back

for another two weeks, so...

Not that they would be here anyway.

See, we got you now, so,

BUD-LITE: Just another wormshit freshman, man.

DARNELL: Oh, I see how it goes.

BUD-LITE: Welcome to college.

[ENGINE REVVING]

Hi! Hey, Joe.

Hey, Mary. Hey, Joe!

Goddamn, the lead dog is back.

How's it goin'?

There goes my cover of the media, guys.

That's Darnell Jefferson. Bobby, Lat. Hello.

Josie, can I get a couple of tequilas?

Sure, Joe. Thanks.

Hey, Joe, you know,

I was hoping that you might've rolled your bike

or something this summer.

You know, nothing serious,

just enough to keep you out for the season.

Well, no such luck, backup man.

But perhaps, I could engineer a few blowouts,

give you a little mop-up time.

Much obliged, Joe.

My God, Lats, you put on some weight, huh?

Gained about 35 pounds. Shee!

Tried of watchin' you guys play,

so I spent my summer in the gym.

I intend to start this year.

You get any bigger, you can play offense.

Yeah, but don't I have to get dumber then too?

Is that really possible?

JOE: Here's to a new season.

Come on.

Hey, you still seein' Louanne?

Oh, yeah.

Now and then, you know, when the tide rises.

Don't want her thinkin' it's some kind

of exclusive deal, now, do I?

Coach finds out your nailin' his daughter,

you're gonna be playin' dorm ball, buddy.

I'll bail before that.

Besides, that's what Coach gets for not startin' me.

BUD-LITE: You never learn, do you, Collins?

[LAUGHING] See you boys.

It's pathetic.

Alvin. Hey, dog.

Have you seen this? Oh, my God.

ALVIN: You must be one badass motherfucker.

Like you didn't know!

I knew there was gonna be an article.

I just didn't know it was out already.

ALVIN: Shit! We do all the work

and you get all the pub.

Too bad we ain't allowed to hit you in practice.

Be fun to kick the shit out

of a Heisman Trophy candidate!

Yeah, maybe, you'll get your shot in the pro's, huh?

Oh! Damn!

Hey, beer boy, gimme some peanuts.

[LAUGHING] Are you serious?

Does it look like I'm serious?

This is one of those rookie things, right?

STEVE: Listen to this.

"ESU has a solid nucleus returning.

"But the Timberwolves, coming off

"two disappointing seasons, will only go as far

"as the strong right arm of Heisman candidate

"Joe Kane will take them."

Is that right, Joey?

You gonna lead us to the promised land like that says?

Oh, yeah, I'm gonna lead.

Question is, can you boys follow?

BUD-LITE: Ooh-ooh-ooh!

Autumn! Yo, Autumn, wait up!

It's me, Darnell!

Hey, Darnell.

Whatcha doin' here? I thought the students

ain't come back for two weeks.

I came back early to see a friend.

That's cool.

Yo, and if I may say so myself, you are looking good!

You look like the package of pulchritudinous, girl.

Let's get together later tonight.

Let's get some pizza, let's kick it, let's just hang out.

I can't tonight.

What about tomorrow night then?

Darnell, I don't think it's a real good idea that we see each other.

What, I'm not good enough for you all of a sudden?

I'm too young, that's it, right?

I'm not as young as you think I am.

They held me back a year, you know.

That's not it.

What is it then?

I have a boyfriend.

Did you have this boyfriend when you showed me around?

Yes. Well...

It didn't seem to bother you then.

I'm willing to overlook it now.

I was mad at him then.

For what?

I caught him with another girl.

A white girl.

A white girl?

You're still with this nigger?

You won't gimme no play? Look, Darnell,

I'm really sorry.

I didn't mean to lead you on in any way,

but I'm really glad you came here.

See ya.

Wait, hold up, hold up, hold up!

I can at least walk with you, can't I?

Ain't no crime in that. I'm in a hurry.

I can keep up. I run the 40 in 4.3.

Woo-ha-he! Hey, Autumn.

Hey, Ray. Where you been?

I was just talking to a friend of mine.

Ray, this is...

Darnell Jefferson, tailback.

Ray Griffen, starting tailback.

Yeah, I know. That's why they recruited me.

RAY: The two boys they recruited before you are washing cars now.

You better start strengthenin' your wrist.

Huh!

This guy's kinda funny.

Listen, man, just make sure and give your best

to Miss Lily for me, all right?

Stay black, bro!

RAY: What in the hell is that supposed to mean?

TEACHER: 21 minutes remaining in Math section two.

21 minutes.

[BUSY CHATTERING]

Hey, when are we gettin' them scores back on our placement test?

Who cares?

I flunked three times before I got in.

Long as you're in the program,

they'll get you through.

Maybe not with a degree,

but they're gonna keep you eligible.

Just don't do nothin' embarrassin'

they can't cover you for.

Hell, they even give Alvin here

copies of his tests in advance.

Sells 'em for 100 bucks a pop to people in his class.

'Course he...

Still gotta have somebody read 'em to 'im.

Fuck you, doughboy, I can read!

See that shoe? It says Adidas.

I taught him that.

Still don't know, man.

Promised the Rev I'd get a degree.

I don't wanna let him down.

What do you think, nigger?

You gonna be on the Supreme Court?

All you need to know

is how to sign an NFL contract.

Period. Yup, yup.

MAN: I think both Joe

and the university are best served

by a straightforward Heisman campaign,

nothing too gimmicky.

In order to capitalize on the momentum

created by the Sports Illustrated cover,

we've compiled a mailing list

of around 1,300 opinion makers,

newspapers, football writers, sports anchors.

First we send them a packet on Joe and his achievements,

bio, stats, plus human interest stuff,

commitment to academics, charity work, etc.

Then we update it each week with a postcard.

Heisman voters hate opening envelopes.

You really think this is worth it?

I mean, you think I got a shot at winning this thing?

Certainly!

Plus, it's a good thing for the program.

Publicizes the school, gives a boost to recruiting...

And it's a great thing for you,

jumps up your draft position,

the size of your first contract, everything.

It's a great opportunity.

And all you gotta do is back it up on the field.

And we have no doubts about that,

'cause we know...

"Kane is Able."

[WHISTLE BLOWING] PLAYER: Break!

Play Ball!

COACH: No, no, no. Keep that index finger on the ball.

On the ball, all right?

COACH CLAYTON: Joe's too pumped up,

tryin' to win a Heisman on every damned throw.

I don't think he's ready for all this hype.

It's a little late to worry about that now.

If we don't do something to follow up

that Sports Illustrated cover,

it's gonna look like we don't believe in our own kids.

Hey, you let me worry about it, please?

Yeah!

PLAYER: Set!

Blue 80!

Blue 80! Hike!

Hah!

[GRUNTING]

DARNELL: Too high, big boy.

So long, sucker.

Yeah!

Comin' to get ya, field boy!

Come on. Yeah!

Lights out, baby!

COACH: Lattimer.

You cut out that necktie tackle crap.

What're you tryin' to do, make a highlight reel, huh?

That man left you huggin' air!

You take this helmet and you put it

right in his numbers, okay?

Drive it through his guts.

I don't wanna see nothin' but snot bubbles in his nose.

All right, let's move that drill down 15 yards, let's go.

Come on, boys.

All right guys, let's go. Let's move it guys.

[PANTING]

Jefferson, are you injured or are you hurt?

What does that mean?

Well, if you're hurt, you can still play.

If you're injured, you can't.

So are you hurt or are you injured?

Think I'm just hurt.

That's good. Then get up.

Oh, shit!

Now, that was a hell of a run you just made.

Think how good it would have been for us if you still had the ball.

See, now, this is a football.

I want you to carry this with you always.

Never let it out of your sight.

Hey, boys, listen!

Jefferson here's gonna be carryin' this football on campus.

Any one of you guys see him, I want you to try to slap it out of his hand.

All right, try to knock it out and recover it.

Anybody but you

return this ball to me,

you'll wish you were never born.

All right, let's step it up!

Welcome to the jungle we got fun and games

We got everything you want Honey, we know the names

We are the people that can find

Whatever you may need

If you got the money, honey

We got your disease

In the jungle Welcome to the jungle

Watch it bring you to your

Knees, knees

Welcome to the jungle It gets worse here everyday

Ya learn ta live like an animal

In the jungle where we play

If you got a hunger for what you see

You'll take it eventually

You can have anything you want

But you better not take it from me

In the jungle Welcome to the jungle

Watch it bring you to your

Waah I'm gonna watch you bleed ♪

[GRUNTING AND GROANING]

[GRUNTING]

COACH CLAYTON: Shit,

Lattimer's an animal all of a sudden.

