In the middle of Huntington, West Virginia, there is a river.
Next to this river, there is a steel mill.
And next to the steel mill, there is a school.
In the middle of this school, there is a fountain.
Each year, on the exact same day, at the exact same hour...
...the water to this fountain is turned off.
And in this moment, once every year...
...throughout the town, throughout the school...
...time stands still.
Chris Griffen with a reception. That is a first down.
But Marshall is all out of time-outs, and the clock is now ticking.
If they wanna get another play off, the Herd had better hurry.
Call it in, Red! Call it in!
- Griffen! Okay, Chris Griffen! Hustle up! - I'm good, I'm good.
The Herd looks a little disorganized.
They're looking for a play from the sideline, and they are almost out of time.
We are talking about seconds. Marshall needs to get down and over--
- 77-Victory. Go! Go, go, go! - Yes, sir.
77-Victory. You're out.
V, 77! V, 77!
Come on! Snap the ball!
Set!
Snap it! Snap it! Snap it!
Come on!
Hut!
Strong side! He's open!
He's open! Throw!
And that'll be it for the Herd.
That's right, the clock has hit all zeroes...
...and the Carolina faithful are already on their feet.
So there you have it.
- It's all over, folks. - Good game, Red.
Marshall loses a tough one, 17-14 to the East Carolina Pirates.
Red's got his work cut out for him.
Well, there goes my weekend. Red'll be in the film room till Monday.
He'd better.
Your husband hasn't figured out how to beat the 3-4 all year.
Co-captain Nate Ruffin and cornerback Tom Bogdan...
...are two of four starters who were left back in Huntington due to injuries.
Surprised to see you. Figured the chairman of the school board would be at the game.
This place won't run itself, you know that.
- Furnace ready for the tap? - Yeah.
The next week is a must-win.
They're all must-wins, Gene.
No word yet on whether any or all of the injured players will be available next--
Hey, Sandy, can I get some more foil in here?
The score, 17-14, East Carolina Pirates. Quarterback Teddy Shoebridge...
I got it!
Hey, where's the flag? Where's the flag? Flag on--
Fifty-five! Blocking in the--
--if that confusion on the Marshall sideline at the end of the game...
...won't make that target on Coach Tolley's back a little bit bigger.
I'm not gonna ask you guys again. Dinner's ready.
That means you too, Keith.
Please, just a few more seconds? Dad's not off yet.
He'll still be droning on about that game when he gets home tonight.
Get out from under there, Keith Morehouse.
I'm Gene Morehouse saying good night, and go Herd!
Fellas...
...you gave a good effort out there today.
But let me be clear about this:
A good effort is not enough.
Now, I'm proud of you.
But I will not accept losing with you.
Because there's only one thing they judge us on.
There's only one thing people remember.
And it ain't how we play the game!
Winning...
...is everything.
Plane leaves in an hour.
We'll be home by 8.
Plenty of time for y'all to do whatever the hell y'all do on a Saturday night.
Now, see, Bogdan, the reason we lost is because we weren't there.
Chocolate Thunder, White Lightning? We the best defensive players in the conference.
I'm Chocolate Thunder, right?
Why you so scared to introduce me to your girlfriend, then?
Listen, stop being so overconfident, Ruffin.
All right, Rock, Paper, Scissors for tickets. Let's go, right now.
It's okay. I'll get the popcorn.
East Carolina?
I mean, I can understand giving up 300 yards to Bowling Green.
But East Carolina?
Well, you can't do nothing about injuries, you know?
What happened? Is it broken?
It's dislocated.
What's wrong with you, Tom?
Come on, man. Gonna miss the previews.
Nineteen carries, 108 yards, Paul, your boy Chris played a hell of a game.
I'd have taken the win any day. Isn't that right, Don?
What, now, we didn't win?
You of all people, Don. If you're not gonna listen to the game...
...you gotta know the result so you can pretend you did.
- Well, I'm doing my best, Paul. - You hungry?
No, thank you. I'm all set.
Lloyd? Usual for me tonight, just more of it. I'm starving.
- You got it. - Go ahead, excuse me.
