Undefeated (2011) Movie Script

Let's see here.
Starting right guard, shot.
No longer in school.
Starting linebacker, shot,
no longer in school.
Two players fighting right
in front of the coach when he's
trying to make things work out.
Starting center, arrested for shooting
somebody in the face with a BB gun.
Most coaches, that
would be pretty much
a career's worth
of crap to deal with.
I think that sums up
the last two weeks for me.
And you know what?
I know damn good and well
what I sign up for every year.
And I keep coming back,
because I love this program,
and I feel very responsible
to make sure that you guys
have a football season
that you can be proud of.
And I will kill myself
to make that happen.
This is our season.
I don't care what happens.
Back in the day,
when the Firestone plant
was up and working, the North Memphis
area used to be a booming place.
There was industry and there
were people in homes.
Since the plant closed, that
neighborhood just went to heck.
I mean the people moved out,
the jobs were gone.
As a result the football
program fell off the map.
When I came, the winning scores
were very, um...
I don't remember winning.
For almost ten to 14 years,
we never won a football game.
We'd play ten games.
And we ended up 0-10.
Oh, you know when you
see Manassas on the schedule,
oh, we gonna beat them.
We don't even gotta
practice hard.
Bookie, come say hello to me!
Are you actually here
to work out today?
- I am!
- I am so proud of you...
What's up?
A freshman... 15 years old.
If it hadn't
been for Coach Courtney,
I don't know where
we would be right now.
He's what got
the kids so excited
about the opportunities...
and the possibilities.
He's the one that's got them
headed in that direction.
The foundation
has got to be a solid platform
that you can stand on and
speak to these kids and say,
"This is the way
you build yourself.
If you build yourself this way
and handle yourself this way
and have character.
You get to play football."
And winning will
take care of itself
because young men of character
and discipline and commitment
end up winning in life.
And they end up
winning in football.
Well, when you flip it,
and the foundation of what
you're doing is football,
and you hope all that
other stuff follows...
Well, then you think
football builds character.
Which it does not.
Football reveals character.
All right,
shut up and listen up.
Where's Big Kenneth?
Has anybody seen Big Kenneth?
Huh?
All right, listen up.
Everybody imagine the state
of Tennessee on a map. OK?
Way over in the corner, you got
Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Toward the middle
you got Nashville.
And you come on down here.
Everybody outside of Memphis,
do you know what they say
the biggest city
in Mississippi is?
Memphis.
The rest of the state, doesn't even
claim us when it comes to football.
We're viewed by people outside the West
Tennessee area who've played us...
Undisciplined,
not very well coached,
running around acting
a fool before the game.
About everything other than
football, and about ourselves,
rather than about the team.
You have a responsibility
this year, guys,
just like the teams
that came before you.
You have a responsibility
to play hard.
You have a responsibility to take
care of yourself in the classroom.
And you have a responsibility
to show Memphis
what Manassas
Football is about.
As you all know,
we got work to do today.
Lots of learning.
Everybody's head right.
When I got there...
...there was 17 kids for
a varsity football program.
First team,
offensive line right here.
Joaquin and Robert on defense,
let's go. Let's move!
There are good athletes
in the neighborhood.
But they weren't gonna
play for Manassas.
And do you blame them?
Not only was Manassas one of
the worst programs in the city,
it was arguably one of the worst
programs in the entire state.
Let's go, hustle up.
Tre, you're a safety.
Sills, tight end.
Receiver, down there. Hit it!
Hot Pocket, do you know the
freakin' routes? Go, go, go!
Our first year there,
we won four games. And...
...people were opening
their eyes, saying...
...you know, Manassas isn't the
worst team in the city anymore.
I mean, they're
beating a few people.
There it is, that's what we want.
The next year, there's
this group of 8th graders...
That's O.C., and Julius and
T.O. and JP and all these guys,
that all showed up to
the weight room one day,
and said, "We see y'all getting better,
we hear what you got going on."
and I said guys, all of you,
as a group, come to Manassas.
Just stay here and
let's build this thing.
Hike!
They were talking
it up in the neighborhood.
We're going to Manassas, we're
going to make Manassas good...
And in their
first year, they're 1-9.
And got hammered.
Instead of laying down,
they continued to try,
and they continued to believe.
And they continued to work.
You better win that ball, Will!
And now this is
their senior year.
And my biggest concern is
that it doesn't end up as
great as it should be for them.
And I don't mean they have
to win a state championship
to be successful.
The one thing that
Manassas has never done
is win a playoff game.
Everybody to
Coach Coleman, let's go!
Let's go!
Let's go! Let's go!
Guys, you're playing
a football game Friday.
We got work to do.
We just gotta keep
getting better.
I like their
chances this year, I do.
And it starts with
that offensive line
and with Mr. Brown.
Come on, O.C., come
on, let's go! Come on, O.C.!
We get just hordes of
film coming into the office
and to be totally honest,
most of the film we get
gets thrown in a pile,
never to be seen again.
So this link came across
my desk, and the first play,
you knew O.C. was special.
From Manassas High
School, number 77, O.C. Brown!
That's what I'm
talking about, O.C.!
O.C. was one of those
kids from Loomis Junior High,
- in that class.
- Hike!
Mike noticed in O.C.,
he said, Bill, this kid is...
for his speed and size,
he's just a big athlete,
he's really good.
We were thinking
this kid can play
some college football somewhere.
But no one had
ever heard of him.
Nobody. So, I pieced together
this grainy YouTube clip...
It had thousands
of hits in the first 48 hours.
And that's where it went nuts.
# Under the bridge
Asleep in the shade #
# All of the terrible... ##
Just to see him
sometimes turn the corner
and nobody'd be there and
he's running with the back,
you think oh my gosh,
this is scary.
That's a big dude
running that fast.
Got some mail.
Auburn, Arkansas,
North Carolina State,
Louisville, Mississippi State,
Southern Miss.
Nah, these ones I got
these in one day, I think.
O.C. is a perfect
picture of North Memphis.
Raised by his grandmother
in a very small house,
mother's deceased,
father's kind of in and out.
If he can have
a good senior year and get
a Division I scholarship.
You know, the sky's the limit.
I don't want to say football
is everything to me. But...
This is a very
good friend of mine.
And when you find out who
he is and what he's about,
and where he comes from,
you'll find out anybody
can do anything.
So, just to speak to you
for a few minutes,
is my buddy, Aaron Hayden.
Thanks Coach.
I always ask two
questions when I speak,
and I'm going to raise my hand
and answer the questions myself.
Raise your hand, anybody
in here, that has a parent,
that graduated from
college, in this room,
raise your hand.
You'll notice I
put my hand down.
Anybody raise your hand
if you have two parents
that graduated from college.
Mom and dad,
graduated from college.
Is there anybody in this
room who has two parents?
I've got another question.
Raise your hand if
you've had a close relative,
a brother, uncle, cousin, anybody,
that has served time in jail.
I have my hand up
as well, and that's...
...that's the thing, when I talk
to kids, from where we come from,
is that you got to think
outside your circumstances.
I didn't have
a dad in the home.
Loved my mama to death,
but she had a new man,
you know, every month.
Some dude was
sleeping on the couch.
And I walked by him
as I went to school.
And I could have went to school,
I could have stayed at home.
It really wasn't like anybody
forced me to do anything.
But it's not where you start.
It's what... what is it?
It's where you finish.
Thanks for having me.
And I appreciate being here.
Release, Julius!
Stop!
Stop, back, back,
back, back, back.
Get on the ball.
This is so easy, y'all.
You block.
When you hear the thud,
you get in your lanes.
And you got to hustle
into your lanes.
But you don't go anywhere
until you hear the thud.
Do you hear me?
When you look
around this program...
Not a lot of equipment. They pretty
much had to do with what they have.
You know, they have
a nice school here at Manassas,
a brand new school,
but unfortunately
they got that built and
didn't get the rest of
the school built, which
is the athletic part of it.
All right, let's go.
O.C., you have to block first.
There was nobody over there!
Damn it...
The city schools really are...
They play on a different level
in terms of support and
in terms of funding...
When you address that thing,
is the minute it hits his right hand.
That's the landscape that
we have in athletics today.
It's kind of like America,
the haves and have-nots.
Get it in there.
Oh, my God, Kevin.
The City of Memphis
school system
is always just way underfunded.
There's just no money, and if
you don't have a booster club,
the only other way
to pay for the program
is to play what
they call pay games.
We would bus out to places
like Ripley, Haywood,
Milan, Westview...
We're talking big, powerful
3 and 4A football teams.
They'd beat our ass,
they give us a check
and send us back on our way.
And those five or six games would
raise 15-20 thousand dollars
and that's what would
fund the football program.
The problem is, by the time
you got to your district games.
Your 19 kids were beat up,
and pretty much accepted
that they were horrible
and couldn't win any games.
Well, Jim and I started
Manrise for the soul purpose
of raising money to give to
Manassas like a booster club.