He's gotta be on somethin'.

Steroids?

How come you always think my guys are the ones juicin', anyway?

COACH CLAYTON: He's on the punt return team for three years,

then he gains 35 pounds of rip in one summer,

and an attitude to go with it? COACH: Gentlemen,

we're not doctors.

The NCAA has a testing program for this kind of thing.

I suggest we let them handle it.

And it's not that hard to gain 35 pounds over summer

if you hit the gym real hard.

STEVE: [GRUNTING]

[DOOR CLOSING]

Hey, how's your arm, man?

It's pretty good for the first day. Cool.

BOBBY: Hey, Bud? BUD-LITE: Uh-huh?

BOBBY: How come you never ask me about my arm?

BUD-LITE: You have an arm?

Wanna hold this for me? I'll meet you outside.

No problem.

BUD-LITE: Don't strain yourself.

How ya doin'?

Fine.

It's a little late to be workin' out, isn't it?

Ah...

It's the only time I could get in here

when the football team wasn't using it.

Yeah, well,

if it wasn't for the football team,

you wouldn't have all this nice equipment to use.

So what, are you firmin' up, or what?

I don't need to firm up.

I'm strengthening my knee. I had orthoscopic surgery.

Yeah, I had my knee scoped once too.

So, um...

You wanna go out for a beer or something after you're done?

I don't go out with football players.

They're all full of themselves.

I saw you on the cover of Sports Illustrated,

so you're probably worst than most.

Huh! So you won't consider doin' anything with me?

No.

All right, well, at least tell me

what happened to your knee?

What'd you do, fall out of your convertible?

[LAUGHING]

You know what?

There is one thing that I might consider doing with you.

Oh, yeah? What's that?

[GRUNTING]

Shit!

Thanks for the game, Heisman. You took it real well.

I want a rematch.

A rematch? Yeah, that's right.

Some other sport. I mean, I took my beatings.

You owe me one, right?

Either that or you go out with me.

I'll think about it.

Give me a call.

[LAUGHING]

How'd I do?

That was a real good date, Joe.

Remind me to take her out sometime.

BOBBY: [LAUGHING]

Damn!

Fuck.

Yo, my man.

Can you tell me where Gaines Hall is at?

It's at the end of Douglas Quad.

All right. Thanks a lot, yo.

Where the hell is Douglas Quad?

Darnell, [CLEARING THROAT]

I've reviewed your placement test

and I'm afraid you've failed to meet our requirements

in several areas.

Does this mean I can't play ball?

No, it means you're going to have to take

some remedial courses.

Specifically, Math 0,

English 0,

plus an American history survey course.

You won't get college credit for them,

but they will help you prepare to take

the placement test again at the end of the quarter.

If you pass at that time,

you'll be able to take regular college-level courses.

But first things first.

To start, I'm approving a tutor for you.

Tutor? I don't need no tutor.

Any tutor. And yes, you do.

What's up, Autumn?

Hey, Darnell.

What are you doin' here?

Hey, nothin' I'm just kickin' it.

I was talkin' to my advisor, you know.

He seems to think I need a tutor.

Just to get me over a couple of rough spots, that's all.

I was lookin' on this list right here and I saw your name.

I figured if you can't keep my attention,

nobody can.

[LAUGHING]

I'm sorry, Darnell,

but you're going to have to get yourself another tutor

because I've already been assigned.

I'm tutoring Scott Sherman.

Not anymore.

I asked Coach Winters to switch us.

Coach Winters wouldn't do that.

Yes, he would!

Yo, I'm a much bigger prospect than Scott Sherman.

Would you look at him? Look!

He ain't nothin' but a big, fat, pork rind-eatin' lineman

on the scout team.

Come on, now, girl.

You could teach me some real erudition. You know what I'm saying?

Will you stop using those big words?

It makes you sound ridiculous.

What are you talkin' about?

I'm improvin' myself.

Every day I learn a new word out of the dictionary.

Mendacious, pejorative,

antithetical, commensurate...

And you don't even know how to use 'em right.

Pretending to be smart is not the same thing as being educated.

It's just a con and it makes you sound stupid,

no matter how big a prospect you are.

Okay.

But that's even more of a reason for you to be my tutor.

You just taught me somethin'.

BUD-LITE: Oh, Mr. Heisman?

Joe? We got a present for you.

Oh, no. Carryin' you, as usual.

BUD-LITE: Kinda looks like you, but not as skinny.

Joey, you're our hero.

[LAUGHING]

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

Hi, it's Joe Kane.

It's 3:00 in the morning.

I wanna know what you decided.

I don't know. I don't know.

I couldn't think of any other sports I could beat you at.

Well, then I'll pick you up tonight at 6:00.

What?

We're goin' on that?

Yeah, I thought we might take a little ride.

I promised my dad I'd never get on one of those.

What are you, one of those trust-fund princesses?

It's okay for me to play a game I don't know,

but I ask you to try somethin' different

and you hide behind your daddy?

Okay. We go slow.

No cowboy stuff.

[ENGINE REVVING]

Goin' too fast for ya?

What?

Am I goin' too fast for ya?

Oh, no, this is fine.

Good. Let's get it!

[SCREAMING] Stop!

Slow down! Goddammit, slow down!

JOE: Yeah!

CAMILLE: Where are we going?

This isn't even a real road!

Joe, are you listening to me?

[CAMILLE SCREAMING]

Joe, slow down!

Joe, look out!

[SCREAMING] Joe!

Goddammit! You crazy?

How could you do that?

You could've killed us! Whoo!

[ECHOING]

JOE: Oh, that could've been ugly.

Goddamn!

Well, I've done that 100 times before.

Never with anybody on the back,

but it was fun, wasn't it?

You just wanted to scare me.

Are you happy now?

Yeah.

Actually, the scream was even better than I thought.

You got just about every dog in hearing distance wantin' to mate with you.

[DOGS BARKING]

Do you come here a lot?

Now and then. Why?

Well, it's not exactly a campus favorite.

This is more like hidin' out.

MAN: Nice shot!

I like to go places where nobody knows me.

Why, is this too low-rent for you?

No, no.

My father owned a place like this. Your father?

Mmm-hmm.

What, you mean he owned a chain of these?

No.

You know, not everybody who plays tennis

grew up in a country club, Joe.

My dad could never afford to send me here.

When I hurt my knee I was afraid I was gonna lose my scholarship.

So, you're a full-ticket jock, just like me?

Yeah. Are you disappointed?

No, I just never went out with a jock before.

Huh! Is that what's goin' on here?

We're goin' out?

What do you think?

Come on.

I think you're crazy

for jeopardizing your scholarship

and a pro career by jumping motorcycles off of highways.

Just tryin' to keep my edge.

Hmm.

JOE: See, the guys, they...

They look to me,

'cause they think I'll do anything.

If I lose that, then I'm just another guy.

Then we'd get the shit kicked out of us.

If you don't know me by now

If you don't know me, baby

You will never, never, never know me

No, you won't You scare me, Joe.

Ah-hey

If you don't know me by now

If you don't know me by now

[ENGINE REVVING]

You will never, never, never know me ♪

The keys.

Look, I told you. During the season,

no unnecessary risks.

Any guy that's up for the Heisman

should be able to remember that, know?

Thanks. Good night.

Now, using the things we worked on yesterday,

I want you to write a two or three page essay

about some aspect of your life,

other than football.

What's in my life besides football?

I don't know. Your father.

You could write about your dad.

I don't know much about him.

He was off in Detroit workin' in a car plant when I was born.

Got laid off.

Tried to rob a liquor store to get us some money.

Got caught.

Died in prison.

Some kind of heart problem.

Well,

maybe, you can write about your mother.

She was usually workin' two jobs.

One night she stopped at a grocery store

to get me some root beer.

She got caught in gang crossfire.

Shot three times.

Died on the way to the hospital.

Want me to write about that?

No.

That's good, 'cause ain't none of that true.

[LAUGHING]

Gee whiz, Darnell!

What kind of a thing is that to do to somebody?

[LAUGHING]

It's not funny.

I had you goin', didn't I?

No, you did not have me goin'!

Why would you make up something like that?

Sounded more interesting than the truth.

I never knew who my dad was.

When I was 12,

my mother took a vacation in Chicago

and never came back.

Well, then, maybe, just this once,

you can write about football.

I've seen a lot of shitty things in life, Autumn.

That's why I know when I see something good.

Okay, let's review the chapter I read you yesterday.