Well, the board has asked me to run a few ideas through you...
...about some potential improvements to the university's physical plant.
There's Chris!
What took you so long to call? Tell Joe he can't run it to the inside...
Slow down, Reggie. Just listen.
- I just need a favor, not your life story. - What you need?
I need you to go get us a case of Falls City Beer. Falls City.
- Go to the liquor store on Fourth. Yeah. - Fourth Street?
- Hey, are the guys with you? - Yeah, Reggie.
What is it, godd--?
That's right, Reggie. You carry the two and you divide by the sum...
Yeah, math class is over. Let's get on the plane. Come on.
- I'll see you in a couple of hours, right? - You know you are.
- I'm gonna stay at my dad's house tonight. - No.
He's gonna wanna go over his post-game breakdown.
Sorry. We've been doing it since I was a kid.
You gonna tell him about California, right?
Are you kidding? After a loss? We want him in a good mood.
Yeah.
Don't worry. I will.
Just not this weekend.
Griffen! Let's go!
I love you, Chris Griffen.
Come on, Annie!
- Race you back. - Let's go! Hurry up!
I'm coming!
What's this concert you're missing?
It's just my granddaughter's piano recital. Man, she sure is cute when she does that.
That's the crap I missed first time around with my boys.
Now they got kids of their own.
Anyway, got a long ride ahead of me. Have a great flight.
Hutch, tell you what, I'll do the recruiting trip.
You go home and see your granddaughter's recital. I'm gonna do it. I'm doing it.
- Thanks, Red. All right. - I'll see you on Monday morning.
Good man, Red.
You can grab me a beer back home.
Because if he keeps on pulling and no money comes out...
- Good evening. - Doris.
It's Red Dawson, calling from Greenville.
Could I trouble you to look and see if Carole's home next door?
Sure doesn't look like it, Red.
Could you do me a big favor and leave her a message for me?
Tell her that I gotta drive to Virginia tonight on a recruiting trip...
...and I'm not gonna be home till tomorrow.
- Got it. - All right, you have a good night, now.
- All right, bye. - Night, Red.
- You thinking about that girlfriend of yours? - Yeah, coach.
Nice job, son.
Hey, that was a big hit today. Big hit.
I would've caught that pass if I had my cross.
What'd you do with it?
You would've caught it if you had good hands. Ain't that right, Shoebridge?
Hey, Gene, this is gonna sound a little weird, but I need you to do me a favor.
Want you to scratch my back. That target on there is starting to itch.
You can't believe everything you hear on the radio.
Oh, yeah, I can.
All right, boys, let's sit up straight. Tighten those ties, fix those collars.
- We are? - Marshall!
Almost home.
This is Captain Dettro speaking.
Looks like we made good time in spite of the weather...
...so if everyone could return to their seats now, we'll be landing shortly.
Fill her up for you?
Yes, sir.
These peanuts look good.
I'll get a bunch of them too.
Sure. They're just 50 cents. Help yourself.
Regular's on the left, Cajun's on the right.
Incredibly, there has been another plane crash...
How spicy are these Cajun...?
--in moderate rain and fog in West Virginia.
What did he just say?
- Wait. Turn that up. - No, what happened--
What did that say?
Early reports do not indicate the condition of those aboard.
Excuse me, everybody...
Annette said you look funny when you're getting dressed.
Bye, Carole. Say hello to your husband for me.
- This is Lloyd. - See you, Lloyd!
What's happened?
Hey!
- Hey, you going to the airport? - Yeah, get in.
All right. I'm getting in. Hold on. All right, good.
- Hey, did they say anything? - Hey, come on!
No one's going in there. I can't let you up there.
- Get that truck up the hill! - Come on!
Hey, Randy!
Come on, keep going, come on.
Hey, watch the hose!
Got the president of the university here!
Oh, my God in heaven.
Oh, my God.
Come on.
Let's go.
- Hey, get behind the ropes! - Just tell us the name of the airline!
- If I knew anything, I'd tell you! - Just look at the front of the plane!
Son, there is no front of the plane anymore.
Bring another hose down here!
No, stay back. Stay up there! No!