It's a program now,
it's not having to go
up the road to play these
huge schools that are going to
destroy us, and an opportunity
to tell kids in the hallway,
"Come play football."
Dickens?
You weren't in practice
yesterday were you?
- No.
- Huh?
- Yes, sir?
- You weren't there Monday, were you?
- No.
- You going to be there today?
- Yes, sir.
- Get your grades right.
You need to be on
the football field!
What a shame.
What a shame.
Why'd you fly the coop on me?
Rarely do coaches come back
and go through all the stress,
the headache, and the tired
and everything else,
for all the kids on the team.
It's typically one
or two that matter
so much to you that you're
willing to put up with it.
I'm not supposed to be
showing my project,
but I'm going to show you.
This is the one I spent four hours
in the early morning doing.
I'll show you my other project.
This is the egg in a bottle.
I'm the smallest lineman.
Like, I was the smallest linemen
on the offensive line last year.
When I first noticed, I'm like,
I'm the littlest
thing on the line.
Everybody else is
all big and wide
and I was just small.
But I feel like a giant.
But when you standin' next them.
I'm like a little pee-wee.
Coach, put me in,
put me in there!
He's completely
undersized to play right tackle.
He has no business
being a right tackle.
He's always
out-manned physically.
And he always wins.
And that's not because
he's some physical specimen.
It's because he's
so mentally tough.
I think of him
as preacher boy...
...like, he's so serious.
He's so young, but like,
Money got like everything
mapped out.
I'm pretty sure
he can tell you everything,
that's gonna go on in his life,
and he gonna go by it.
This... I be lookin'
at this all the time.
This tells me like, the
top colleges to go to.
Uh... getting accepted.
You got to have a high school
GPA, of a 3.7, I have a 3.8.
I'm living with my grandmother.
And you know, we stay
in North Memphis.
All my family has
been in Memphis.
They've never been
outside of North Memphis.
Even if I don't make it
out of Tennessee,
I'm gonna get out of Memphis.
Good morning, Manassas.
Would you please stand for
the Pledge of Allegiance
and the Manassas
High School Pledge?
Let's go!
Come on. Come on.
Very nice.
Good pitch Will!
We got it right the
third time, that's impressive.
Huddle up!
Huddle up!
Trying real hard
to get this team prepared.
Now I had to come off the hook,
three times yesterday,
I had to cuss way too much.
I have to go home and pray
for forgiveness for the way
I talked to these young guys.
And I don't want to be
driven there again.
Please do not make me
act a fool out here
to get you all motivated.
Your first football game
is in two days.
All this bullshit we've been
doing is all about tomorrow.
Call it again
and let's get off the ball
and be excited
about being here.
Thirteen... on one, ready?
Break!
On one, ready?
Let's go, offense.
Hustle up!
A lot to be nervous about.
It's the first game out,
starting off with a loss,
I worry about
the team's psyche.
I want them to rise
above the inner city knock.
The knock on inner city
football teams
if you score on 'em first or
get up on 'em 14-nothin' early,
they'll lay down.
You know, they don't
have the discipline
to keep themselves
together and come back.
That's the knock, I mean.
Whether you like it or not,
that's the knock.
That's what people say.
The sun is setting
in the western sky, right now.
The field lights
are coming up here.
We're just excited about
seeing another great night
of high school football action.
Manassas has a rich history of
sports and athletics,
in the Memphis area,
they've had some
great basketball teams.
Football... it's
been some lean years.
I want you to hear me.
Ever since I've
been at Manassas,
it's been building every year.
One year to the next,
to the better,
to the better, to the better.
The group I'm standing with
right now, is the best team
I've ever coached at Manassas.
Not only are you going to prove
tonight that you are disciplined,
not only are you going to prove
tonight that you are well-coached,
you're going to prove tonight
you're the better program.
And leave no doubters about
who we are and what we are.
Yes, sir.
Here to kick it away will be
the Manassas Tigers out of Memphis, T-N.
Going to be gathered in at
the 15, to the 20, to the 30.
He's still on his feet, dashes his
way to the middle of the field.
Forty! Forty-five!
Thirty! Twenty-five!
Inside the ten!
Down to the five!
Into the end zone!
- Touchdown!
- Coach Raymond!
We had ten men on the field!
They have the back ten
yards, going to run the offense.
Pitches it and
has running room.
Inside the ten!
He's going to go in!
And it's 14 nothing,
just like that!
Manassas struggling
here defensively.
They got to get something going
here to get that confidence,
especially on the
offensive side of the ball.
Listen to me!
We can come back, man!
It's two touchdowns
and a whole quarter.
- Let's go kick their butts! Let's go!
- Make it happen!
Second down at eight.
The ball at the 36.
Back. Looking. Throwing.
They got a man open!
And it's caught!
Inside the ten!
Down to the five!
And into the end zone!
Touchdown!
That is a
devastating play for Manassas.
Redmond into shotgun,
fourth and 11...
...throws...
Man open!
And he dropped it!
Redmond hands it off this time.
Running back, nothing,
and we get him down.
Receiver seems wary. Redmond
the quarterback under center.
Play fake,
running for his life.
Caught on the backside,
fumbling the ball, it's loose.
Yes, that really hurts there.
Clock running and Manassas
about to fall to 0-1.
The character of
a man is not measured in how
he handles his wins,
but what he does
with his failures.
And tonight, we failed.
And everybody says,
"When you get these inner city
kids down, they'll lay over
and you'll beat them
by 40." Not us!
Everybody'll say,
"They're 0-1.
They're going to fold up camp.
They'll be 2-8
by the end of this thing."
No! Not us!
You walk with your chins up...
I am proud to be a Manassas
Tiger on this field tonight,
because my guys didn't
lay down, they got heart.
Now let's put our mind
with our heart and bodies
and let's finish
this thing this year!
"Thy kingdom
come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread..."
I never knew Manassas existed.
And then I started
a business in 2001
and bought an old dilapidated,
crappy piece of property
on the North 7th Street
in North Memphis.
What are they doing
over there, Cliffy?
- Pardon?
- What are they doing over there?
The wall in front of the chain.
Oh, I've got some welding to do.
Remember I brought that up
yesterday in the meeting?
- Taking care of that right now?
- Right.
I need that
basswood in the kiln.
- OK.
- All right, Cliff.
He sold cars for several years
and he knew it was a
steppingstone to something else.
Um, he was a great
salesman, you know?
Um, he could talk
anybody into anything.
At 7:45, Scrappy.
Well, why are you asking
me what time it is?
I'm your boss, dumb-ass.
You're supposed to not
ask me what time it is.
If somebody walked in
this afternoon and said,
'I'll give you whatever
for the business.'
And he's got enough
money to cover
his expenses and kids
for the rest of his life,
and he gets to go coach.
That's a no-brainer.
You know, he's gone.
You know, that's
what he wants to do.
He wants to coach.
Dantre, get them out, let's go.
Hey, how are you?
Pleasure to meet you.
So, how you doin'?
Look at you. You're starting
to grow up a little bit.
What happened to my little Chavis?
Now you're big Chavis.
Good to see you.
You going to hang around
practice or are you leaving?
Can he stay for a little while?
- Yeah.
- OK?
Yeah, what time y'all
normally be finished?
- 5:30.
- OK.
- Can he stay?
- Yeah, right here...
Chavis played
for us as a freshman.
Confidentially, if you
want to talk to him
and he wants to talk to you
about it, you can find out.
But he missed his last year.
And he's back as a Junior.
Chavis has serious
anger issues.
And it's one of those things that
I don't think he can help it.
Back up! Back up!
Chavis is loud.
Chavis is big,
and he aggressive.
One minute he could be laughing
and the next... ten seconds
he mad or something.
I can't hear.
He went to jail
and had a rough life.
And you know, it's hard
for him to get to know people
or trust anybody.
I think it's
really hard for Chavis
not to have his father around.
And he has never been around.
I think that where a lot
of Chavis' anger come from.
He's real fast.
That's my favorite
animal actually.
'Cause it's like...
Tortoise is like
a human being to me.
'Cause it's like they gotta
be hard on the outside,
but they really
soft on the inside.
Just look at...
...at the texture of them.
See on the outside,
everybody want to be hard
and show their strength.
But on the inside
it's like all flimsy,
you know, just skin and bones.
Money, I need that VCR!
What time are we
supposed to be in here?
2:20.
At 2:23, I walk in
and everybody's late...
This is exactly what
I'm talking about.
It's exactly what
I'm talking about.
This is how we lose games, 'cause
y'all can't follow simple directions.
All right, so here's what we got, go
ahead, I got it from here, Money.
First thing we're gonna do.
Do not watch your play books.
Watch the film.
All right, here's the deal...
Stop! Stop!
What is y'all's problem?
Better stop playing me, bro.
What is y'all's problem?
You go over there, Money.
- Better stop playin'.
- Go over there, Money.
- Stop playin', boy!
- What?
You shut up.