Which two city-states fought in the Punic Wars?

I don't know.

Detroit and Buffalo?

Oh, come on, Alvin.

You're gonna be tested on this.

[LAUGHING]

COACH: Rookies, you pay attention.

This is what I expect out of you.

Alvin, you ready? Yes, sir.

All right, this is Mississippi State's offensive set.

Second and two on our own 24.

What defensive set might we call?

Eagle, zipper, hero, unless the setback shifts into the eye.

Good.

Third and seven.

Oakie, thunder, lion.

What's your assignment?

Kill the quarterback.

Hit the tight end so hard his girlfriend dies.

Kill everybody.

COACH: There you go.

Ready?

[GRUNTING]

JOE: Very nice game.

Well, you owe me a dinner.

But you're takin' it real well.

Now, George Washington won a few skirmishes,

but he never actually won a real battle.

Still, he won the war... Shit!

Fumble! Fumble! Fumble!

TEACHER: What the hell's goin' on? It's mine!

I got it, man! I got it, I got it!

TEACHER: Return to your seats, gentlemen,

this is unacceptable behavior.

Gimme the ball!

Got it, punk! Get your butt out of my face!

PLAYER: You lucky, chump.

Catch you slippin'.

Sorry. I lost my ball.

[INDISTINCT TALKING]

MAN: You in there, buddy.

Yes! Yeah! Starting defense!

Place at the table! Whoo!

Whoo, yeah!

COACH CLAYTON: Looks like Joe's comin' around.

He should be ready for Saturday.

Place at the table!

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

[CAR SIREN WAILING]

Jesus! You think we ought to tell coach?

Hell no, he don't wanna know about this.

Whoo! Yeah!

[CAR SIREN WAILING]

Make sure you tell Lattimer that the NCAA will be testing on Saturday.

Whoo! Yeah, baby!

Starting defense! Whoo!

COACH: As my upperclassmen know,

we have Pride Night every year before our opening game.

So I'd like each of you to talk about

what you like best about football,

and what you're most proud of off the field.

Now, I've asked some of my veterans here to start.

Lattimer?

I don't know.

It's the battle.

The goin' to war with the other guys.

MAN: Set!

STEVE: Hangin' together.

MAN: Blue 80! STEVE: Havin' our own dorm.

MAN: Hut!

STEVE: Stayin' in hotels the night before the games.

Settin' ourselves apart.

Bein' different than everybody else.

Havin' a chance to be somebody.

To do somethin' that people look up to you for.

Your strength.

Your courage.

Not everybody can play football.

We're the lucky ones.

DARNELLE: The thing that I'm most proud of myself for...

Just that I'm here...

And not in jail or dead.

I ain't no statistic.

Well, the great thing about football is,

that you can lose yourself in it.

There's no time to think or to worry.

You just, you just move and react.

Hell, everything else fades away.

ALVIN: Best thing is when you get a guy.

Know it's killin' him.

But you feel great.

It's just him and you

and he's the one that's hurtin'.

Yeah!

Game's on!

[CROWD CHEERING]

Don't be late.

Hey! This big enough for you, baby?

Hell, yeah, I'm with it!

[CHEERING CONTINUES]

COMMENTATOR: Welcome, everybody, to the Wolf Den

where the ESU Timberwolves,

led by Heisman Trophy candidate Joe Kane, open their season

against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

The Bulldogs have won the toss,

so the T-wolves will be kicking off.

And we are underway.

Kick coming down to Tyler in the end zone.

He's gonna bring it up.

Back to the 15...

To the 20.

Brought down at the 22-yard line

by Powell and Ellsworth.

Now we'll see how the ESU defense,

led by All-American linebacker Alvin Mack

does in its first test of the season.

Yeah! All right! Hit squad is in the house!

Yeah, it's party time, baby!

All right now, baby, all right.

Sixty minutes, balls out.

Let's open up the whole can of kick ass

and kill 'em all.

Let the paramedics sort 'em out.

Razor, bear claw, stinger.

Ready... ALL: Break.

COMMENTATOR: Bulldogs coming to the line of scrimmage,

T-wolves in their standard 4-3.

Hey, 23!

Don't think I don't recognize you,

you poo-butt motherfucker!

Hey, pay attention when I'm talkin' to you, nigger!

What?

You're the guy who shot my mother, aren't you?

Shut up, man. You know I never knew your mother.

MAN: Hut!

You were tryin' to steal her fuckin' car, you cocksucker!

You didn't think I was gonna find ya, did ya?

But I got you now, nigger.

I'm gonna bust your gut open and watch you die!

Hut!

COMMENTATOR: Lock pitches to Tyler, sweeping left.

ALVIN: Say your prayers!

COMMENTATOR: Mack cuts him off.

Oh, shit!

Come back here, you little pussy!

COMMENTATOR: Oh! Tyler crunched by Lattimer.

Fumble! MAN: No! It's mine! It's mine!

It's our ball, it's our ball, it's our ball, it's our ball.

[WHISTLE BLOWING]

COMMENTATOR: They unstack 'em and... ESU has got it!

Hell yeah! Hell yeah! All right!

Beautiful thing, baby!

Gettin' your nose in there! Atta baby, BA!

Good pop, Lats. Stay it, buddy.

Joe, Joe, come here. Joe!

Come on, let's go up top.

Take the team right away. Z-3 motion, let's go!

COMMENTATOR: So we'll see what Kane does here

as the Wolves attempt to capitalize on the turnover.

Come on let's go. Let's do it, now.

Let's take it to 'em now.

Trips right, motion Z-3.

Let's put the women and children to bed

and go lookin' for dinner, boys.

On four. Ready? ALL: Break!

Yippee ki-yi-yo Git along little dogies

It's your misfortune and none of my own ♪

Shut up, snowflake!

You think you're on Star Search? Nope.

We're roundin' dogies into the end zone

and the trail runs right over your ass.

Bullshit! You gonna be my bitch!

You gonna be my punk bitch, baby!

COMMENTATOR: Kane fades back to pass.

Ha-ha! You'll never be half the man your mama was!

It's your misfortune now, fat boy! Take this! Eat it!

COMMENTATOR: Looking downfield, Ward has a step on his man!

Kane going for it all.

Fires for Flea Ward in the end zone!

Great catch! Touchdown, ESU.

[CHEERING]

Get off me! Stop it! Get off!

Play is over!

Excuse me. My dogies just reached the end zone

and I gotta do some celebratin'.

Fuck you!

Yeah! That's it, Flea! That's it!

It's on the money, right there!

Hell of a pass, man. Wish I'd seen it.

COMMENTATOR: 2:05 left in the game. Wolves up, 28-20.

Jefferson, get in there for Griffen.

Darnell Jefferson making his first appearance at tailback.

Kane brings him up to the line of scrimmage.

Hike!

COMMENTATOR: Pass to Jefferson up the middle.

Out to the 35, 36-yard line.

Nice gain for the freshman

who had a little bit of fumble-itis in fall practice.

Nice one, Darnelle.

Excuse me, son,

but we're gonna be needin' that football for another couple of minutes.

Right, right.

Huddle up! [WHISTLE BLOWING]

COMMENTATOR: Eight seconds left.

Last chance for Mississippi State.

Hike!

COMMENTATOR: Lock fades back to pass.

[GROWLING]

Lattimer coming from the left side...

Oh!

He almost takes Lock's head off.

Looks like you lost your bonnet, baby!

Yeah! Yeah! Whoo!

Yeah! Aha-ha! Whoo!

COMMENTATOR: And that'll do it. The game is over

as the '93 season gets off to a good start for the Timberwolves

with a 28 to 20 win

over the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Get to keep the car, got the house for another week!

[LAUGHING]

[INDISTINCT TALKING] [CAMERAS CLICKING]

One at a time. Go ahead, Rhoda.

This performance today,

two touchdown passes, another you ran in.

Where do you think this puts you in the Heisman race?

Well, I really don't know about that. That's up to you guys.

WOMAN: This way...

And now, let's turn to our Heisman watch.

We begin with Sports Illustrated cover boy

Joe Kane of ESU,

who led his team

to an impressive victory this afternoon.

Although, the real test will come in four weeks

against Michigan and their Heisman hopeful, Tim Waymen,

Tim he could go all the Waymen.

He'll be lookin' to do so against the Timberwolves.

And of course, the "able" Kane

will be looking to do so as well.

Hey, Darnell.

Did a really great job out there today.

Way to hold onto that pigskin. Thank you.

Little something for ya.

Keep up the good work.

Played a hell of a game, son. Thank you.

Proud of you.

Let me talk to you for a second.

Thanks again.

Yo, some guy just gave me $50, man.

Don't worry.

You'll get about $500 or $600 once you start,

dependin' on how you play.

But I thought we weren't supposed to take any money.

Ain't that a violation?

You cannot live on no $500-a-month scholarship money.

The NC-double assholes won't let us have jobs,

so you take your money where you can get it.

As a matter of fact, let me hold this for you 'til you see the light.

Shit, ought to be payin' us anyway.

Athletic department gets $3 million

just for goin' to a bowl game.

Pretty little funky thang nothin' like I ever I seen

Whoo!

Pretty little funky thang bouncy little play by play

Pretty little funky thang nothin' like I ever I seen ♪

Hey.

Forget it, nigger.

No chance for you there.

How do you figure?

Griffen's goin' to medical school.

She likes that light-skinned respectable shit.

You? You just a ghetto toy.

Can I have this one?

Hey, I don't think so.

What you worried about, boy?

You haven't lost your startin' job just yet.

Hey, you got a problem, buddy? Ray, just one, okay?

Just one.

All right, just one.

Take it easy, Darnell.

You are putting me in a very awkward situation here.

DARNELLE: I had a little encouragement along the way.

Listen, I want to see you, Autumn.

Not in a study hall,

not like your student.

I want to be taken seriously.

Darnell, I do take you seriously.

But if you haven't noticed, I'm still with Ray

and I cannot just go paradin' around town with you.

We don't have to go paradin'.

We can go someplace different,

someplace that nobody'll see us.

Why am I even considering this?

It's crazy. Hey, genius.

You all caught up on your arithmetic?

Yeah, yeah.

You only gained, uh, 37 yards on 12 carries.

Hey, hey! Come on!

You want some of this? Come on!

Hey! Easy.

Come on.

Just calm it, buddy, Darnell.

So much for team unity, huh?

Yeah.

You didn't have anything to do with that, did ya?

Hell no! You know me.

Right.

Come here. We need to talk.

Look, I'm gettin' a little sick of that asshole, Autumn.

I don't like you hangin' out with him. It's embarrassing.

I don't hang out with him. I tutor him.

Then have him get another tutor.

I can't do that.

I promised him I'd help him pass

his qualifying exam, and I can't go bailin' out on him now.

What the hell difference does it make?

They'll grease him through no matter what he does.

Nobody's ever gonna see that boy graduate.

Hey, don't tell me you've fallen for this guy.

He's nothin'. He's just another gangbanger with speed.

I'm tryin' to help him out.

What're you more afraid of, Ray?

Losin' your girl or your position?

Maybe you ought to think a little bit more

about what you're in danger of losing.

Well, maybe I will.

AUTUMN: So, where you wanna go?

Whatcha find?

DARNELL: Now, you gotta make it all the way around at least once, girl.

You're right, Darnell.

I don't think anybody would find us here. Ha!

Hey, I figure the key is to go places only white people go.

[LAUGHING]

I think next time we'll go bowling.

Plus, I saw this on Rocky, you know.

I always used to wonder how a guy

who's supposed to be such a great athlete was skatin' so bad.

Nice form, Jefferson.

You all right?

Thank you, Darnell.

This is fun. Well, sort of fun.

Nah, you were good for your first time.

Well, actually, this isn't my first time.

My dad took me skating once when I was little.

Hey, your pops used to play ball for ESU, didn't he?

Yeah. How'd you know?

I saw his picture on the Wall of Fame.

You know, you got his eyes.

Luckily, you ain't got his thighs. [LAUGHING]

I know!

Make sure you mean it, all right?

Excuse me. What's your name?

Bobby Collins.

Could I see your ID please?

COACH: You took someone else's test?

Damn it, Louanne!

I mean, how could you be so stupid, stupid!

He was behind, he needed help.

I'm sorry, I just... Sorry?

I mean, you weaken my authority with the players.

It looks like I'm runnin' a dirty pro... And Bobby Collins!

Of all people, Bobby Collins! Why?

I don't know.

I thought that he loved me.

Loved you? Loved you?

This guy loves anything that wears a skirt!

This little rat bastard!

Now you're both expelled.

If I tried to use my influence to get you back in,

it just destroys my credibility with the university.

I just can't!

I don't want you to. I'll get in someplace.

[KNOCKING AT THE DOOR]

Come in, Collins.

Come in.

Coach.

Listen, I just want you to know that I'm real sorry

about this whole thing with Louanne.

I was real glad to hear

she's gonna go to junior college here.

Shut up.

[SIGHING]

I could pull some strings to help you out here.

But I won't.

You've embarrassed the school,

you've embarrassed me,

and you embarrassed my family.

So, as of now,

you are no longer a member of this university or its football team.

Now, go clean out your locker.

You get out of here before I knock the piss out of you!

Have you seen this?

You got a D on your math test.

I kind of figured that.

I had some trouble on the last part.

Darnell, we went over this entire chapter last week.

Look, I thought you wanted to learn.

But if all you wanna do is fake your way through,

then you're gonna have to find yourself another tutor

and waste her time.

Autumn, we just had a good time.

Why are you gettin' all riled up about one test?

So far it's the only test!

Shh!

Look, I don't wish to be cast in a pejorative light.

Therefore, I am dedicating myself

to achieving on a level

more commensurate with my abilities.

Hmm! You're amazing.

INTERVIEWER: All right, Joe, relax. Look right at me.

Pay no attention to the camera, okay?

Okay. You ready?

All right, here we go.

Joe, this game is being billed

as a potential Heisman shoot-out.

Did you feel any additional pressure this week, knowing

that you'd be going head to head with Heisman rival,

Tim Waymen?

JOE: Well, I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't...

The...

I mean, you try to block it out,

but it's basically impossible, you know.

I mean, everybody seems to be talkin' about it.

The radios, the newspapers

and all the interviews, you know?

And then there's the TV, always tryin' to get some sort of hype goin'.

Hold it, hold it! Sharon, what're you doing?

What you're saying is true, of course,

but I don't think it's the message you want to send.

It makes you seem a little nervous,

like the pressure might be getting to you.

This game is nationally televised,

so most Heisman voters will be watching.

I think a more casual approach is better.

Controlled, modest, casual.

Okay, thank you.

INTERVIEWER: I'll make this take two.

Here we go, Joe.

Joe, this game is being billed

as a potential Heisman shootout.

Did you feel any additional pressure this week,

knowing you'd be going head to head

against Heisman rival, Tim Waymen?

Well, to tell you the truth, Lynn, I hadn't really thought about it.

INTERVIEWER: So there you have it, folks.

Joe Kane remains unfazed

before his battle against Heisman rival, Tim Waymen.

Odds makers have installed Michigan as a three-point favorite,

but the Timberwolves will have the advantage of playing

in the friendly confines of Wolf Den Stadium.

Hello, Dad?

No, no. I was just callin' because...

Michigan game is on TV tomorrow

and I thought you might wanna watch it.

It's broke?

Well, can't you go over to Jackie B's and watch it with Jerry?

Oh.

No, fine. Well then...

I hope you feel better.

Yeah.

Bye.

Are your parents coming to the game tomorrow?

My mom died when I was young.

My dad's never seen me play.

Why not?

I don't know.

I guess he doesn't like football.

You're one of the best players in the country.

He's just not into it, okay?

Okay.

Kane fades back, sees his man...

[SIGHS]

Bad hands. What's goin' on, Joe?

You asked me out here like you wanted to talk about somethin',

but you're not sayin' anything.

Are you worried about tomorrow?

What do I have to be worried about?

I'm a Heisman candidate, remember?

[SIGHS] Joe, why are you thinkin' like this?

You're havin' a great year.

You've got millions of dollars waitin' for you in the pros.

How do you know what's waitin' for me?

You don't even know me.

I don't know you? How could you say that?

'Cause if you did, you wouldn't be with me.

You only know the guy who's supposed to be

makin' millions in the pros.

That's what you think? That I'm with you for the money?

I don't know why you're with me!

Fuck you!

You know, maybe you're right. Maybe I don't know you.

[LEVEL CROSSING ALARM RINGS]

[TRAIN BLOWS HORN]

Joe!

Joe, what are you doin'?

Get off the track!

Joe!

No!

Joe! Joe!

Oh, my God!

Joe!

Oh, God, Joe! No!

[JOE EXHALES]

Joe!

Joe, you're all right? You okay?

Yes.

[BOTH PANTING]

Just lettin' off some steam.

Why do you do this crazy shit?