- Let's go! - Nate! Nate Ruffin!
This our boys' plane? This our boys' plane?!
It's so terrible.
You didn't get my message?
Marshall University in West Virginia is in a state of shock today...
...following the terrible tragedy of last Saturday night's crash of a chartered airline.
Seventy-five people died in the wreckage.
The football team, the coaches...
...and some prominent residents traveling with the team...
These were beautiful young men...
...and it's just a tragedy that is beyond all comprehension.
No one of us will ever enter this stadium...
...without thoughts of them.
And so, our Lord, grant them eternal rest and peace...
...which enables them at this very moment...
...to look upon us here and smile and be with us.
This is our faith, this is our hope.
Amen.
Those were not welcome days.
We buried sons...
...brothers...
...mothers...
...fathers...
...fiancés.
Clocks ticked, but time did not pass.
The sun rose and the sun set.
But the shadows remained.
When once there was sound...
...now there was silence.
What once was whole...
...now is shattered.
Have you mentioned this to any of the other board members?
A few. Most of them would prefer not to think about it.
I can understand that sentiment.
It doesn't make sense to rush right back into it, you know?
Our coaching staff, gone. Our athletic department, gone.
So many of our boosters, gone.
We'd have to start all over again from scratch.
My God, we don't have the resources or the manpower right now.
I know all the reasons to suspend the program, Paul.
I'm just surprised to hear it coming from you.
This town just didn't lose a football team, Don.
We lost doctors, lawyers, city councilmen.
We lost fathers, sons, husbands.
How many kids lost a parent? How many kids lost both parents?
- Twenty-eight. - Wouldn't be a game anymore, Don.
Be a weekly reminder of what we've lost.
And I just don't see how that would do anyone in this town any good.
Somebody's going to have to tell them, Paul.
All your scholarships will still be honored.
Boys, it's very important that we take a collective breath, as a town...
...and figure out the proper course of action.
And you think the proper course of action is ending the program?
I didn't say we were going to end the program, I said we are going to suspend it.
Look, under the best of circumstances, it takes years to build a team...
...and, well, these are not the best of circumstances.
The NCAA will not let freshmen play...
...and they are the only players we have besides you.
When we do bring the program back, we want to make sure we're able to do it right.
If. That's what you mean, right?
If they bring the program back?
This ain't right, Dr. Dedmon. It ain't fair!
I understand your position, son.
I will personally pass on your concerns to the board before they make their decision.
Why can't I pass on my concerns myself?
Well, unfortunately, board of governors' meetings are and always have been...
...closed-door.
Come on!
Everybody up! Let's go. Come on.
Reggie, put down the stick. Come on.
I need y'all to listen.
Now, as of 15 minutes ago, we ain't got football no more.
If you gonna be Marshall, you gonna be Marshall right now.
Earn your stripes.
Now, I want the two of you to go with Randy...
...and get every cheerleader and every girl you can possibly find...
...and get them here at 5:00. The two of y'all, I need you to go with George...
...and find every cat in them frat houses and get them here at 5:00.
Go, now, go!
I need you on this one, Reggie.
I need you, man.
Find every person y'all met in freshman orientation...
...and I need them here at 5:00.
All right? Come on! Now! Come on!
- Five o'clock! - Nate.
- Yeah. - Come here a sec.
Hey, I heard that some of the guys are wavering.
- Wavering? - Yeah, they're just kind of...
No, no, no. What you mean? What you talking about? Who's wavering, Tom?
They don't feel it's the right thing to do right now, step out on that field.
It's the only thing to do, Tom.
This about our teammates, man.
Now, I need to know who you talking about.
No one, man.
Five o'clock. All right?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- You all right? - Forget it.
I was just having some thoughts. I'm ready, man. Let's go.
- We gonna get this team back, man. - Yeah.
Okay, I think we all know why we're here today.
What I'd like to do first...
Excuse me, young man. Excuse me, this is a private meeting.
I don't mean to interrupt, sir, but I think there's something y'all need to hear.
If you have anything to say, we'll set up a time for you to come by my office.
Oh, no, sir. I ain't got nothing to say.
But they do.