I just told him to shut up.
You go sit down. Sit.
Money! Sit.
Go sit down over there.
Go... Don't touch one another.
Shut up.
Did you hear me?
Money! Money!
Y'all killing me.
You're sucking it
right out of me.
I got four children
at home and a wife.
My kid's... my own son's
first football game
is in an hour and a half
and I'm here with you.
My business isn't
making any money
and I'm still spending
my money on you.
Y'all ain't givin'
nothing back.
You're just taking.
You ain't giving me shit.
You're just taking.
Now, you...
You're going to apologize.
Well you know
what's going to happen?
Oh course he's going to say
something, 'cause he's pissed.
No, you're not.
Listen to me.
No, you're not.
You know why?
Because I just asked you to.
You think I want to deal
with this shit right now?
I'm trying to get
y'all prepared.
He is not gay.
OK, then keep your
thoughts to yourself.
He ain't gay.
Chavis...
...you, for the betterment of
somebody other than yourself,
need to do what
I'm asking you to do.
It's not part
of the job description.
Of course, I don't know really
what the job description
is, frankly.
You want to tell me you're sorry
for not coming when I called you?
Sorry, Coach.
I know you are.
It pissed me off, too.
I appreciate you getting away from him and
not screaming when I told you not to.
You backed off and did what you did
and left because you were hot.
You're not going to
turn back on the team.
You're gonna come back
with me right now.
Listen to me.
Listen to me.
Look at me. You're gonna
come back with me right now
and you are not going to get
in a fight with him...
Hey, listen to me.
And he is not going to
get in a fight with you.
And you're going to put
the team before yourself.
- And you're going to be a man.
- Yes, sir.
And you're going to
put it behind you.
And he's going to be a man, and
he's going to put it behind you,
and our team is not going to
be torn apart by stupidity.
Because we're not
going to let it.
Yes, sir.
- Will you do that for me?
- Yes, sir.
What were you,
arguing over the arm rest?
I don't know.
He up there playin'.
He shouldn't have moved me.
- Just don't sit next to him.
- I thought we was friends or something.
OK, listen, can you
say that to him?
Why not?
I don't know, I...
Say Chavis, "Yeah,
I'm mad, but it hurt me
because I thought
we were friends.
I thought we were just friends.
Get your shit, let's go.
Hut!
Hut! Hut!
All the way through.
Hut! Hut!
Hut! Hut!
Don't send him back
until I say something.
Hut! Hut!
All the way through.
Trezevant is full
of a bunch of jackasses!
A bunch of rogues!
A bunch of talkers!
Trezevant it's
our first district game.
We've got guys who have not
gotten along in the past.
Ever since they were young.
And there's an enormous
amount of hype about the game.
If you lose Friday night,
you're going to hear
about it for a year.
And I'm tellin' ya,
Friday night is won today!
Let's have a good practice,
let's get on with the haul!
Don't underplay
what this game's about.
I want you guys
just to base block.
It's about the up
and coming Manassas program,
fighting the established program
that's willing to do anything
to keep you down.
Now!
Let's go, on the hop.
We got Trezevant's ass to kick!
This games about what
we've been building to do right
and what they've been
doing wrong for years.
Y'all gotta wanna get better!
You gotta want to!
Friday night you have an
unbelievable opportunity to say,
"Yep. We are... we are
the class of North Memphis!"
There it is!
Golly! Golly!
That is sick!
Trezevant is trying
to punk them guys out.
And they wouldn't
even let 'em get none of them
because they had their heads
on right, because they're tight.
That's what we're going to be!
I had to have a meeting with
my boss, the director of security.
The reason they called
me into a meeting
is about the rumors that is
going around about Trezevant,
sending messages to you guys.
That if they don't win the game,
they gonna win the fight.
- What school do we go to?
- Manassas.
- What school do we go to?
- Manassas!
How do we act in public?
We act like we have
home training, correct?
Yes, sir.
When you guys take that field,
I don't care what's said.
I don't care if somebody
puts their hands on you.
I have enough people there to
handle whatever situation comes on.
I got your back, man.
Nobody's going to
do anything to you.
You're all big boys, I know
you can handle yourselves,
but let me do my job, please.
And win this game tonight.
First and ten,
the ball at the 23-yard line.
The quarterback has the backs
in the I,
hands it off to the running
back, turns the corner,
coming out of the pack, he has running room.
He's gonna go in.
That is going to be a 23-yard
scamper and just like that,
it's 6-nothing.
Pull up!
Let's go! Pull 'em up!
Second down and eight.
Here's the play-fake in motion
near the near side
of the quarterback.
Dashing inside, outside!
To the ten! Down to the five!
He stretches into the end zone!
Touchdown!
Come on, man!
The Manassas Tigers
need to do everything that they can
do to get some points on the
board before we end this half.
All we gotta do is get a score!
First and ten. Here's
Redmond under center this time.
Here's the handoff.
He spins and boy, he's popped
hard as he hits the 45.
Here's Redmond on the quarterback
keeper, trying to get loose
and will be sacked
in the backfield.
The only thing that occurred there
was about a five-yard loss.
Boy, those guys have taken some
beatings here, haven't they?
That's bullshit!
He tried to break
his damn neck.
Then they get up
clapping about it.
The game's not over yet,
but it looks pretty dire for Manassas.
About to fall to 0-2 unless they
can stage a miraculous comeback.
Get in tight!
All right, listen up!
We've done all the
things that we told you
you had to not do.
And you're down...
20, nothin'.
That's it.
Now, here's the deal.
This is an unbelievably
good opportunity.
You come back from that.
Now you're talking
about something.
You lay down on that.
Well, then you forgot
what we're about.
I do not want to see
anybody dropping their head.
I want to see us get a stop
and score and see what happens.
- Can we do that?
- Yes, sir!
Hey, you got to believe
in yourselves, fellas.
You can come back.
You just gotta go to work.
We're coming back!
- Let's go!
- Let's go, man!
Manassas trying
to do again, five-man front.
Drops, looks... throws.
Got a man open and it's caught!
Inside the five!
Touchdown!
Defense!
Defense! Defense!
First and ten.
Here's the handoff.
Fumbling the ball.
It's loose and Manassas has come
up with it at the 25-yard line.
You got them mashed,
they're laying down!
You got to keep mashing!
Redmond.
The backs in the I again.
Redmond drops straight back,
looks, throws!
It is caught! Touchdown!
20 to 14, Manassas
in the midst of a comeback.
We just won the third quarter!
If we win through fourth quarter,
we win the freakin' game!
Let's go get 'em guys!
We thought Manassas was
going to get blown out of here.
And right now, they've got all the
momentum, down by six and with the ball.
Manassas trying
to take the lead.
They have the back ten yards.
Redmond. Here's the handoff.
Powers his way
into the end zone.
Touchdown Manassas!
Credit the Tigers, they really
played a great second half.
Let the clock run, baby, run!
Run, baby, run.
I would be shocked
if Redmond doesn't do anything,
other than down the ball
and get this one over with.
Take the snap,
take a knee, game over.
If they swing at you, run
to me like I'm your Daddy.
I will take care of it.
Let's go.
Holy moly.
Everybody! Helmet's strapped!
Do not take them off
until you get to the bus!
Get your damn helmet on,
helmet strapped!
They come with everyone
right at the line of scrimmage.
Toe-to-toe!
Redmond's just going
to fall on one knee I would think.
Takes the snap,
that's exactly what he does.
Manassas wins the ball game!
Coach! Coach! Coach!
No... The cops don't... Uh-uh!
The cops don't
want us to shake hands.
- Let's go! Go to the bus!
- Go to the bus!
Hey, good job, Manassas!
Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah! Yeah!
Let's go! Report cards! I
don't get a report card, no play!
You got O.C.'s?
O.C.!
Who's your teacher
in journalism?
I got three different teachers,
this is the third teacher...
Well, how're you
going to have a 60?
I don't know, Coach.
We had Miss Wells at first.
Then we had a... a old lady,
but now we got a young teacher.
That's what I'm saying.
How do you get
a 90 in precalculus
and a 70 in keyboard?
You got good grades in
all your normal classes
and you got crap ones
in these stupid classes.
We had told Coach Bill
that we was going to stop
O.C. from playing football.
Because his grades wasn't up
like they was supposed to be.
Mike and I
started talking about O.C.'s
academic struggles.
And we said, you know,
if this keeps going on
He's going to lose an opportunity
to play college football
and get out and go do
something with his life.
So, the coach done
come in and they talked to us
and they say, "Well,
we got a solution if
you'll let us work with him."
We ran through
a lot of different options
and talked about getting
tutors, and then we thought
"Well, we can't get
a tutor to go over there."
Mike said, uh,
"Well, he can just live with me for three
days or four days a week, at my house.
And the tutors can
come to my house."
The whole idea was I would take
him home from school, leave him at Mike's,
get him tutored, take him to school.
That's how it went.