You should've got away from me while you still had the chance.

I don't wanna get away from you.

What's wrong, Joe?

I'm a Kane, Camille.

We're just a bunch of drunks and fuck-ups.

It's what we do. It's in our blood.

My dad, and my uncles, and my brothers.

We all drink and sooner or later, we all fuck up.

Sometimes I just feel like I'm waiting for my turn.

You don't have to be like them.

You can give all that up.

Then what? Then what would I be?

You'd still be Joe.

And that's enough.

COMMENTATOR: 4:29 to go and it's been a great one,

two undefeated teams goin' after each other.

Michigan up by four, 24-20.

But the lead has changed hands three times.

And, Bo, you get the feelin' that

whoever has the ball last is gonna win it.

Well, it's been billed as a Heisman Trophy shoot-out.

And it's been all of that.

E-S-U, E-S-U, E-S-U!

COMMENTATOR: Third down and eight, ESU at the Michigan 20.

Slot right. Set!

Blue 80! Motion, motion!

Blue 80! Watch the blitz.

Hut!

COMMENTATOR: Kane back to pass. Can't find anybody.

[GRUNTS]

Gets away. Gonna run it himself.

[GRUNTING]

At the 10, the five.

Touchdown, ESU! What a run by Kane.

And Kane is still down. He took quite a shot from Ryan.

You're all right? Sit him up.

Are you sure you feel okay? Yeah.

Let's stand him up. He probably just got the wind knocked out of him.

[GRUNTS]

It was a hell of a run, man.

How's your head? Fine.

COMMENTATOR: ESU in an eight-man line looking for the run on third and short.

Ready!

Hey, powder puff.

You're the white boy who ratted my brother out.

Sent him to jail.

You kept that fuckin' money though, huh?

Left the blood to do the time.

Yeah, you're the little bastard.

On the count of you, my brother's dating his cell mate.

I'm gonna make you pay!

You hear me, powder puff?

I'm gonna make you my cell mate.

Mayday, mayday.

You're gonna have 250 pounds of pissed-off nigger up yo' ass!

Hut-hut!

COMMENTATOR: Mack on the blitz. [GRUNTS]

Pass! Pass!

Waymen's goin' for it all.

Hunt's got a step. He's got it.

Touchdown, Michigan!

This is our house now, dog!

COMMENTATOR: Steve, that was a great clutch throw under pressure.

You just can't do it much better than that.

Is he all right, Doc? Yup.

You ready to go?

Yeah. Sure?

Yeah, just got a little headache.

All right. Come on. Let's get them.

MAN: Let's go!

Come on now, let's go! Let's get it back!

Get it up, come on, man!

We can get it back. Now, come on, let's jack it up!

[RANDOM CHATTER] [WHISTLE BLOWS]

Get out there. Let's go!

Ray, come here.

Jefferson, in this series. Go. Yeah.

What the fuck is...

Pick that up. Pick it up!

Ball at the Michigan 47. 1:02 to play,

as Kane brings 'em to the line of scrimmage.

Set!

They shift to the I-formation.

Brown 34!

Brown 34!

Hut!

COMMENTATOR: Kane back to pass.

Aaah!

COMMENTATOR: Setting up the screen.

It's to Darnell Jefferson who has blockers.

Right there. Right there!

Come on.

COMMENTATOR: Bumped out of bounds at the 20. Great run by Jefferson.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

No stick, baby. You ain't got nothin' for me.

Hit me harder than that. Come with it, baby.

There wasn't nothin'. There wasn't nothin'!

Yeah!

Go, Wolves, go!

All right, bring it in. Nice run, baby, nice run.

Okay, listen up.

L- right, P-25, Tailback-C.

Let's put the women and children to bed and go lookin' for dinner.

On two, ready...

ALL: Break!

[AUDIENCE ROARING]

COMMENTATOR: ESU, first and 10 at the 20. Just 34 seconds remaining.

Hut!

[GRUNTS]

Kane, play action.

Aaah!

Pressure from the backside.

Looking for Jefferson.

[SCREAMS]

AUDIENCE: Oh! It's intercepted.

Intercepted by Whitney.

And that should do it. [WHISTLE BLOWS]

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

[ALL CHEERING]

Well, it was everything we expected it to be.

Fine performances brought on both sides of the field.

The edge in the much ballyhooed battle of the quarterbacks

would probably have to go to Michigan's Tim Waymen.

Joe Kane accounted for two ESU touchdowns,

but had that crucial interception in the waning moments,

and that proved to be the difference.

Where's Kane? Where's Joe Kane?

Take care, all of you.

What's up, Autumn? Hey, Darnell.

How you doin'? Good.

This must your father. Yeah, this is my dad,

Lou Haley. Hi.

Darnell Jefferson. Jefferson.

Nice run you made on that screen pass.

Another block, you might have scored.

Yeah. We'll get 'em next year.

How do you and Autumn know each other?

You a friend of Ray's?

No. Actually...

I tutor Darnell.

Oh, really. In what?

In math and English.

LOU: Ah. Well, stay on top of that, Darnell.

I'd have been in real trouble if I hadn't gotten my degree.

I played ball once.

I used to put a copy of my report card

inside the webbing of my helmet to remind me

that college was more important than football.

That's a good idea...

If you'll excuse me, I gotta get goin'

Nice to meet you, sir. Nice to meet you, Darnell.

Hey, Ray.

Hey, Mr. Haley. Good to see you.

LOU: Still havin' dinner with us tonight?

Ah, yes, sir. I wouldn't miss it.

LOU: That was a tough loss today, man.

Yeah, yeah, I thought we had 'em.

[MUSIC BLARING]

[GIGGLES]

Wait. Ah.

I think we better get back downstairs.

Leslie, we're just gettin' to know each other.

No, I better...

You didn't come up here to stop. What are you doing?

[SCREAMS]

Stop! Stop!

No! No! [MUSIC PLAYINIG]

What were you doin'?

Leadin' me on?

[TEARING CLOTHES]

[SCREAMS]

Come here!

You're not goin' anywhere!

Somebody help me! Help me! Aaah!

Jesus! Get off!

Please!

[CONTINUES SCREAMING]

Get off of me!

Get off of me! What the fuck are you thinkin', man?

Get off of me!

Lat, goddammit,

chill!

COACH CLAYTON: Well, it looks like this will all blow over.

The girl's father's a big booster,

contributes a lot of money,

so he says they won't go to the press.

He said that, the father?

Yeah. I mean,

he's not exactly happy about all this

but he doesn't want to hurt the program.

We're still gonna have to suspend the boy.

Coach, he's never tested positive.

If we suspend him now without any proof,

hell he could sue us for jeopardizing his draft status.

What am I supposed to do, sit around and wait until he kills somebody?

Three games.

Why so many?

So many?

You're lucky I didn't suspend you for the whole season.

What are you gonna give as a reason?

I'm gonna tell 'em you pulled a hamstring.

Oh.

Thank you, Coach.

Oh, don't thank me.

You got three weeks.

Three weeks to kick these 'roids 'cause when you come back

it's not gonna be any NCAA crap.

I am gonna personally test you before every game.

I mean, watch you go in the bottle.

You got that?

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry about all this.

[SIGHS]

Oh, go on. Go practice your limp.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Well, to a couple of real college heroes, huh?

This is the first time I lost a game and a girl

on the same fuckin' day, man.

DARNELL: I guess when you think about it, I never really had the girl.

You know that guy?

Not really.

Then why you smilin' at him?

I don't know.

He looks like that ESU quarterback guy,

Joe what's-his-name.

So what? So you go and smile at him?

I wasn't really...

I feel like an ink spot in a bowl of milk, man. Let's get outta here.

Hey, you lookin' at my girl?

I don't know. Which one is she?

Wise guy, huh?

Mr. Big-time quarterback.

The one who choked his ass off today.

I'm really not in the mood.

What, you got nothin' better to do than look at my girl?

Hey, Heisman, I'm talkin' to you.

I said, I'm talkin' to you, Heisman.

What are you, too good to talk to me?

Yeah, but I'm not too good to tear a new hole in your townie ass.

You think you're a bad ass, huh? Yeah.

You think my girl's hot for you?

Probably.

Let me tell you somethin', take off your pads,

you're nothin' but another pussy.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[WOMAN SCREAMING] [GLASS SHATTERING]

WOMAN: Oh!

Come on, let's get the fuck outta here!

Get the fuck outta the way!

WOMAN: Come on, try to get him up.

DARNELL: Hey, Joe, could you do us a favor and slow your drunk ass down?

Damn, Bud wouldn't like you driving his truck like this. Any fuckin' way.

Bud won't care. He doesn't even know I have it. [SIRENS ]

Damn.

Shit!

Aw, shit! Perfect ending to a fucked-up day!

It hit every newspaper, every wire service.

The guy had to go to the hospital.

And to make things worse,

you get picked up for drunk driving.

Now, I just can't clean this stuff up.

I had to agree...

To send you to rehab.

Rehab?

Oh, that's fucking... I'm gonna be a fucking joke!

Why don't you fix this like you fix everything else?

No, I can't.

It's the only way I can get 'em to drop the DWI and the assault.

We risk a definite NCAA investigation.

Hey, you go to trial, I'll lose you for a whole year.

COACH: You know how many athletes have gone to rehab?

Not in the middle of a Heisman campaign.

So you miss... You miss four games.

You come back in time for the last one,

against Georgia Tech and then possibly a bowl game.

Then you got your whole senior year.

Oh, Jesus.

You make the best of this, Joe.

I mean, stuff happens.

AUTUMN: Darnell. Darnell.

Darnell, wait up.

Hey, I been tryin' to call you.

Where ya been?

I've been busy.

Hey.

If it's about Saturday, I'm sorry.

It was just a real awkward situation.

No, it wasn't awkward, Autumn, it was educational.

I realize how you see me now.

I'm good enough to tutor, I'm good enough to go places with,

but I'm not good enough to tell your father about.

Darnell, that is not it.

My father expects me to be with somebody like Ray, all right?

He wouldn't understand us. Why?

'Cause he's a good student, I'm not.

'Cause he acts right, I don't.

'Cause he doesn't need football, I do.

'Cause he's class and I'm not, right?

Darnell, I didn't say that.

You don't have to say that, Autumn.

I'm everything your father used to be and don't want you fallin' back into.

Darnell... Look,

you was right from jump.

I should've got another tutor.

Thanks for everything you did for me.

[LIGHTER CLICKS]

Well, here's your room.

Just let us know if you need anything.

Thanks.

[SHUTS DOOR]

ALVIN: Hey, Bud, is it true what I'm hearin'?

Joe's out four fucking weeks?

Yeah. ALVIN: Shit.

Defense is gonna have to pitch shutouts now!

And you're gone for three?

What the hell did you take that shit for?

Nobody seemed to mind when I was layin' people out.

Shit, I bust chops too. You don't see me all fucked up!

Not everybody has your ability, Alvin.

You do what you have to do to play.

Well, you're not playing much now, are you?

ALVIN: Shit!

Whole fuckin' season down the drain!

[KNOCK ON THE DOOR]

Yeah?

You have a phone call. A Camille Schafer?

She says she's your girlfriend?

I don't wanna talk to her right now.

Okay.

[SHUTS DOOR]

NURSE: I'm sorry, he doesn't wish to speak to you right now.

[DISCONNECTS THE PHONE] [DIAL TONE]

[HANGS UP THE RECEIVER]

Well, what's he sayin' now?

Well, with Joe out, everything could be up for grabs again.

Well, what is it that you're trying to say?

We gotta get Bobby Collins back.

Wait a minute. Did Wilson say that?

No, no, the pressure's coming from the alumni.

Wilson's not gonna stand in the way though.

Yeah, well, forget it.

Hey, come on, Sam. Look, I know he's no all-star, for Christ's sake,

but he's good enough to give us a split over the next four games.

This is my program and I'll decide who plays.

Don't give me that high and mighty bullshit.

There are a lot of people on the bubble here, coach.

Four straight losses and we're out of bowl contention.

And how the hell is that gonna make you look?

MAN: Therefore, members of the board,

I respectfully submit that Bobby Collins

should not be given special treatment

just because he's a football player.

Would a regular student get a reinstatement hearing if they'd been caught cheating?

Nobody's talking about letting the young woman who took the test back in.

I think it's also instructive

to look at some of the courses

this young man has taken.

Beginning Golf,

Voice And Speech Improvement...

I would like to point out

that Mr. Collins was still right on schedule

to receive his degree.

In what...

Swimming Pool Management?

Old pompous ass. I'd like to take his...

MAN: Would you like to respond, Coach Winters?

What's that, sir?

Would you like to respond?

[CLEARS THROAT] Oh, yeah.

Um... Yes.

Um...

I don't know a whole lot about this stuff here.

But I do know

that the...

The punishment should fit the crime.

Now, cheating's bad.

And, uh...

I don't believe that...

You know, it deserves a lifelong sentence.

Now, here we have a student athlete

who's taking college level courses,

wants to graduate.

Uh...

He's made a mistake. Bobby here's made a mistake.

And,

he's been suspended for several weeks,

so I, I think he's served his time,

and deserves a second chance.

MAN: Like Alvin Mack?

We gave him a second chance.

Since, he's had five incompletes,

four withdrawals and still reads at a fourth-grade level.

If you don't reinstate Bobby or you hadn't admitted Alvin,

you would've taken away their futures.

And in Alvin's case, that could cost him millions of dollars

in the pros.

MAN: But this is not a football vocational school.

It's an institute of higher learning.

Yeah, and when was the last time 80,000 people showed up

to see a kid do a damn chemistry experiment?

COACH: Why don't you stick the bow tie up your ass?

MAN: Gentlemen, please.

Sorry.

MAN: Let's get back to the business at hand,

Bobby Collins.

As you know, I played football here.

And I remember how hard it was to practice and then study when you're dead tired.

So, I have some sympathy for this young man.

But I never cheated.

So the real question is his character.

And since you know him better than anyone else in this room,

and having talked to him and observed him over the last several weeks,

do you think he's learned his lesson?

In other words,

can you vouch for his character?

[COACH CLEARS HIS THROAT]

Sure... Yes.

[CLEARS THROAT] Yes I can.

[BOBBY SIGHS IN RELIEF]

MAN ON RADIO: So the Wolves, despite a sputtering offense,

edge the Boston College Eagles today, 14 to 10.

ESU stayed mostly on the ground as the passing game was largely ineffective.

Work all day

Be all that I can be

Yeah, yeah

Say I can say

Words only... [GRUNTS]

MAN ON RADIO: That'll do it from here as ESU was blanked this afternoon

by a very tough Texas team, 13 to nothing.

The Wolves' defense led by Alvin Mack kept 'em in it, but turnovers led to both

Longhorn scores.

Haunted love is all that I feel [GRUNTS]

When you're passing by

Haunted love is all that I see

It's there in your eyes [GASPING]

I see... ♪

MAN ON RADIO: Well, ESU on the strength of a 62-yard touchdown run

by steadily improving freshman Darnell Jefferson,

squeaks by the North Carolina Tar Heels today, 14-13,

keeping their once-fading bowl hopes very much alive.

Hey! How you doin'?

You suitin' up today? All right!

The man is back! Lattimer's back!

What's up?

[RANDOM CHATTERING]

MAN ON RADIO: ESU hoping to get past a tough Iowa Hawkeye's team,

in their last game before the return of Joe Kane.

[SIGHS]

COMMENTATOR: All set to go now. Thigpen, the remaining setback.

Let's go, dog.

Damn, I know you, motherfucker.

You're the one who got my baby sister pregnant.

We haven't seen you around lately. Where you been, huh?

Aw, come on, don't punk out behind that mask now.

Answer me, motherfucker, before I peel your cap!

[GRUNTS]

Dixon pitches to Thigpen sweeping left.

Mack chasing the play.

Thigpen cuts back. Ooh!

Mack pursues inside. Ah!

Oh! He's leveled by Morgan.

And Mack is down.

He's hurt.

They're gathered around him.

The doctor is coming out. We can only hope this is not serious.

MAN: It's all right, Alvin. Hang in there. Oh, shit!

[GASPING]

Stretcher!

WOMAN: You're gonna be okay, Alvin.

The doctor's gonna take a look at you. Just relax.

MAN ON RADIO: Oh, my, this does not look good.

They're bringing the stretcher out.

[SIREN BLARING]

COMMENTATOR: Twelve seconds left. Iowa driving for the winning touchdown.

Fourth and goal at the one.

ESU trying to hold on without their star middle linebacker, Alvin Mack.

Dixon calling signals. PLAYER: You're the man. You're the man

Yellow nine! ALL: Go!

Turns, hands to Thigpen, straight ahead off right tackle.

Lattimer meets him at the goal line.

Thigpen bulls his way into the end zone.

Touchdown, lowa.

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

Lattimer had him but just couldn't hold him,

as lowa pulls out a last-second victory, 14 to 10.

Ugh!

REPORTER: Coach, you've lost two of your last four.

Why do your teams seem to nosedive at the end of the last couple seasons?

Tonight was a tough loss, but it wasn't a nosedive.

We've had a few key players out. We lost another great one tonight.

But I thought you guys would know that if we won next week,

we'd still be conference champs and go to a major bowl.

See, I, I always knew you guys couldn't write,

but I thought at least you could count.

[RANDOM CHATTER]

Yo, Alvin.

Hey, Coach.

How you feelin'?

I feel all right.

[SNICKERS]

You're lookin' pretty good. [CHUCKLES]

Yeah.

Hey, any of the guys come down to see you?

They called.

You know, how football players are about hospitals and injuries.

Yeah.

I'm never gonna play again, am I?

Doctors aren't always right.

COACH: Either way,

I want you to know that...

You're the best damn defensive player I ever coached.

[SOBBING]

[SNIFFS]

[MACHINE BEEPING]

[DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS]

[SIGHS]

No problem.

[APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS]

Hi.

How ya doin'? How's Ray?

I don't know.

I haven't seen him since the last night I saw you.

Well,

I just came by to see how your studying was coming.

Ready for tomorrow?

Hope so.

I been studying pretty hard.

Good.

Good.

I talked to my dad last night.

How's he doin'?

Fine.

Tell him I said "Hello."

We talked about you.

What'd you say?

Well...

I told him that we'd gone out.

And that...

I wished I could still go bowling.

Hey.

DARNELL: How ya doin', man? Hey, Joe. How ya doin'?

It's great to see you, man.

What's up, man? Good to have you back.

Good to be back. What's up, brother?

Next game we blow some people up. Oh, yeah.

You get any throwing done in there?

Nah, all they got is ping-pong.

Let's get a picture. Hey, hey...

Here, get an aerial view.

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

REPORTER: Hey, Joe.

Lats, watch your boots on the truck bed.

JOE: Hi.

How ya doin'?

Fine.

Good.

You all right now?

Yeah, I think so.

I got a few loose ends to tie up but...

Good, I'm happy for you. Hey.

I'm sorry that I, you know, that I didn't wanna...

That I couldn't see you.

You couldn't even talk to me.

I was embarrassed. I...

[SIGHS]

COACH: That's enough of the outs. Let's run some deeper digs.

MAN: Joe!

MAN ON MIKE: All right, quarterbacks,

run your deeper crossing patterns next.

Hut!

Aw, he's rusty, Sam. I doubt if we can start him.

Yeah, his head's just not back into it.

COACH: Boys, I thought we'd try something a little different this game.

Maximize our speed,

and keep you both in the lineup at the same time.

So, Ray...

We're moving you over to fullback.

Darnell, you'll be our starting tailback.

Now, not, not everybody can

handle a transition like this, Ray.

You think you're up to it?

Yes. Yes, sir.

COACH: Good. That's good.

[DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS]

How ya doin', Dad? Joe.

What's this, they throw you out?

No.

Heard about your little set-to. They had it on the news here.

Yeah.

So, what are you doin' here?

Just thinkin' about some things.

Yeah, that's what the damn rehab will do,

make you think about a lot of things you can't do nothin' about.

I'm wonderin' why you never came to any of my games.

I don't know.

Maybe I didn't wanna make you nervous.

You might've tried too hard and screwed up. [CHUCKLES]

Yeah, or I might've done real good.

How would that've made you feel?

What do you mean?

It might've made you feel bad, like maybe you could've been something more

if you tried a little harder.

Maybe I didn't wanna see you get all excited, all pumped up with pride,

when I knew one day it'd all come crashing down...

Just like it did.

JOE: Yeah.

But I'm still here, ain't I?

I got one more game left this season.

Don't know how much I'll play.

Or if I'll play at all, but I'd like you to be there.

How will you feel about introducing your drunken dad to your friends?

Did you think about that?

I could deal with it if you could.

This is a plane ticket,

a ticket for the game, a 50-yard-line seat.

If you don't come,

I'm never going to ask you again.

Bill, what's this doin' again?

BILL: Just takin' the doped urine out of your bladder and puttin' clean back in.

[SNICKERS] Call it an oil change.

COACH: We are gonna get it done today.

ALL: Yes, sir.

COACH: We're gonna ring the bell today!

This is what you guys been workin' for. I need 60 minutes.

60 minutes of mean! You got it, Coach.

60 minutes, no prisoners, no mercy. ALL: Yeah.

Nothing but snot bubbles, snot bubbles!

You got me? We're gonna ring the bell!

We're gonna ring that championship bell!

Ding-motherfuckin'-dong!

[ALL CHEERING]

COMMENTATOR: Wolves moving left to right on your radio dial.

They've had trouble scoring the last few weeks with Bobby Collins at the helm.

Despite Joe Kane's return, Collins gets the starting nod again.

All right, let's get this off to a good start.

L-28, thunder right, second blue.

[WHISTLE BLOWS] Ready, break.

MAN: Okay, tag left

Wolves in the I with a new look.

Set!

Jefferson now starting at tailback. Griffen at full.

Hut-hut.

MAN: That's right, baby. That's right.

MAN: Blue.

COMMENTATOR: Collins pitches to Jefferson, sweeping on thunder right.

46, 46!

Griffen leading the blocking and... Oh!

Pugh goes right by him.

[GRUNTS]

Oh, fumble.

It looks like Georgia Tech has the ball.

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

And a tough break for the Wolves,

as the Yellow Jackets will have excellent field position.

All right, let's go, defense!

Put your helmets in their belly!

Goddammit!

Shit! Punk-ass Griffen!

AUDIENCE: Defense! Defense!

COACH CLAYTON: Okay, offense, tough break. Tough break.

It was there, we just didn't execute!

You gotta finish your blocks. Finish 'em all!

Next time we get it, we take control.

Jefferson! You gotta squeeze the ball! You understand?

You gotta put it away.

COMMENTATOR ON RADIO: So, the Wolves' defense has held after the fumble,

and the Yellow Jackets will opt for the field goal.

It's around a 34 yarder.

COMMENTATOR: Here's the snap. Ball is down. It's away.

It's long enough... And it's good.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets jump out on top, three to nothing.

Twenty-five seconds left in the half.

Collins is gonna go to the air

if the Wolves hope to get on the board before halftime.

Collins fades back to pass.

Don't throw the flat!

[MEN GRUNTING]

Looking in the flat for Ward. The ball is tipped,

batted around, intercepted by Wooley.

Down the sideline, 20, 15,

Ten... Touchdown, Georgia Tech.

And it looks like the Yellow Jackets will go in at halftime,

with a 10-nothing lead. [CHEERING]

STEVE: Come on, guys,

we're only down 10!

Now let's get our fuckin' shit together

and kick some fuckin' ass!

COACH: Come on, guys, now, we got 30 minutes of football left!

Thirty minutes! The second half is ours!

Yo, motherfucker!

You missed that block on purpose, right?

Hey, you full of shit! You fumble, you try to blame me.

All this shit is over Autumn, ain't it.

Fuck Autumn and fuck you!

You just can't take a hit, punk.

Fucker!

Hey, hey, hey!

DARNELL: I'll fuckin' kill your ass!

Break it up!

Come on, let him go!

Get up!

Come here!

Come here! I don't wanna hear about who started it.

Save it for the field, you understand me?

Do you understand me!

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

COACH: Now, the rest of you guys,

you play that second half the way you did the first,

this is what the rest of your seasons gonna look like.

Don't ever let me see you miss a block again.

Yeah, Coach.

Joe,

COACH: warm yourself up, you're startin' the second half.

MAN: Yeah, all right. MAN 2: Yeah.

Yeah, Joe. Come on.

Yeah, Joe.

Oh, Collins.

Yeah, Coach?

Get a mop and clean that mess up.

[LAUGHS]

You gotta be kiddin' me.

E-S-U! [BAND PLAYING]

COMMENTATOR: Ready to go with the second half now.

The Wolves trailing 10-nothing.

We're told Joe Kane will be starting at quarterback.

[CHEERING]

MAN: Listen up, now! It's time to call in the Wolves to piss on the fire!

Let's go! Let's go!

[BLOWS WHISTLE]

Ready.

ALL: Break!

[WHISTLING]

[CHEERING]

COMMENTATOR: Kane calling signals.

Blue 80! Hut!

Fumbles. Griffen recovers.

Come on, Joe.

Green 25! Hut!

Kane looking for Jefferson in the flat.

Under-throws it badly.

Kane fading to pass.

Oh! Hit and sacked.

COMMENTATOR ON RADIO: And Kane's return is a rocky one so far.

Joe's too tentative, too cautious out there.

He's flat, Sam. Maybe we wanna go...

He's gonna be... He's gonna be all right.

He's gonna get his feel back. He'll be all right.

But, Sam, we can't afford to...

I said, he's gonna be all right.

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

COMMENTATOR: 5:51 to go, Georgia Tech up 10 to nothing.

The Wolves are gonna have to find some offense in a hurry here.

Their defense has been keeping them in it.

Come on, Joe.

Do not let it go, man.

Where's that wild man that used to take charge of this team here?

Mmm?

Hell, I know you ain't lost that.

You are the only one these guys are gonna follow.

It's time to sit at the head of the table.

Let's forget rehab.

Forget your dad.

There's 10 guys out there waiting for you.

It's your family now.

Look at me, boy.

We need ya.

We need ya.

You're the man, Joe.

Now you go out there and you play like I know you can.

All right?

DARNELL: Come on, Joe, let's go, baby.

MAN: You can do it, Joe.

COMMENTATOR: So, let's see what the Wolves come up with here

as time continues to tick away.

All right, we've held these guys up long enough now.

All right, the masked man is back.

Hi-ho, fuckin' Silver!

Gimme some time back here and I'll pick 'em apart.

Strong left, brown right,

60 pass, on three. Ready,

ALL: Break!

JOE: Set!

Gray 22!

Gray 22!

Hut!

COMMENTATOR: Kane back to pass.

Good protection. [MEN GRUNTING]

Throws to... Jefferson on the sideline.

He's got it and out of bounds at the Yellow Jacket 32.

Hut!

Kane fades again.

Fires for Griffen.

Leaping catch at the 21

as the Timberwolves are beginning to roll.

Kane looks into the end zone.

Can't find anybody.

Gonna run it. Tucks the ball.

20...

15...

10.

Hit, and finally brought down inside the five!

[AUDIENCE CHEERING LOUDLY]

Kane gets it to the four where it'll be first and goal.

And there's no doubt about it, with 3:45 remaining,

they've gotta score here if they wanna get back in this game.

Hey, coach, coach, give it to me up the gut. They've been ignoring me.

I can score. I know I can. Not now,

we're going with the sweep. 28 thunder right. Go.

Go right. Go offense! Do it.

Coach wants? L-right, 28 pitch.

JOE: All right. Thunder right, 28 pitch on one.

On one. Ready...

ALL: Break!

MAN: On your left! On your left!

JOE: Red 21!

Red 21! Hut!

COMMENTATOR: Kane pitches to Jefferson,

sweeping thunder right.

Griffen, the lead blocker, falls down.

Oh, shit.

Jefferson hemmed in at the sideline.

Tries to cut back. Now you're mine!

Whoa! What a great block by Griffen.

Jefferson driving for the end zone.

DARNELL: Comin' at you! Come on!

Touchdown, Timberwolves!

ALL: Yeah! [CROWD CHEERING]

Yeah.

All right! Yes!

All right, baby, we're back in it! Yeah.

Hey, nice block, man.

Hell of a run, rook.

Hell of a fuckin' run.

DARNELL: Let's take it to 'em, baby. We're takin' it to 'em.

Okay, defense, let's get even.

Let's kill 'em all.

Let the paramedics sort 'em out.

COMMENTATOR: 1:11 and counting.

Third and one. The Wolves will have to stop them on this play

if they're gonna get the ball back.

A first down and it's all she wrote.

ESU is out of time-outs.

All right, defense, let's stuff 'em one time for Alvin!

Four-three stack. Ready,

ALL: Break! Yeah, yeah!

Georgia Tech over the ball.

Tom calling signals.

Eight-one-eight!

Eight-one-eight!

Oh, yeah.

Hut!

Hands off to Garrett. [GRUNTS]

You're a dead man!

Stops Garrett for a two-yard loss.

STEVE: I don't think you got it, pal! Ha, ha!

[CROWD ROARING]

Yeah, baby! Yeah, baby!

And the Wolves will get the ball back.

Great individual effort by Lattimer.

All right.

Come here.

MAN: All right, guys, here we go! Here we go.

COMMENTATOR: Georgia Tech in punt formation. Here's the snap.

Langdom puts the foot to it.

Jefferson settles under it. Show time, baby.

Come on.

Starts right. Bring it to me.

No place to go, reverses his field. Comes back left.

Come with me. Come with me.

Looking for the sideline. Whoa! A great block by Gibson.

Right there, 23, 23.

Yeah!

A great crack back by Hughes!

Yes!

Go! Go win it! Yeah!

Another big block! One man to beat.

Knocked out of bounds at the 20-yard line!

[CHEERING]

Offense, offense, let's go!

Time for two plays. All right, end zone's not open,

you take the sideline. All right.

All right. Come on, baby. Come on. Come on.

17 seconds to go. No time-outs for ESU.

CROWD: Go! Go! Go!

Go! Go! Go! Set!

287! 287!

Hut!

Kane back to pass.

Forced out of the pocket. Running right.

Kane on the run, fires.

Complete to Griffen at the 10-yard line.

Out of bounds stopping the clock with seven seconds.

A field goal here ties it,

but a tie may not get the Wolves into a bowl game.

This'll be a tough decision for Winters.

What do ya think, go for the three?

Just gimme the goddamn ball.

All right. Brown right motion, tail slant.

You're the man, Joe.

[ALL CHEERING]

We're about to win!

Are you ready? BUD-LITE: Come on, baby, come on.

All right. What sign? What sign? Let's go.

All right, everybody, now's the time.

Brown right motion, tailback slant.

Let's put the women and children to bed and go lookin' for fuckin' dinner.

All right. On one.

Ready, break!

COMMENTATOR: All right, this is the season

as the Timberwolves come to the line of scrimmage. Come on Wolves!

Go, Wolves, go!

[ALL CHEERING]

Go, Wolves, go!

Go, Wolves, go!

Go, Wolves, go!

Yeah. That's okay, Dad.

Set!

Gold 13!

MAN: Coming after you, chief.

Gold 13!

Hut!

COMMENTATOR: Kane fades back.

Yippee ki-yi-yo Git along little dogies

COMMENTATOR: Can't find anybody.

Forced out of the pocket. Mahone misses him.

Jones has ahold of him.

Kane gets away. Scrambles right.

[SCREAMING]

Looks downfield for Jefferson.

Yo! He's covered.

Kane fumbles the ball! Scrambling after it.

Picks it up.

See ya. Closing time, baby.

Looking into the end zone for Jefferson. Fires on the run.

Jefferson's got it! Touchdown! ESU wins it!

ESU wins it! Yeah!

How do you like that, baby?

We're goin' to a bowl! We're goin' to a bowl, baby!

Yes, hon!

All right. Now we're talkin'.

Wooo! All right! Yeah!

Yeah, baby!

We're goin' to a bowl, baby!

Yeah!

Nice throw.

We're in the bowl, baby!

On to the bowl! Yeah! All right!

Yeah!

Way to go, baby! Yeah, sugar, we did it.

Congratulations. Thank you.

Daddy, you remember Darnell.

Sure I do. Great catch, Darnell. Great catch.

Thanks a lot. I got somethin' for you.

It's my placement test. I got an 89.

I believe you got an 87.

I asked Coach Winters to look it up for me. I'll kill him.

[LAUGHING]

Let's get outta here.

Come on, Daddy.

Hey, Coach.

Hey, Joe, that was a great throw.

Way to hang in there. I'm proud of you.

Thanks for everything.

Thanks for everything you did for me.

Next year, the Heisman, huh?

Well, uh...

Don't make an idiot outta me, okay?

COMMENTATOR: An amazing conclusion to a great season.

We can see Steve Lattimer down on

the bench weeping tears of joy

as ESU goes back to a bowl

for the first time in three years.

Hi.

What are you doin' here?

Just waitin' for you.

I know I'm not your favorite person in the world right now,

but I need your help with something.

All the pressure's startin' again, you know.

All the Heisman talk and...

I just... I feel like I need to go out and blow off

some steam and I was...

I was just wondering if you'd,

go share a six-pack with me?

Tickets are in your bag.

Player profiles, itinerary,

they're in the briefcase.

Now, we've got a 9:00 a.m. tomorrow with that

big linebacker from Park High.

From there we go to Atlanta.

Need to check out this defensive lineman.

He might be our replacement for Lattimer next year.