We are Marshall! We are Marshall!
We are Marshall!
Paul.
We are Marshall!
It's the right thing to do, sir.
Son, we do not have a team. We do not have a staff.
We don't even have a damn athletic director. May he rest in peace.
Frankly, son, I wouldn't know where to begin.
Well, you can start with a coach, sir.
We are Marshall! We are Marshall!
We are Marshall!
Hey, Mr. Boone.
Annie, honey, come here.
You don't have to come back to work right away.
Take some time for yourself. The job will be waiting when you get back.
One thing I don't need is more time for myself.
I just want things to get back to normal.
Hi, Mr. Griffen.
It's good to see you. Glad you're not giving up the booth.
I've been coming here every day for 30 years. No reason to stop now.
I think you should have this back.
Chris gave it to you.
Yeah, he did.
But you gave it to your wife first.
And then you passed it down to him...
...so I'm passing it back up to you.
It should stay in your family.
What family?
Annie...
...you keep it.
Wear it. And every morning you put it on, you think of him.
- Don. - Red.
What are you working on there?
Well, I been promising Carole a new shed for a while now, so...
No time like the present, I guess.
Red, I've got an offer for you.
I was afraid you might.
Mrs. Dawson, if it had been me...
...I don't even know how I'd make it out of bed in the morning.
Let him build a hundred sheds.
Hello, this is President Donald Dedmon.
We've decided to go ahead with our football program next season...
...and your name was the first on a list of potential candidates...
...for the head coaching position.
Well, no, I completely understand. I just...
You were the first one on my list, so I...
No. No, we decided to bring the program back.
Yes, it wasn't an easy decision.
No, that's totally understandable. I...
Well, thank you very much for...
...well, taking the time to at least talk with me about it.
As I've been told, you had a great career at Marshall and...
Yes, thank you.
No, I understand.
No, I...
Please, it's...
Hey, honey?
You ever been to Huntington before?
Mouth closed, Peter. Thank you.
West Virginia?
No.
Why?
Just curious.
- Hey, Peter. - Yeah?
Been quieter than I would've guessed this morning.
Ernie Salvatore called from the Herald.
Says he wants to talk if you have a moment.
Oh, and there was another call.
A Jack Lengyel called from the College of Wooster.
Says he may be interested in the open coaching job.
Wooster.
Where in the world is Wooster?
Does it really matter?
Okay, now, let's show Dr. Dedmon how it's done here.
Run hard, knees high. Play till the whistle blows. 17-Razor, on three.
On three, 17-Razor. Hut, hut, hut. Go, go, go!
There he goes. There he goes. Oh, first down!
- You see that? Oh, yeah. - Is he all right?
Hey, 32, are you all right? All right, go kill your brother.
Now, you see that? Point is, that tree wouldn't have been there...
...if you had a fullback blocking for him.
And that is why I'm a fan of the Power I Formation.
Well, I'm sorry, I'm afraid I haven't the faintest idea what a Power I Formation is.
Oh, you don't? Oh, thank you, dear.
- You're welcome. - Power I Formation...
...is just your basic offensive scheme. Put the fullback in front of the tailback.
Now, frankly, Jack, I don't care to know.
Actually, I'm confident that I'm better off not knowing what one is, I think.
Well, Dr. Dedmon, on that, we will have to agree to disagree.
Thank you.
Jack, there is one thing I need to know...
...and please excuse me if I seem blunt.
You are the first person I've interviewed who is not an alumnus.
And, well, since you called us...
...I have to ask what your angle is, Jack.
You've got a great setup here. You have no ties to Marshall.
Why do you want this job?
Who in their right mind would volunteer for something...?
Son, don't put that in your mouth. No, put it down. That's right.
- It's not an outrageous question, I think. - What's he gonna do?
He's gonna put it in his pants? I bet he puts it in his pants.
- Son, don't put that in your pant-- Sandy! - I got it. Peter.
I'm sorry, excuse me.
Well, I was just wondering if you had given this any thought at all...
...before you asked me to drive 200 miles out here to see you.
A little bit, yeah.
Little bit.
Well, all right, then.
I have a long ride home...
...and I should be getting on with it.
You thank your wife for the lovely dinner.
- Are you sure? Okay. - Yes, thank--
Thank you.
Say, Don?
You wanna know why I picked up the phone? Is that it?
Frankly, I do.
- It's not gonna be complicated. - Jack, I've had four months of complicated.
I just need honest.
When I heard about what had happened, your situation...
...the only thing I could think about was the four of them.
I thought about how much they mean to me...
...and about how bad it would hurt if...
Well, if I was to lose them.
Then I thought about a team...
...and a school...
...and a town...
...that's gotta be hurting real bad.
And I thought, hell...
...maybe I can help.
So I called you.
Yeah.
I guess that's the only real "why" I got. Right there.
Touchdown.
Ladies and gentlemen...
...please welcome the new head coach of our Thundering Herd...
...Jack Lengyel.
Hi there.
Thank you.
I am honored to be the new head football coach here at Marshall University.
Also would like to say a big thank you from myself, my wife and our three kids.
We drove in from Wooster last night. Arrived at our new home here.
Electricity worked, the water pressure was high.
There was a six-pack of beer in the fridge and a pound cake on the counter.
Four for four. We appreciate the hospitality, we really do.
Any questions?
- Coach? - Yes, sir.
Ernie Salvatore, Herald-Dispatch.
Now, realistically, coach, what are your expectations for the season?
Well, I can tell you this...
...if it's a miracle you're looking for...
...well, you should keep looking, because you're gonna end up disappointed...
...and I'm gonna end up out of a job.
Follow-up, coach. Follow-up. One quick follow-up, coach.
What would you say to the family members in the community...
...who feel that putting the team back on that field might be disrespectful?
I am a football coach.
That is what I do and that's why I'm here.
I guess that's it.
I have no idea. What kind of answer was that?
How many clichés...?
Are there any other questions?
This guy won't make it.
So this is my varsity team, huh?
There was four of us...
...but one of us ain't here, so I guess it's just three.
Okay.
I'm Coach Jack Lengyel, guys.
Normally, I'm bad with names, so the good news is...
...I may actually be able to keep you fellas straight.
Nate, is it?
Okay, now, hold on while I commit this to memory. Nate.
As in Nate the Great.
Date, late, escape. Wait. Nate.
McDrake.
I got it. Locked. Kid I went to grade school with.
See, that's a little word-association trick I learned. Helps jog the recall.
I read about it in Redbook. And I tell you what, it really works, too.
Well, we're in this together now, boys.
I'm not going anywhere, and that's a promise.
Already got one name down.
Soon as the wife gets things settled at the house...
...y'all are coming over for supper, and I'll get the other two.
We are Marshall.
It's a new day, men.
I like those boys, Don. I do. I do.
The thing is, I'm gonna need 55 more just like them.
Oh, that I can't help you with, I'm afraid.
Well, actually, you can, Don.
You see, I need you to petition the NCAA for me.
Ask them to make an exception. Allow us to play freshmen.
Now, it's the only chance we have to get any edge on recruiting...
...much less put a full football team on the field.
I mean, we are way behind here.
Well, you know the NCAA better than I do, Jack.
They're rigid as a board. They don't make exceptions.
Usually true.
Yeah.
Hey, you know, my son, he crapped his pants yesterday. Now, he's 4.
All right, now, my wife is out shopping, so I had to clean him up.
She got home. I told her what happened. She says, "I can't believe it."
I said, "I can't believe it either. The kid's 4 years old...
...he shouldn't be doing that shit." Pun intended.
You know what she says to me? She says, "Jack, no, not that.
I can't believe you finally changed a diaper."
What are you talking about?
There's a first time for everything.
Hey, I know you.
In the middle. Yes, I do.
Ask me your name. Go ahead, I won't even look. Ask me your name.
- What's my name? - Nate Ruffin.
Team co-captain. Eleven interceptions in only seven games last year.
Redbook.
Stuff really works.
Hey, we can do this, doc.
What are those, 1 -by-5s?
One-by-sixes.
They don't look that wide from down here.
- Saw you guys play once. - Did we win?
It was the Ashland game.
Well, that'd be a no, then.
Well, you guys looked pretty good till the fourth quarter.
Probably should've gone to the nickel.
You know, you're probably right.
You know, I appreciate you coming out here to see me...
...but they already came out here to ask me back and I already told them that I'm not...
- ...coming back, so... - Yeah, I heard. I heard about that.
Just thought I could make you a better offer.
You know, they asked you to be the head coach.
I want you to be the assistant coach.
I think that's a demotion, Jack.
Well, maybe.
Maybe not.
I mean, it's the same duties, practically, just less pay.
Same hours. Less responsibility.
Same team, less pressure.
I tell you, Red, you know, the cupboard is pretty bare.
And I could use some recruiting help from someone who knows the area.
You know, Carole and I moved here two years ago. It was...
...spring of '69.
They had hired me as a receivers coach...
...but when I got here, they told me I was in charge of recruiting too, so...
That first year I went out and I got us 20 kids.
Went to 20 homes. Sat in 20 living rooms.
And I promised 20 mothers that I'd look after their sons.
It'd have been the class of '73.
There's not one of them left.
So let me ask you, Jack:
How am I supposed to look a mother in the eye and promise her anything ever again?
I don't know, Red.
I just don't think I could take that field again, Jack.
Is that the Ohio Valley Coal line?
The same one that went off the tracks near Akron last winter?
Yep. That's the one.
Back on track.
Well, listen, if you're able to figure it out...
...door's always open. It was a pleasure meeting you, Red.
Nice meeting you.
I'll keep that defensive-nickel package idea in mind...
...for my fourth quarters in the future. Maybe get a few more W's.
One-by-six, huh?
Yup.
Same coverage, less boards.
Hey, Tom.
Guess we got us a coach, huh?
Hey, look.
When they first roomed us together freshman year, I wasn't too sure about you.
You know? But we stuck it out, and now you're my best friend.
I mean, remember freshman two-a-days?
I'm puking my guts out and I wanna quit football and you won't let me?
Now, you never gave up on us out there on the field...
...and I'm not gonna give up on you now.
Tom, man.
It's our team. Now, they left this to us. It's up to us! It's on our shoulders, man.
I need you with me, Tom.
I should've been with them, Nate.
- Look, Tom, I understand, and I feel-- - No, you don't! You don't, Nate! You don't.
What you talking about?
I overslept.
That's why I wasn't on the plane, Nate. I overslept.
I wasn't hurt or sick. And I should've been there.
I should have been with them!
I'm sorry. I just can't play football right now. Okay? It's not in me.
I can't do it, you understand that, right? Look at me.
I'm sorry.
Tom.
Thought you might like some dessert.
Thank you, Annie.
I'm gonna get you some silverware.
Yup.
Game day.
Yup.
So I'll give you one year.
Well, if that's all the time we've got, we'd better get started.
Coach Mickey Jackson.
Coach McNally.
Coach Riley.
First line: NCAA, address-- I assume you have it, Luann.
It's somewhere in Kansas City.
Salutation: To whom it may concern.
As I am sure you are aware, we...
I'm gonna take a road trip southeast of here...
...and go get this Shaw kid down in Martinsville.
I'm gonna take a shot at Gibbs.
Go get us a quarterback, coach.
- Jake. Red Dawson. - Yes, sir?
I know coaches from quite a few schools have already come to talk...
...about your son playing football for them. I hope that he hasn't made his mind up.
Ain't no way he's made up his mind yet.
Wait, there he is, right there.
Oh, what's the good word, coach?
No? Shit.
Truman Andrews. Here we come.
Shit.
Luann?
Sir?
Has the NCAA returned any of my calls yet?
No.
Six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11 at West Virginia.
Kids that we wanted who are now in West Virginia. Who's that?
Bob Lambert. West Virginia.
Shit.
Twelve. West Virginia.
Red, we gotta broaden our recruiting base or something.
We gotta get creative about...
...who we're going after, where we're going after them...
...and how we're going after them. Isn't that right, doc?
Good morning, Red.
Well, how are we doing?
West Virginia will be competitive next year.
Yeah, very. How about you?
Well, Jack, I haven't heard anything positive back yet.
And I think I've done everything I can.
Maybe we need more time. I don't know.
Time's the only thing we don't have, Don.
I mean, hell, it's already April. Time is not our friend.
Let me ask you a question. Now, are you married?
Yes, I am. 25 years in May.
Twenty-five years. I am willing to bet...
...that you didn't propose over the phone.
No, I didn't.
Okay. And I know damn well that she didn't say yes in a letter.
- Jack? - Doc?
- No, Jack. I know... - Yes. Doc?
You can do it.
You're an outlaw. Pioneer.
Gunslinger. This is a whole new game, doc.
You...
You.
There's a first time for everything, Don.
If we're gonna survive, this has to be one of those times.
And you're the only man that can do it.
Excuse me, sir? Excuse me, I'm sorry to bother you like this...
...but my name is Don Dedmon, I'm president of Marshall University.
May I speak with you for a moment, please?
What are you doing in Kansas City, Don?
My town, my school, we're hurting.
We want to play football, and we cannot do it without your help.
Please.
Guess who's going to change our diaper.
Yeah!
Get him!
Need a little help here, Red. He's heavier than you think.
He's all wet. He's all wet.
Approved.
"You will be allowed to play freshmen at Marshall University."
- What's that right there? What's that? - Here, put me down.
That is signed by the president right there. There he is. Stamped.
Doc, we're gonna get us a football team.
And that is why we are offering your son something...
...that no other school in the country can.
Immediate and substantial playing time as a freshman.
Time! I like the kid who made the lay-up.
This is the one I wanna talk to, right here. What's your name, son?
Ball, ball, ball!
- That was a hell of a hit. - Thank you.
- Coach Dawson, from the football club. - Bobby Jordan.
- Ever play any football? None at all? - No, sir.
- No Pop Warner, no high school? - No. Just baseball.
Groovy. Come on, man.
Hey, let me rap to you.
Hey, how you doing?
Hey. What's up, man?
Strong finish. That's a good-looking board.
Good-looking board. I'm tired of flying.
Marshall Thundering Herd all-freshmen team, led by quarterback John Cady...
...handing the ball off to the ever-talented Lucas Booth!
He runs to the inside, and who's on the outsider wing?
Terry Gardner catches it, pitches to Tennis Rice...
...who's going downfield to tight end Sam Boteck.
I've never been.
- Crazy. In four years? - Yeah.
- The bonfire. - I've never been.
- Everyone's been to the bonfire. - I haven't.
- Do you eat marshmallows? - I love marshmallows.
- You've gotta come to the bonfire. - Annie, order's up.
- Ask her to come. - I will, I will.
- Here you go. - Thanks.
- Can we have some silverware? - Sure.
- Some guys have all the luck. - Sorry?
Your fiancé. He's a lucky guy.
- Can you drive? Yeah. - Yeah. We'll leave about 8?
Keith? It's your turn to set the table!
He's not here, Mom.
- Where is he? - I don't know.
Okay, guys. First things first.
Feel a connection to the guy next to you.
Hand on a knee, hook an arm, whatever it is.
Come on, Herd.
Look around, because these are your teammates, young men.
They're made up of three returning varsity members.
Randy Linden, George Olson, Nate Ruffin.
Fifteen freshmen turning sophomores.
And the rest of you, true freshmen...
...very first time in college football and walk-ons.
Are you gonna play too, Tom?
Remember, this is a game called football, let's get to work. Let's go.
We are going to be running the Power I, gentlemen...
...which obviously starts with a quarterback.
- Red, what are my choices? - Dave Walsh.
Solid athlete. Solid arm. Solid kid.
Okay.
Who else?
- Jack, that's it. - That's it, 10?
That's it, coach.
All right, guys. Competition breeds improvement.
Now, we need options here. Let's look around, keep our eyes open.
We need legs, hands and a decent arm. Right there. Who's 86?
That's Reggie Oliver. Receiver from Alabama.
Bear Bryant called me personally, actually, to recommend him.
- You wanna try him out at QB? - