It’s dead, and I mean DEAD, right now in the football news world. Outside of some recruiting movement and flashback posts, there ain’t a heck of a lot to talk about. Fortunately for you all, I’m on vacation for about two weeks so you’re about to get a series of creative writing and open thread discussions to help us pass the time. Looks like Shakespeare, the WABAC machine, and beer are about to be in heavy rotation and hopefully the month of July will give us some training camp fodder to discuss. In the meantime, here’s something to chew on and discuss today:
What’s the all-time best football movie, in your humble opinion? My thoughts:
5. The Replacements
As far as a comedy take on the subject, I love this movie. Probably not going to make many people’s lists as a top football movie, but it’s a fun watch with a good cast, and moves at a quick-pace with elements throughout that makes for a fun family movie to watch, if you have to infuse football:
The movie follows a group of has-beens and aspirational types who respond to an open tryout in the wake of a pro football player strike. The protagonist here is Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves) and his attempts to level his legacy while also leading through group of rag-tags from sideshow entertainment value to championship level. Just a fun watch, in my opinion.
4. Friday Night Lights
I had to read this book as part of my sports psychology class while getting my masters in 2000. The 2004 movie is the screen adaptation of H.G. Bissinger’s book about the Permian High School football team, and how the psychology of sports from parental expectations to the glimmering hope that football could be a pathway out of the oil fields and to somewhere – anywhere – better than Permian plays into the hearts and minds of kids, their parents, and a community.
The movie reunites Billy Bob Thornton as Coach Gaines and Lucas Black as Mike Winchell, quarterback from the Permian Panthers football team. Small world, right? Except this time, Thornton doesn’t have the deep south drawl and Lucas Black can’t help but to keep it, so he just sounds like a grown up version of Carl’s young friend from Sling Blade. The movie, of course, dramatizes some of the elements a bit for Hollywood’s sake (see Tim McGraw in this) but it does a decent job of replicating the intensity and sadness of many of the books elements. I’d say it’s more of a must-read than a must-watch, but you take your pick.
3. The Waterboy
I don’t think I have to tell you much about this one, as I’m sure many of you have seen it before.
For me, it’s a fun and funny watch but I always loved hearing The Devil Went Down to Georgia whenever Bobby Boucher (Adam Sandler) referenced or heard lessons from Mama Boucher (Kathy Bates). Just a hilarious take on football and also peak Adam Sandler comedy.
2. The Program/Any Given Sunday
I’m putting these side-by-side because I have a number one in my head and both of these explore the dark side of competitive football.
Both movies do a great job of exploring the deeper darkness of competitive athletics, from doping to drug use and to dollar signs. Where Sunday goes deeper into pro football’s front office and politics and The Program explores the “anything to win” mentality of circumventing the NCAA, both movies follow the ins and outs while also doing a great job of developing characters along the way. Somewhat over dramatic in some elements of exploration, both of these I can watch from start to finish any time they’re on and both have great casts, to boot.
1. Rudy
Let’s face it, every one of us has thought about it…being the runt or long-shot that has a dream of playing for the family favorite team.
Similar to Invincible, this follows long-shot Rudy Ruettiger’s pathway to getting to play at Notre Dame, and if it couldn’t get any better, the movie crescendos with Rudy getting his signature play in against Georgia Tech. Watching your lousy in-state rival getting tackled by the movie hero? With The Final Game playing in the background? Couldn’t get any better than that.
What makes your list, Refugees?
Remember the Titans is up there for me, as well as Brian Song and The Express.
BTW, where are you headed on vacation?
Heading to wine country, or at least that’s what I call our backyard on most weekends. Just getting some lost sleep back and hanging with the kids.
Enjoy. The wife and I are headed to CA wine country on 7/9.
Good for you.
@Harold Miller: You going North or South?
Going in and out of Sacramento. First Napa/Sonoma then on to Muir Woods. After that down to Monterey and maybe by Mavericks if the surf is up.
We then head east to Sequoia and Yosemite. That’s it. but a pretty full 2 weeks.
Sweet! My wife and I go every year for a few days, September this year. We stay in Sonoma or Napa… There’s a little winery outside of Sonoma on the way to Napa, Nicholson Ranch. Great wine and the view from the terrace is not to be missed.
We have tastings at Caymus and Stag’s Leap booked.
Never saw The Express, but it looked good. Brian’s Song and RTT were both great.
I’d add The Longest Yard (original) to the list.
And yeah, Rudy made his play against Tech, but I hate both with a passion and had no desire to watch the movie.
the original Longest Yard was awesome. Prime Burt.
If my math is correct, on the same say as the Rudy thing was going down, The Dawgs were doing something bigger…in Jax.
Appleby to Washington, baby!
i liked the movie Rudy, but not top 5 to me. Remember the Titans was way better, imo.
Facing the Giants (CMR cameo)
Remember the Titans
3.Necessary Roughness
The Longest Yard (Burt Reynolds’s)
The football game scene from the movie MASH
The Longest Yard- Burt Reynolds version
Filmed near Reidsville at the Georgia State Prison.
North Dallas Forty was awesome. Varsity Blues is in my top 3.
Any Given Sunday should have, could have been so much better. I mean – the eye falling on the field??? WTH was that. It was too unrealistic. But I liked the douche-nozzle extraordinaire character Jack Rose who was such a clear adaptation of real live douche bag Jim Rome.
I should have hit refresh before writing my comment below about North Dallas Forty. You’re clearly good people, winodawg.
The football movies that are likely to get my attention to waste a Saturday or Sunday afternoon:
Remember the Titans
The Express
.Necessary Roughness
Longest Yard – Burt Reynolds version
I am not very likely to watch the Waterboy but it is the one I quote the most.
Please remove Derek’s posting privileges while you are on vacation. His Playpen posts are absolutely dreadful. Thanks in advance.
Agreed
Playpen.
Playpen.
Love all of these but The Longest Yard would be tops for me.
No love for North Dallas Forty?
I F’n hate Rudy.
“Ah don’t wawnt yor lahf!”
I am grossly disappointed in the top of that list. Disgusted. Repulsed. Nauseous. First its ND and second its entirely fake. Its a yankee school founded by french monks who chose to use a derogatory cultural trope/stereotype as a nickname and which has been fellated by the national media decades before and after its relevance has long waned that also bouys it’s irrelevance upon a work of fiction all while pretending that its real. The Stetson Bennett story should result in the burning of all copies of that propaganda.
Well guess what, domers? Frank Leahy and Ara Parseghian are dead just like your fucking football program. 3-0 bitches!!!
Anyway, there have been very few good football movies. My fave would probably be Remember the Titans if for only the mid-game time out DC huddle/speech. Gets me each and every time. I react to that like normal people react to old yeller. I also like Coach Boone talking about the disposition of his football and about how we are going to do up downs until ?? is no longer tired. The speech to the back up qb is good too. I also like the DC’s daughter commenting on how the backup is getting beat like he stole something.
The original Longest Yard is a pretty good one. There is a football adjacent movie that is pretty good called The Fortune Cookie. I thought the Kevin Costner movie about the draft was really good.
Not sure why football is a bad sport for movies. On average, movies set in every other sport, including Dodgeball, tend to be better.
Talk about burying Rudy and pissing on the grave. Tell us how you really feel.
It’s too bad the Rudy movie will probably keep Stetson’s story from being made. Maybe if he can spend some time backing up Stafford in LA some Hollywood producer will go for it.
I feel somewhat dirty saying this, but I dare say this is your best post ever Derek .
all well said and accurate
this is maybe your dumbest, backwards post ever, which is a breathtaking statement. You don’t like ND, or ND football? No problem, that’s a matter of taste. I hate Auburn, for example. Your ignorance about the history of the nickname is not surprising. Read up on why ND was never allowed into the Big 10, or had to play a national schedule in the first place. Anti Catholic bigots are everywhere, not just the deep south. Your post kind of smacks of that. If that is actually part of your view, you certainly aren’t alone, which is unfortunate, too. If it really isn’t, my sincere apology. Either way, it’s a dumb post. I just can’t quite figure out if you’re an ignorant bigot, or simply ignorant.
mornin, everyone!😉🤣
First, you do understand that there can be differences of opinions about whether people of Irish descent ought look at this with pride, don’t ya?
Whether some wish to wear it as a badge of honor is their choice. As one might have noticed, if they knew anything at all, the Irish can be a disagreeable lot. Personally, I find it repugnant. The leprechaun motif makes it a lot fucking worse.
I generally think groups of people make poor choices for sports mascots for reasons that ought to be obvious yet are seemingly elusive to some. Perhaps someone should have come up with the “Genocidal Germans” or the “Butchering Bastard Brits” or some such sobriquet that would have made the point clearer to a larger audience. Moreover, how does that mascot represent poets and the authors like Yeats and Joyce? It doesn’t. Second, I am quite aware of the various forms of bigotry that have been espoused here as well as the history behind them. As it relates to Catholic bigotry in particular, I know the name of the man who fought for Catholic rights in Ireland. I have walked the street named in his honor. I know why Catholic rights were taken away, when and who took them. I know who founded the United Irishmen and their goals of eliminating both sectarianism and Englishmen on the island. I know many, but not all, of the various heroes who fought for Irish freedom such as Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa and Dan Breen and Thomas Clarke. I know the former Irish name of the village where my surname was first recorded in County Galway a millennia ago as well as the clan to which it belonged. I know where, in a field very nearby, some 600 years later, the last battle was fought over whether Protestants or Catholics would rule the Kingdom.
Up the ra. Our day will come. And finally, but not least: póg mo thóin.
Shorter Derek: I dont understand the history of the nickname, so I’mtalking out of my colon.
All that blather, but zero focus. You strike me as educated beyond your intellect. And go ahead and kiss your own ass. That’s where your head is anyway.
Your opinion is your opinion. It’s a free country. If you’re an Irish Catholic and you dont like the nickname, fine. If you aren’t, still fine, but who cares?
I dont know you at all. Some of your opinions seem smart, some dont. This isnt one of the smart ones. Have a brilliant day.
Shorter 81Dog:
position 1: if I disagree with you, you’re obviously ill-informed.
position 2: if I disagree with you and it turns out you’re very well informed, you’re doing it wrong just because I say so.
I recognize that among Americans with whom I would agree on nearly everything with when it comes to the subject of Irish/Ireland that I would be in the minority on issue of ND. Doesn’t make me wrong. And I do not give one fuck. I am quite used to thinking for myself and coming to my own conclusions without regard to nose counting or conventional wisdom.
Fwiw, we agree on Auburn. That is the regional hate. National hate has always been ND and Michigan for me. A bunch of arrogant yet almost always irrelevant snobs who have a disproportionate amount of sports media alum to prop their sorry asses up with.
Did you know that Lombardi was not hired at Wake Forest because his name ended in a vowel? The history of hate, bigotry and prejudice in this country touches near everything. So for me weighing who to pull for or hate in cfb today based on past transgressions, especially things I never witnessed, is a pretty tough thing. Our porch in Athens ain’t exactly clean btw. Had I come of age in the 1950’s and 60’s I don’t know how I would have processed Jim Brown can play at Syracuse but not anywhere south of the mason dixon line. I’m sure for many Catholics in america ND beating up the protestant schools was a big deal at the time. Just not my time. By the time I come around they represent something entirely different and in a different environment.
And that leprechaun is shameful.
zzzzzzzz. Good luck with your next diatribe. Now I remember why I just ignore the playpen. I should have just ignored your ND post. You did at least get the first sentence right, so you have that going for you. Your assumption in the second sentence is that the premise of your opinion is overly optimistic. Have a great day!
forgot to note that Derek is frequently an example of Mark Twain’s warning not to argue with stupid people, because they try to drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. He might be a good dude in person, but on here, he’s a bit tiresome. He’s surely entitled to his opinions, however dumb. Someday he might learn the difference between being loud and annoying, and being correct. I might as well try to explain algebra to my dog. You keep doing you, bro. This site needs a Dollar General Jim Rome just for the laughs, thank you for your service.
Huh? 4th most offensive, eh?
https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/2021/08/23/notre-dame-defends-fighting-irish-leprechaun-mascot-ranked-offensive/8249420002/
So many people not entitled to express an opinion without bearing insult. Damn shame. As that ranking suggests absolute truth and righteousness has evaded detection for far too many, I propose you identify the members of that mass of grossly stupid people, tell them you have been sent to explain to them that they are each completely full of shit and that they should either endeavor to stfu or follow the light of your candle and into the warm glow of your singular, transcendent and inarguable wisdom.
Btw: can we reverse the handle to the form you intended and go with 81God hence forth? Why obscure the truth further now that He who is lawgiver has been revealed?
Thank you for gracing us tho you’re often hesitant due to time constraints and the limitations presented by the participants. We shall all try to be more worthy of your participation in the future. Please forgive us for past transgressions as we know not what we do.
Dude, you should try the decaf. Or maybe up your meds. Nobody’s censoring you. You’re like a JUCO adjunct English teacher who thinks he’s infallible. Kind of a Vizini vibe. Are you part Sicilian, too?
Your frenzied, RESPECT MY AUTHORITAY screeds are tedious, but I have to respect the vitriol. However, your reflexive fury leaves you in a bit of a pickle. You’re like the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. My advice is to either quit saying dumb things (as if), or learn how to shrug things off. I am only responding in amusement as I anticipate your next War and Peace length, incomprehensible response, probably an exhausting breakdown of the Black Knight and how he was actually a winner. Dawg bless you; without people like you around, at whom would the smart folks laugh?😉🤣🤣🤣
81God, take the wheel…
Of course, I should have realized I was no match for the man to whom You, in Your Grace and Mercy, had gifted the sword, Excalibur. How many Hail Marys do I owe for my many, many sins of pride? I repent. And I also regret suggesting that a watery tart throwing sabres at people was an illegitimate means of distributing political power. Redeem me!!
Further, it is apparent that I will need more specific instructions to do it properly as my prior attempt to do so clearly fell well short of its intended mark:
I apologize unreservedly.
Finally, would You consider serving as a sort of vector for all blog posts and comments so that they pass through Your Holy filter and only appear once they have been properly Judged for length, tone and rectitude? There is only one way, Your way, and we must all humble ourselves in order to proceed down that singular divine path and no other. Lead the Way. The one True Way…
Eventually perhaps the comments will be limited to the likes of amen, hallelujah, preach on and other short pieces of affirmation and admiration. Why would there be the need for any debate or disagreement at that point? Bringing the subject matter back full circle, as Coach Boone says in Remember the Titans, having taken those modest and necessary steps: “we will be perfect!” I pray you will agree.
I accept your apology. You can skip the Hail Marys if you just promise to go stand in the sunshine for 10 minutes and think peaceful thoughts. You aren’t very good at this, but Dawg bless you for flailing away. Enjoy your day!🤣
The Longest Yard – Burt Reynolds version
North Dallas Forty – “That’s right God, I’m a sinner and now your going to f*ck me!”
Brian’s Song – It’s ok for real men to say I love you to each other
The Knute Rockne Story – Ronald Reagan’s crowning achievement
I always enjoyed the miracle movies: Miracle on the plains. Miracle in Jax. Miracle in Indiana etc.
The Best of Times with Robin Williams and Kurt Russell is a pretty good watch.
Reno Hightower!!!.
Great call.
What? No Varsity Blues entry yet? Every time a superior football team looks like crap and loses to a vastly inferior one, it reminds me of the strip club scene in Varsity Blues. Everyone was hung over the next day and they lost. Also, Jon Voight was every high school football coach ever.
Oops, some had mentioned it already.
varsity blues is better than the program, to me. But different strokes, etc
To be honest I kind of forgot about Varsity Blues, but I definitely liked it. Voigt was, as a commenter put it, the prototypical alpha head football coach that held a lot of glory to their position. Great movie, still would watch from beginning to end anytime!
honestly, I put it ahead of the Program because of Ali Larter and Amy Smart. I’m not exactly Suskel or Ebert, but I know what I like.
Jon Voight was Rush Probst personified
I can honestly say that apart from a few clips on blogs like this I have never watched any of these movies in their entirety. I have never before now even heard of The Program. Now baseball movies … well, that’s different.
I am really disappointed no one mentioned Wildcats. Goldie Hawn. Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson before they learned to play basketball.
Friday Night Lights is my favorite of these movies. The kid who played Boobie Miles made me believe him during that front porch seen and the look on the actor’s face that played his uncle LB was Bobbie cries, “All I know how to do is play football!” did too. I wanted them to both end up ok.
I disagree on no accent from Billy Bob. It just wasn’t Hollywooded up and was his natural Southern accent which I’ve never seen him not use in a movie. I normally don’t care for things he’s in but he was great in this.
Throw in Explosions In The Sky playing the soundtrack and this is my favorite.
Trenton doesn’t have a Deep South accent; he’s from Arkansas and that is completely different than the many accents found in Georgia, Bama, Sahkalina etc. Arkansas accents are more akin to Texas accents .
Sorry….Thornton. Not Trenton.
He sounds pretty Southern to me. And this is coming from a fella who has an accent with none of the hard edges rounded off of it. I’m forty six but did t do what a lot of people my age did as far as trying to not sound like their parents.
I was amazed that Billy Bob let them turn that movie into a feel good story. If you read the book you’d know that’s not what it was.
I’ll throw in “We Are Marshall.” Great movie about the program coming back from the tragedy, plus Billy Bennett has a small part.
Also, 13-year-old me would like to nominate “All the Right Moves” just for Lea Thompson taking off the band uniform…
the ass on the cheerleader in the replacements. The real #1. Rangerruss would attest.
“MAKE HER STOP DOIN” THAT!” Loved the opposing coach losing his mind over the sideline antics.
i think I would go:
I like the movies on JP’s list, just not quite as much as JP.🙂
“She showed me her boobies and I liked them too…”
I’ll throw that one out occasionally if I’m lucky enough to catch my wife topless. She doesn’t think it’s nearly as funny as I do. LMAO
The Replacements strictly for Hand of the King Otto Hightower playing the kicker…
Agree on Remember the Titans although the actual football scenes in that movie are pretty bad at times. Also, someone above mentioned Necessary Roughness – underrated gem.
But how has no one said Little Giants yet – what a classic!