What we said was
he'd pay for the tutor,
if we'd pay for the groceries.
And I promise you, we got
the short end on that deal.
Your favorite show!
- Are you serious?
- Yeah.
See, there's three going
into the 22 right here.
The school has not prepared
him for college or even close.
They advanced him a grade
because he was big.
You know how
to do long division?
All right, all right.
We'll go over it.
You're going to
look at the first number
and three goes into
six twice, right?
So, you're gonna write two
right here, and then...
A lot of people look up to O.C.,
like I be tellin' him all the time,
I wonder where we're
gonna to be after football.
I picture O.C.
playing football in college
and going pro. And I picture me
being like ex-football player,
slash manager, lawyer
of a football player.
I see myself as that guy
wearing a suit everyday.
Y'all know y'all
can't go that way.
Montrail is
a very sensitive person,
especially in dealing with
the death of his father.
I was 13 when my dad died.
I didn't know
what to do without my dad,
because my dad
was my protector.
When he died,
I knew I was on my own.
And that's when I just
really started being on my own.
You know, being a man and
working through my problems.
He told me before he died,
he said, "Take care
of your grandmother
and get an education. As high as
you can go with an education."
Yeah, I was going to say...
See, if I want to go get the Tennessee
money, I wouldn't go to school.
He talked to me
about it earlier this week.
He was concerned about
going to college.
And, that's horrible
because he is...
...he's very intelligent.
He might be able to receive
a little money for computers
and things like that...
I hope he goes to college.
I don't know how he's
going to do if he doesn't.
Dad, you know what Maggie said in
the car on the way home from the zoo?
No telling.
She told us that when she
listened to two different songs
at once, it made her bones hurt.
- Maggie...
- You're making me nervous!
- Shut up.
- Did you say shut up to me?
- I love you.
- Oh...
She said something
else funny, I can't remember.
He strives to be
a good daddy to his kids.
And I believe that stems
from him not having
a father growing up.
He was four years old
when his dad left.
So, you know, he doesn't
remember a lot about his dad.
At all.
My ninth-grade year,
it was 0-0,
going... like two minutes
left in the game.
I took a handoff and we scored,
we won 8-nothin'
at the very end of the game.
And you know, it's
ninth-grade football.
Wasn't that big of a deal.
But you know, you score
the winning touchdown,
that's a pretty cool thing.
And I remember looking up
and seeing...
...there were four or
five of my teammates,
and every one of them were
walking with their dads,
and their dads were carrying...
They put their helmets
through their shoulder pads,
they were carrying
their gear for them.
And they're talking about
the game and everything else
and I was walking
off the field by myself.
I remember thinking, "Why
ain't my Dad here with me?
What do those kids
have that I don't?
Why do those kids
have what I want?"
Which is a father in my life,
and somebody to share these
kind of experiences with.
You start feeling like
you're not very valuable.
Because you must not be
if your own father
doesn't want to spend time with
you or do anything for you.
You must be valueless.
You must not really
have much worth.
So... fast forward to Manassas.
I know some of those
kids feel that way.
And I will never
be their father.
But, I can sure
as heck tell them
it's nothing you've done.
You didn't ask to be
born into this,
but you were. There's
nothing fair about it.
But it also doesn't mean there's
anything wrong with you.
There's something inherently
wrong with that guy.
You know, if he say anything...
Will you just
tell me what happened?
Chavis! Chavis!
I am driving my truck over there.
Would you please don't walk away from me?
You're about to
hurt my feelings.
Thank you.
I didn't ask you
what's wrong with you...
My truck's over here.
I gotta go this way.
I'm trying to ask
you what happened?
Well, then what is it?
What is it?
No, don't.
You wanna ride with me?
- Nah, Coach.
- You wanna ride with me?
- No, sir.
- Why not?
- No.
- Is that it, Chavis?
Hey, Chavis.
Listen to me.
Do you really wanna bring
the team down, right now?
Oh man, you know
better than that.
I need you to think about what you're
saying, and just chill for me, please.
Look at... look at me.
- Yes, sir.
- All right?
Oh, at what point...
At what point
do you quit trying?
Chavis, please come here.
Come here. Chavis.
Chavis.
Chavis!
Everybody, in there.
Everybody in that square.
That's that.
That's over. That's through.
And we're just about ready for
football action Bolivar and Manassas...
Picked it up on
the 30-yard line.
Runs around the corner,
he's got some running room,
nobody's gonna be able
to get an angle on him
and going all the way
for a touchdown...
One thing and one person
will not bring this program down.
And we give and we bend,
and we give and we bend,
trying to bring folks right.
When folks don't get
right, that's that.
That's all.
He gets across the 15!
Across the ten!
Touchdown Manassas!
It will not be spoken of
and it will not be talked about.
The coaches will handle that.
You will handle yourselves.
We have a football game to win.
We have a season to
go kick everybody's butt.
Clock is just going to
run, as we enter the mercy rules.
Manassas with an easy win.
- Now, y'all ready to go play some football?
- Yes, sir!
Everybody knows why
we're in here and there's no need
to tippy-toe.
Quit dressin' and listen in.
Yesterday was not a good day.
Chavis failed us.
What you got to say?
I heard you mumbling twice.
Well, now you need to speak up.
I ain't got nothin' to say.
Chavis, you've got
nothin' to say?
Speak up.
I ain't got nothing to say.
Do you think
what you did was wrong?
Well, I guess it's
time to man up.
Does this team
mean anything to you?
You're lyin'!
Where would you be?
It was our judgment that
a long suspension was
better than a termination.
And the reason was,
we didn't want to lose him.
We felt like if
he didn't have football
that he would really
fall off the edge.
That he might transfer,
and if he transferred,
that would not be a good
thing for him at all.
I don't know when
enough is enough.
I mean, you care about
these kids a bunch, right?
So, consider... maybe not your
own family, but some people
that are very close to you.
And let's say
they're abusing drugs
and continue to get off drugs, get on
drugs, get off drugs, get off drugs.
You know, at what point
do you take someone you love
and care about that you
want to make better,
at what point do you
turn your back on them,
and say "I'm through screwing with you.
Goodbye. Lose my number"?
I mean, I don't know.
And I'll
tell you one last thing.
If you don't remember the past.
History will repeat itself.
And that passion you have right now
is going to become overwhelmed
by anger, hate...
and then you gonna snap.
But if you will allow it,
football will save your life.
Allow yourself to be coached.
Allow yourself to be criticized.
Allow yourself
to learn how to be a leader.
And then learn how to lead.
It's in you, but you got to
allow for that to happen.
When it's all said and done,
how do you want Chavis
to be remembered?
See you, O.C.!
Oh, I don't know
about gettin' him off.
Some people try to say
"Well, you know there's gotta
be something in it for them."
And I said, "Well, no,
I don't believe that."
I said, "They were doing
that to help O.C.,
because they wanted him keep
up with his football career."
Yes, ma'am. You worry about them.
And that's good.
Can you give her that
sheet that y'all showed me?
I'll bring that. I'll bring the
graduation rate stuff to you.
Any time
you're dealing with a story
that involves both races,
it can always be a lighting
rod here in this town.
Mrs. Hayes was about to
make him quit football before...
- No, it was me.
- Oh, it was you. That's right.
Yeah, it was Rachel.
That's kinda when we decided...
Mm-hm.
Gotta do somethin',
that's when y'all came to the
house and talked to us about it.
That story, when you
have this black kid...
going out and living
with this white family,
uh, when you read some
of the comments of what
people said afterwards
when they read it,
it was like, "Well, they wouldn't
be doing that for this black kid
if he didn't have
any athletic ability.
They only see dollar signs."
There's like 67 posts here.
"It's really a shame that it's
always the superstar athlete
everybody is after and
everyone is willing to help."
But, it just so happens
that I know a little something
about football, same with Bill.
If you see someone
that's really pretty good
and has a chance to do something,
yeah, you're gonna wanna help them.
It would be like if you were
going out there, giving them
piano lessons, and you saw that this guy
could be a concert pianist someday.
So I'm going to try to
help him get better at it.
Homecoming tickets are on sale.
Tell your mama, your daddy,
your grandma, your granddad,
aunt, uncle, sister,
brother and cousins
to buy your tickets from the
school and the school only.
Let's have a safe weekend and everybody's
planning on being at the game.
All right, listen up.
- Everybody paying attention?
- Yes, sir.
Everybody awake?
Thinkin'? Head's on.
Fellas?
We're going to talk
a lot about football,
but I'm going to take five minutes to
tell you something I want you to hear.
I purposely, until
we got past this game,
have not discussed the playoffs with you.
But now I'm going to.
If you win your district...
...we make the playoffs.
Now, you ready
for the good news?
You have an unbelievable,
that I couldn't
have even dreamed of,
opportunity in front of you.
Because this school,
was founded
in 1899, and has never
won a playoff game... ever.
And this group is going
to change all that.
110 years, folks.
Not one.
Seniors.
Don't let the last four years,
don't let everything we've worked
for slip through your fingers.
Does it mean that much to you?
Yes, sir.
It's what you've got
to be asking yourself right now.
Does it really mean something?
To win a playoff game,
just one playoff game,
I mean, it is big to me.
I just feel like, you know,
this is my last chance to do it.
Like, I don't want
to have no regrets.
Good job.
Good job.
Dexter, that's a pretty
sweet block right there.
Field goal!
Let's score here. Let's go.
22 right, motion right,
dart left.
Good job, D!
Money! Money! Let's
get it right here, come on!
First and ten, Tigers.
Redmond hands it off to Parker.
Parker scooting his way,
Parker still running,
Parker has a first down
as he gets inside of the 30
and is driven back.
And there's
a Manassas player down.
Can't tell
who that is right now.
That's not good.
The coaching staff
is coming out.
Talk to me, Money.
Talk to me, Money.
Money, talk to me.
Just talk.
Put your leg flat for us.
- It hurts.
- Put your leg flat.
Hurting?
Put your weight on this one.
Put your weight
on your right one.
Oh, you got it.
Just take your time,
you'll be all right.
Thanks.
God, I hope we didn't
just lose him.
Are you going
to put them up on there?
- Mm-hm.
- I get to see it?
- Mm-hm.
- OK.
Wow. Is that my brain?
- No, that's your leg.
- Ah... Oh.
- Montrail, how are you?
- All right.
- Good, good to see ya.
- So, you looked at the pictures already?
- Yeah, took a peek at them.
- Looks good?
Well... Let me sit down
and talk to you, here.
- OK.
- Um...
Um...
Your anterior cruciate
ligament has been injured.
Now, what it looks like is
a high grade partial injury.
It doesn't look like all
the fibers have been torn.
But, it looks like a large
number of them have been torn.
Um, I know you're dying to
continue to play football here.
- Mm-hm.
- But the bottom line is that...
...even if we don't
end up operating on you,
you're probably going to be out of
football at least for eight weeks,
and probably 12,
while we allow this to heal.
I know that's not what you wanted
to hear, but that's the case.
And I'm sorry about that, I know
you're having a big year this year.
It's a pretty
significant injury.
- All right?
- Yes, sir.
OK, we'll get you through this.
You know, when you come
from North Memphis...
Oh, boy.
Yeah!
When you come
from North Memphis.
- Hard times...
- Yes.
See, I ain't have no
good life all my life.
- You know, I had some hard times.
- Amen.
Just to be standing here...
Praise you Lord! All right!
We're just calling on you, Lord.
We just ask that
you just bless O.C., Lord.
We ask that you
bless him, Lord Jesus,
on the football field, Lord.
Just continue to
bless him, Lord Jesus.
Just give him the strength
that he needs, Lord Jesus.
Let him still keep
his focus on you, Lord.
Please clear
your desk of everything
except for a number-two pencil.
You're about to
take the ACT test,
which is composed of
multiple choice tests
in English, math,
reading and science.
If you've already taken
the ACT writing portion,
you will then take
a writing test for which...
He's kinda on the borderline
of qualifying right now.
So, if he kept
his GPA upward...
If he makes a 16, he'll be in.
All right, here we go.
- Hi, I'm Ashley.
- Hi, I'm Montrail.
- How you doin'?
- Nice to meet you.
OK, what happened?
We lost him...
Oh, I hope there's
some way we can get him back.
But, it's probably not likely.
You usually tear this inside
ligament when you tear your ACL.
So, you're going to be doing some stuff.
Let's get on the bike.
I know what he feels like
right now as far as the injury.
'Cause, you go from
being in the inner circle,
to where no one
cares about you.
So?
You need to be in school. You
gotta get your grades, Money.
Did you hear what I just said?
You can't be not coming to school
because you're not playing football.
- Hello?
- Coach...
- Huh?
- It's... it's just school.
I understand your frustration,
but you don't quit
because you're frustrated.
You just keep goin'.
You're better than that.
I expect this shit out of some
of these idiots, but not you.
Yes, sir.
So, you be at school tomorrow.
- Yes, sir.
- Do you hear me?
All right.
I'm gone.
See y'all later.
Yeah.
That's his commitment.
That needs to be
y'all's commitment too.
Help each other out.
This is the beginning for me,
for the rest of my season.
And really, for the rest
of my football career.
I really don't care,
do not care at all,
because once he
put his hands on me,
I have no feelings for him.
None whatsoever.
You know, it was like they say,
three strikes and you're out.
This man probably
got about 50 strikes
and he's still in the game.
Hey! You act like you've
never been in a game before.
You're not playing
together on defense.
I need to know what the hell's
going on in the defensive huddle!
Tell me right now!
If somebody makes a mistake,
everybody hollerin' at him.
- Yes, sir.
- Shut up!
How many times do we gotta talk
about discipline and team first?
See, it doesn't mean
anything to you!
Rock!
You've heard it
50 times from me!
How do you measure character?
Somebody tell me how
to measure character!
Somebody tell me somebody
has listened to me!
Who said it?
Not how you handle
your successes,
but how you handle failure.
Character!
Six freakin' years!
And I can't get 11 so-called leaders
to have a little bit of character!
It has nothing to do with adjustments
on defense tonight, fellas.
It has to do with
heart and character.
Put yourself aside,
put the team first
and have a little
bit of character.
Now, I'm thinkin' about putting you at
defensive tackle for... dude's a doofus.
I'm serious.
What do you think?
Line up over the guard
and just go through them...
Huh?
Go do it!
Get Kenneth out, go do it.
Thank you, thank you.
You want Chavis in at
two, or here in the shade?
I told him to get wherever
he wanted to and get to the backfield.
Just give him a second.
He'll figure it out.
I'm gonna trust him.
Defense! Defense! Defense!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Where's Chavis?
Where's Chavis?
I'm proud of you.
"In what..."
Are you listening? Good.
"In what will go down
as one of the best
performances in the history
of Manassas Tiger football,
the Tigers went out east and wrecked
the homecoming for St. Benedict.
The Tigers came into this game
with key injuries
in the offensive line,
the defensive line
and the backfield.
To take matters worse,
they found themselves
in a 28-13 hole with less than one
minute to go in the first half.
That's when things
changed in a hurry.
Chavis Daniels inserted
defensive tackle,
formed a very tough
defensive line.
This made it easier for the
rest of the defensive unit
to run around and make plays.
The Tigers would go on to
outscore St. Benedict
27-nothin' in the third
quarter, put the game away.
After the 54-41 victory,
the Tigers now found
themselves at 5-1 in the midst
of a five-game winning streak.
This might be one of those
games the Tigers
look back on as a pivotal point
to their season down by just...
Down by two touchdowns,
just four half and on the road.
They could have
thrown in the towel,
but if we've learned anything
about this team after six weeks,
it is that they are
resilient and never give up.
The Tigers next test
will be Thursday night.
Manassas travel to Green Hill
to take on Frazier at 7:00."
What was the word
I said we were going to
talk about for just a second?
A hurry, a snap, quick.
All right, watch this.
- Ready to do some math?
- Yes, sir.
Good.
How old are you Joaquin?
- 18.
- 18.
That's 936 weeks
he's been alive.
I'm gonna clap to 900.
You ready? You ready?
Count with me.
How long will it take me
to clap to 900?
A while.
That was just 18.
Watch this.
- Four?
- Four.
That's what's left
of your football season.
It ain't nothin' but a snap.
It's over in a hurry.
Ask Money. It could be over,
just like...
...that. In a hurry.
So, let's do this again, right?
If I have to clap, as many times
as most of y'all have been alive.
It's gonna take me forever.
If I have to clap as long as
football is, it's this.
And you're done.
Unless you win.
Then what's it sound like?
If you win...
If you win...
If you win...
And if you win...
Let's go do what
we're supposed to do,
which is beat Frayser, beat Douglass,
beat Northside, beat Kingsbury,
get in the playoffs,
and do our thing.
And let's surprise
everybody in Tennessee,
cause there's other folks
out east of here,
that don't think we belong.
- Y'all ready to get it done?
- Yes, sir.
Wiggle.
Coach Courtney,
we appreciate you callin'.
You guys are gettin' on a roll.
Is it fair to say that it's
an improvement week by week?
Yeah, it's real fair to say.
It's discipline,
it's coaching, it's teaching.
We're just trying to coach
them up a little bit.
# I got so much to do now #
# And a short time to do it #
# So much to do
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah #
# And a short time
to get it done #
# I realize... #
One of the premiere
players, number 77 O.C. Brown.
He's just vicious
any way you look at it.
# Got to get out and take it #
- # People have said #
- # Whoa ho ho ho #
# That a change
is soon gonna come #
- # Some people have to make some changes #
- Whoo!
# But I have yet to make one #
#...being down so low... #
# I got to raise myself
a little higher #
# And build
my faith up strong #
- # 'Cause #
- # Get that, get that #
- # Oh, baby #
- # We're making it better #
- # Oh, no, no, every day #
- # Get that, get that #
# We're making it better #
# Just keep on I wanna try #
- # Making it better #
- # A little bit harder... ##
Stay Smudge.
Stay. Stay...
You're a good boy.
Come on, big boy. I'm outside.
- Good mornin'.
- Good mornin'.
Which one of those big-booty
girls is your girlfriend now?
- Onika.
- Who?
- Onika, coach.
- O, what?
- Onika.
- Onika?
Yeah.
Onika.
You do?
- You wanna smell good for Onika?
- Yes, sir.
Oh, that's cute.
That's adorable.
You put on too much,
you're gonna stink
and nobody's gonna
wanna be around you.
One squirt... Look at me.
You put one squirt,
maybe two in your hands.
- Yeah?
- Rub 'em together.
And do like this...
And you'll smell good all day.
You'll have Onika and everybody else just
following you around in the hallway.
There you go...
Now you're going to
smell good... Yes.
Now you're runnin' hoes,
and slammin' Cadillac doors.
Set, hut!
Hut!
He's been doing this
for five, six, seven years now,
and, um...
I love it.
I love that what he's doing,
I love that the
children need him.
And, you know, honestly
he needs them too.
At the end of the
football season, yeah...
...I mean, honestly?
I'm, I'm tired.
You know? And he's tired.
And I'm ready
for him to be home.
Um... You know, 'cause
he has four children here
that need him as well.
They let us fake the dive.
It's the end who
caught the pass, I think.
No, he dropped it.
- Who was going...
- Shh.
Don't get on my
nerves right now.
I mean, I'm
exhausted all the damn time.
It's not a hobby to me.
I mean, it's a responsibility.
How the...
Those slots are...
- Shh.
- ...like wingbacks.
Shh.
What I give up
is emotional capital
that I can't spend
on my own family.
You know, it's 10:45
on Saturday night,
and I screamed at 'em two hours
ago to get out of the house.
It's a lot. My family
gives up a ton for this.
A ton.
Damn!
They say "We would
like to congratulate...
...congratulate you
for being nominated
for consideration to play in the 2010, U.S.
All-American Bowl.
We have completed our
roster, and unfortunately
you were not selected
to play in this year."
When all this happened,
it seemed like he might
get offered by everyone,
which that hadn't happened.
I think the word's
probably out.
In fact, the guy
from Colorado, he goes,
"Well we understand there's
some academic issues
and he may have a hard time doing
college work out here at Colorado,"
which is evidently
a pretty tough school.
Most of these kids think
they're going to
play college football.
Until, of course,
Saturday's over and they're
standing around with a 2.0 GPA
and a 14 on the ACT and no football
scholarship and nowhere to go.
And you watch them go
from playful little boys,
to very concerned young men
over the course of a month.
'Cause it all dawns on them,
what do I do next?
- Thank you. I'm fine.
- You got a smile on your face.
I know the first couple
of times you come in,
you weren't smiling too much.
But you can have a seat in here,
wherever is comfortable, and Dr. Wolfe
will be in in just a minute.
- OK.
- Thank you.
OK, now that feels
pretty solid right there.
Um, all right, you can
go ahead and sit up.
Let me grab a stool here.
I'm very pleased with your
progress, but I'm still...
I think it's not
appropriate to be playing.
- And...
- What if I just put a brace on it?
- Well, I agree 100 percent...
- 'Cause I'm not gonna, you know, do nothin' stupid.
- You know, I play smart.
- Right.
How much of your
season's left anyway?
It's the last game.
- The last game? That's it?
- Yeah. This Friday.
This Friday. That is it?
That's the end of the season?
- Yes, sir.
- Ah, jeez...
And I missed
every last one of 'em.
Well... I still,
I think it's too early to play.
Please, this is killing me.
You know I've been depressed?
- Sad...
- I know.
- I, look..
- Are you a senior, too?
Yes, this is my last year.
Close to being my last time...
I'm not going to play football in
college 'cause I'm too small anyway.
Right... I think I just do not
want you on the football field,
playing competitively.
I really don't.
It's just not
the right thing to do.
I'm sorry I didn't give
you the news you wanted.
- OK.
- OK.
Good to see ya.
- She'll be right with ya.
- OK.
All right.
I'm still gonna play.
Just get on my nerves.
Wasting my time.
- So, you saw him yesterday, right?
- Yeah.
What'd he say?
- Another two weeks.
- I think that's a good thing.
This way, you'll feel really confident
when you go back to playin'.
That's the thing.
Season's over with.
You know, it's either
you win or you don't.
- Yeah.
- You don't win, you're gone.
Well, make sure your team
wins that game, right? And then
you can play the next one.
All right. Get dressed.
I'll meet you out here.
- Hey man, I got a jersey.
- Ah, OK.
Let me see.
Seventy-one... I got a jersey,
man. Look good on you.
When did he say that?
Of all the losses,
I gotta hang onto
one or two pluses.
And...
...I gotta keep telling myself
that, to keep myself up,
because it does...
I mean...
...of all people to think that
Money is on the cusp of being
lost is...
You know, it kills me.
But, in the same respect...
If you had looked at Money
at the beginning of the season
and Chavis at the
beginning of the season,
if you had to put all your money
on who was going to blow up
and not handle it all,
would you believe Chavis
would be the one in here still
trying to get right, and Money
be the one not at school today
and not doing
what he's supposed to?
Perhaps
some of you are seniors.
Your goal is to graduate.
And once you graduate, you're going
to be going out into that big world.
And, we want you to know that.
In addition to that,
I am very encouraged...
...to know that in this day
in time it is most important
that you get a good education.
On my way over to the
pre-game meal, drove by his house,
I said, "What is wrong, Money." I
said, "You know you're close."
And he said, before
he screamed at me,
and he just looked at me
and he had tears rolling
out of his eyes and he said,
"You know... Can you hug me?"
And he started
bawling like a child.
He feels like he's not
part of the team anymore.
You know he looked out on
the practice field on Thursday
and some freshman was wearing
54 practice jersey, he said,
"I couldn't help it,
it just, it killed me."
Hey guys.
Hey.
Tonight, you have a chance to
win a district championship.
You have a chance to secure a position
for our team, in the playoffs.
It's a huge game.
Let's get it done.
Coach, you got men...
Ahh, a Most Uncommon Man.
All right guys...
The Uncommon Man of the week,
very proud of this individual.
Um, I'll have to admit
at the beginning of the year
I had my doubts as to
whether he'd even be a part
of this football team. Um, but I'm going
to let Coach Bill finish this one.
Um...
The reason we're here, y'all,
is not just to win
football games,
but to reach your hearts
through something you love.
We wanna make you better.
And then, as individuals,
if you get better, then
you get better as a team,
you might start seeing that
if you do something for
somebody other than yourself,
that you might be better for it.
And every once in awhile,
problems come up.
Money.
Two things that mean most
anything to him in the world
is his father and football.
His dad's dead, and he's scared
to death his football's dead.
That's tough.
And we gotta make sure
we're there for him.
Uncommon Man of the game
was clearly Chavis.
He had an onside...
He had an onside kick recovery.
He had an interception
he should have scored on.
He was all of the
field on defense,
and he stepped up and led.
And Chavis has done some
stupid crap this year.
That stunt he pulled at
Bolivar was off the hook.
But, yeah, he was the
Uncommon Man of the game.
But, most importantly,
he's the Uncommon Man because
he has tried to put
a whole bunch of demons aside,
to be a part of something
bigger then himself.
So, Chavis, you're
the Uncommon Man.
I love you.
I love you.
There you go.
All right, y'all...
Let's beat Kingsbury tonight.
Bow your heads.
Father God, I lift up
this team to you.
I lift up tonight to you.
I'm gonna lift up
each of these kids to you.
Ease Money's pain.
Stay in Chavis's life.
Back in the E.H. Crump Stadium,
and we got a doozy
for you here tonight.
The Manassas Tigers taking
on the Kingsbury Falcons,
for the district title
and also for playoff
seeding as well,
so this should be
heck of a ball game.
Help us as men, Lord,
to continue to help these kids.
Open their ears and hearts, so
they listen to us and to you.
Give us strength tonight.
Win or lose, let us play
with discipline and heart
and put the team first.
Win or lose, keep us healthy.
Win or lose,
keep our heads right,
and let us know
that you've graced us
with another week, at least.
And as long as we do
what your will is,
you'll probably grace
us with another.
Teach us to
believe in a life of love,
to walk in honor,
and to serve you in truth,
in your son's name we pray.
- Amen.
- Amen.
The Manassas Tigers
have shown a valiant
second-half effort tonight
in this ball game. Final score,
Manassas 27, Kingsbury 16.
With the game, they win
the district championship.
And more importantly, probably,
they also have home-field
advantage during the playoffs.
"Thy kingdom
come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day,
our daily bread...
...and forgive
us our trespasses...
Lead us not into temptation..."
Team first!
Now, let's go to
Coach Bill Courtney at Manassas.
Tell me about your playoff situation,
Coach, as much as you can.
Uh, who we picked up
in the playoffs?
Westview.
I'm on the way to trade
tapes with the coach.
I'm just going to go bury myself
somewhere in a hole with a VCR.
- How good are you?
- Oh, we're not very good.
Coach you just won
six straight...
Yeah, but look, we had
a tough first four games.
- And starting 0-4...
- You can "Aww, shucks" all you want,
but I'm scared to
death of you guys.
How do you feel
going into the playoffs?
I think we've got
the mentality, you know.
We're going to take
one day at a time and...
We can beat 'em,
but they can beat us.
I mean, you know,
it's playoffs.
How's the health
of your team going in?
Our right tackle
is out with a knee.
Um, we may or may not
be getting him back.
You know, I'll see him
Sunday night at 7:00
in the auditorium
at the school for film.
And we'll be on the
practice field Monday,
and we're gonna do our best
to try to represent
District 15 playoffs.
All right, listen up.
Everybody, listen up.
I did not spend the last
15 hours of my life,
driving to Westview
and doing this
for you to sit here
and not pay attention.
It's gonna take some time, and we're
gonna take all the time that it needs.
Because at 9:00,
in Martin, Tennessee,
Westview High School shows up and
they go film from 9:00 to 12:00.
So, if they can do it,
we can do it.
I can remember four and five
years ago and them saying,
"Man... Manassas
in the playoffs?"
I mean, comments like, "I never
thought I'd see the day."
Now, Manassas not only
won a playoff game,
but a playoff game from
one of these schools...
You got to understand,
this school used to pay us
$3,000 to come up
there and get our asses beat.
Be their homecoming queen,
give us a check, some pizza,
and send us right back to
Memphis to where we came from.
How amazing would it be to
take one of those schools and
turn around and that be the first
team we beat in the playoffs?
Ever.
- Anybody seen Montrail?
- Yeah.
Where? Damn.
My bad.
Now look, there's going to
be limited contact today
- until we get the brace.
- OK, Coach.
- Hey, Coach!
- Hey!
Pick it up,
pick it up, pick it up!
Hut!
Hut! Hut!
That's amazing.
Is he serious?
Dead on. And he's a
multi-multi millionaire.
You know, he's probably
worth 30, 40 million.
Will he really do that?
Hey, Mike.
The minute they break,
I want first team spread
and pro huddled up.
Eleven on defense, and I'll
be there in a second.
Hey, this is Bill Courtney.
How're you doing, bud?
So, that's a bona fide,
tried and blue,
for-sure offer you just made.
Uh, tears are in my eyes.
I appreciate you very much.
OK. Bye.
- How about that?
- Um, wow.
I thought that was pretty cool.
Houston get in at right
tackle next time for Money.
- Dang, man. Damn.
- Come on, man.
You're goin' back in, man.
Don't worry about it.
Come here, Money.
You remember when you decided you
didn't want to go the physical therapy?
- Yeah.
- And I told you
that you were going
to physical therapy?
You kept saying no...
You remember why I told you
you were going
to physical therapy?
Because, if you
do the right thing,
- people will...
- See me... notice me.
...continue to help you.
And when you quit
doing the right thing,
they'll go away,
as fast as they come.
Do you remember
that conversation?
- Yes, sir.
- You remember that, right?
All right, well now look at you.
You went on to therapy,
you put your little
selfish feelings aside,
you're crying, and your
bitchin', and moanin'.
Now you're on a football field.
Hopefully not playing your
last game, but at least,
you're a part of
what we're doin'.
Starting again, leading us like you're
supposed to and everything else.
It's a further testament
to doing the right thing,
you'll be shocked at what
will happen for your life,
if you stay right.
Coach Germany has a friend
who's been very blessed,
- he's done very well.
- OK.
- And he knows about your story.
- OK.
And yesterday?
- Last night.
- Last night, they were having dinner
and they were talkin' about you.
And he said, you know what?
This man doesn't know you.
Doesn't have any idea who you
are, but he knows about you.
He is going to pay 100 percent of every
dime for your college education.
Absolutely 100 percent
taken care of.
Everything.
Everything.
Oh, God.
So, if you can go
to Austin Peay,
away from Memphis,
it's taken care of.
You can go to UT Martin, middle
of Tennessee, taken care of.
Somewhere in Mississippi,
taken care of.
Somewhere in Arkansas,
Alabama, wherever.
Wherever you can
get into school.
Wherever you can go, you'll
get your Pell grant money,
and stuff for your
spending money.
But, you just basically
got a 100 percent all paid,
all-expenses-paid, four-year
scholarship to get your degree.
And you ain't got to worry about
a dime of where it comes from.
Nothing.
You keep doing the right thing,
and good things
will happen to you.
It's a big world
out there, Money
and it's your chance
to taste it.
I'm so happy for you
I could cry.
Now get yourself together,
get your ass back in the huddle.
All right,
everyone in this room
will be taking the ACT.
Which is composed
of multiple choice tests
in English, mathematics,
reading and science.
Your answer document will
be scored by a machine.
Make all marks
heavy and black...
88.5
the voice of MCS.
There are a lot of kids
around town that are
picking up scholarships
to go and play football.
Right now, we have Carl Coleman
on the phone, talking about what's
going on at Manassas today.
Right now, Mr. O.C. Brown
is going to sign with Southern
Miss down in Hattiesburg.
Everything worked out for him
and he's going to sign today.
So, now you're
headed to college.
What are you going to study? You
know what you're going to study?
Well, I kind of
want to study education.
Be a coach.
Come back and be a coach.
Like I said, like I said...
Coach... We got caring coaches
and that's what I want to be.
Maggie's 14, Miley's 13.
Will's 12 and Max is 11
right now.
And for the last
six and half years,
I've spent more time with kids in
Manassas than I have my own kids.
I want you to stand
that big man up,
find the ball and
jump on him. Go in for James.
Not having a father, has made me
better for the kids at Manassas,
but it's also made me
kind of realize that my time
at Manassas has to be up. Because...
How ironic would it be
if I did so much for these kids
at Manassas, trying to teach them
from my life experiences
and help them as best I can,
and then my own kids experience some
of the same hurtin' that I have?
I want my kids to know
that... no matter what,
they're the most important thing
in the world to their father.
And right now, they probably are
wondering if it's them or Manassas.
And so, that can't happen.
Well... it's time.
There's really nothing else for
me to say, except one thing.
Don't quit.
We've won nine games,
we've played ten.
Do you understand
in five of those games,
this team in the third quarter was
losing by seven points or more?
Up to 20?
And still won.
Be there for
one another tonight.
Play for one another tonight.
One heartbeat.
Together.
And do something that
no Manassas team has ever done.
- Y'all ready?
- Yes, sir.
Me, too.
The score is 7-7!
The Westview Chargers of the
football game have just tied
Memphis Manassas with 5:48 to go
in the first quarter of play.
Talk to me, Will.
What's happening?
You told me watch the center,
I'm watching the center.
- You too close...
- Relax, relax, relax.
- I know...
- All right, forget that.
Forget watching the center.
I want all linebackers backed up
to five and flow to the ball. Back up
to five, and see the ball and react.
Out of a five-man front again.
Here comes the handoff. They're
giving it to the running back.
And there he goes,
ladies and gentlemen.
Omar Williams across
the 35, the 40, the 45.
Finally tackled
by Will Thompson.
Manassas has it on
the Westview 23-yard line.
He fumbled the ball, they pick
it up and they are getting free.
Amis has the ball
and he is going to fight
and he may drag a man into
the end zone and he does!
Here comes the snap
as he calls for it.
It's down and here
comes the kick
and it's blocked by Westview!
So, the Chargers have held on
the extra point and it's 13-7.
Westview goes back
on its offense here.
Spencer under center.
Hands off, running around
the other way to the nearside!
Inside the ten! The five!
He's in! Westview tied it!
13-13!
It's all locked up!
The kicking game,
God said, might be the difference.
Westview tries to point
after, here comes the kick, it's up!
And the Chargers have
taken the lead!
14-13 Westview!
Fellas, how many games
have we come back from this year?
A lot.
It's 14-13!
Relax. Take a deep breath.
Remember who we are.
Remember we're
a second half team.
You've been here before.
Please remember... character.
Please remember discipline.
Please think about team first.
And let's go kick their ass.
They'll start with the ball
out of the end zone.
Redmond with the ball
as he goes back up
under center.
Hands it off, gives it to
Williams, Williams and...
They're going to try and grab
the ball, he's got O.C. Brown
pulling him forward
and pulling him forward.
Holy cow! Brown does everything
he can to drag his man
ahead of the line of scrimmage.
And here comes Omar Williams,
running with the ball.
He takes it off the left side,
inside the 30, 25, 20, 15, ten,
five. End zone.
Williams scoring off of the left
tackle, that is O.C. Brown.
Defense! Defense!
Westview with the ball,
here comes DeMarcus.
He's got it inside
the three, the two, the one!
DeMarcus spins
into the end zone,
and the Chargers score again!
And now the score, 21-21.
4:05 to go, all tied
up here in the third.
This may be the
tightest game in Tennessee.
All right, here we go.
Pro left, lead right.
Keep doin' what you're
doin', you're doin' great.
Manassas
will come up with the ball,
they start with Redmond,
calls his own number,
runs to the far side,
he's had some success,
he's inside the 30, 35, 40, 45,
50 he's going to go
all the way and score.
This will be a 75-yard
touchdown run by Redmond.
He goes from one
end to the other.
And with 5:38 to go on the clock
they have just taken the lead.
Hey! You got the lead.
What you gonna do about it?
Hold it!
Defense! Defense!
Leading the charge...
gives to the running back
and Westview's Chevy Taylor
has made it to the 43
and that is all.
Let's go!
Now is the time, let's go!
Third and nine. Spencer
with it, gives it to DeMarcus,
he needs somebody to go to,
the big O.C. Brown,
single-handedly brings DeMarcus
and he had some helpers.
Manassas on the move right now.
Westview needs to
make something happen.
Huddle 'em up!
Pro right...
- Pro right, dive right.
- Dive...
- Dive right?
- Yes!
Pro right, dive right, tell
Julius to go get the linebacker.
Pro right, dive right.
They're slamming the
nose guard to the short side.
I-formation again,
got a mix-up on
the line of scrimmage.
He fell on the ball,
but the Chargers say
they've recovered it.
Westview pulls a Sneaky Pete
and comes up with the
football after the fumble.
That was a big
turnover by Manassas.
Fuck them, fuck them!
And it's stopped
the adrenaline from flowing.
Westview goes back
on its offense.
Great field position to start.
Here comes Spencer
under center.
Gives it to... Taylor.
Taylor takes it inside the 15,
to the ten, all the way down
to the seven-yard line!
And the Chargers are seven yards
away from scoring a touchdown.
3:28 to go!
Manassas defense has been unable to
stop the Chargers on this drive.
Big play for Westview.
Spencer under center.
Gives to again to DeMarcus, he found
a little hole, inside the five!
The three! The two!
He is in the end zone!
Tying up Westview!
Chavis! Block it!
Block it!
Here comes the snap,
Westview take the
lead on this one!
It's up and it is good!
Westview takes
a one-point lead!
28-27!
Three minutes to go
in the football game!
All right, let's go!
We've got this thing!
Season comes to a
close for somebody here tonight.
- Let's go!
- All right, we gotta go.
- All right...
- Let's go win it.
Let's go win it.
Let's go!
At the 20-yard line,
Redmond, who had the
last touch down,
takes the ball and he's
going to run with it!
Looks, scrambles from the
right, now back to the left!
Runs out to the right!
He comes out across the 30!
The 35-yard line!
Out near the 42.
Oh, my goodness, to get
22 yards on a first carry
and only eight seconds
left on the clock.
That's Manassas football.
Clock, the biggest
factor right now.
They come out of the shotgun,
here's Redmond.
He gonna call his own number.
He is stopped, dragged,
and now gets across the 45.
- It's not over yet.
- Did he get it?
28-27, we're getting
closer to field-goal range.
Let's go!
Redmond the quarterback.
Antonio has the ball,
he runs to the far side.
Westview needs to hit him,
oh! And he goes out of bounds!
Charger Jake Vincent, walking to
talk to the official, the captain.
It's a holding call.
It's a 10-yard penalty, it's
a penalty against Manassas.
- Oh, my!
- What happened? What'd he call?
The ball is marched back
across the 50 to
the 47-yard line of Manassas.
It is third down and about 20.
Thirteen pass right. Hurry up.
This is it, y'all!
Let's go!
1:03 to go, Westview
leading 28-27, Manassas with the ball
back on their own 47.
Third and 20.
One, two, three,
four receivers.
Here's Redmond. He's going to
throw it, he pulls the trigger.
Westview's got a chance
to knock it down!
They intercept it!
They intercept it!
Coming up with the football.
The Charger...!
Kevin Evans!
1:03 to go in the ball game!
Evans down on the 23-yard line!
Time's up!
Westview leading it by one.
Chargers have the football.
Spencer takes it.
Rolls to the right.
He's gonna try to run
the football. Here he goes!
Twenty, 30, 35, fights
his way up there to the 50-yard line
and he is dragged
out of bounds...
Westview looks like
they have come to Memphis,
and upset the
Memphis Manassas Tigers.
Six years.
We've gone from slaw...
...to one of the
best teams in Memphis.
Throw your chest out,
and hold your chin up.
Remember the things
that carry you
are the things
you've been taught.
Character, discipline.
And remember, please remember
if you remember anything from me
in the last six years.
The true measure of a man's
character is how he handles this.
Anybody can be a champ.
It takes a man to stand
up when this thing hits
you in the mouth,
'cause it hurts.
I am proud to be
a Manassas Tiger.
And I'm proud of you.
- Y'all ready to stand up?
- Yes, sir.
- Guess what.
- What, Coach?
- You got to end it on the field.
- Yes, sir.
- I did, seriously.
- And you gave it all you had.
- Yes, sir.
- And now you get to go have a life.
- I'm proud of ya.
- Thanks Coach.
That's correct. It is.
O.C.!
Hang on.
I'm going to try and say
something, just give me a minute.
OK, these four years
don't happen without you.
It has been my honor
and my privilege.
I was the luckiest guy in the world to
have coached you the last four years.
We don't do anything, we hadn't
accomplished, anything without you.
Yes, sir.
- I love you.
- I love you too, Coach.
Now you go from here, and you
go make a life for yourself.
You go play ball somewhere and
you make a life for yourself.
- You hear me?
- Yes, sir.
- You do not look back.
- Yes, sir.
- I love you, buddy.
- I love you too, Coach.
I'm so proud of you.
# Let the redeemed
of the Lord say so #
# Let the redeemed
of the Lord say so #
# If you know
that you been redeemed #
# You ought to let
the world, world know #
# Let the redeemed
of the Lord say so #
# If you know
that you been redeemed #
...if you're
returning for next season,
we need you to
report to the gym.
Thank you.
I think you all know,
but I'm gonna make it official,
I will not be
coaching next year.
I've been here six
and a half years.
I have never made a tackle.
I've never scored a touchdown.
Never made a block.
What I'm trying to
say to you is guys...
Players win games.
Players. All coaches do is try to get
them headed in the right direction.
I'm so proud of these kids, and
I'm so proud of this program.
Um... I can't say "no regrets,"
because I regret we didn't
win the playoff game.
But, in terms of
personal relationships,
and in terms of what
I think we've done...
I'm certainly gonna say
there's no looking back.
We uh... we, and when I say
"we," I mean the kids and us,
we did a great job.
We did a great job.
And the kids lives are...
The kids and my life
are enriched from it.
And I'll take that.
We gotta go to practice.
# There's a brighter tomorrow #
# Just around the bend #
# Some will fall
along the way #
# While others will win #
- # But if you have the faith #
- # If you have the faith #
- # Oooh, and the will to keep trying #
- # Trying #
# Oh, I would be so rich #
# Mm, and very rewarding #
# It's a brighter tomorrow #
# For those who have dreams #
# Don't get discouraged #
# Just do your thing #
- # It's an outta sight way #
- # It's an outta sight way #
# Mmm...
Don't let it pass you by #
# Don't let it pass you by #
# Take a good look
at yourself #
# Yeah, and put blame
where blame lies #
# Ohhh, not just the boys
but the girls #
# Have got to
better themselves #
# Pick up your pace #
# Go out and better your race #
# Mmmm mmmm #
# Don't let your friends
or your neighbors #
# Make you
too weak to fight it #
# Only the strong survive #
# Be mighty mighty
There's a brighter tomorrow #
# There's a brighter tomorrow #
- # Show appreciation #
- # There's a brighter tomorrow #
# Yeah, a brighter tomorrow #
# There's a brighter tomorrow #
- # Have some inspiration #
- # There's a brighter tomorrow #
# Ohhh, not just boys
but the girls #
# Have got to
better themselves #
# Pick up your pace #
# Go out and better your race #
# Don't let you friends
or your neighbors #
# Make you
too weak to fight it #
# Only the strong survive #
# So be mighty mighty
There's a brighter tomorrow #
- # There's a brighter tomorrow #
- # Yeah, show appreciation #
# There's a brighter tomorrow #
- # A brighter tomorrow #
- # There's a brighter tomorrow #
- # Have some inspiration #
- # There's a brighter tomorrow #
# Yeah A brighter tomorrow #
# There's a brighter tomorrow #
- # A brighter tomorrow #
- # There's a brighter tomorrow #
# A brighter tomorrow #
# There's
a brighter tomorrow ##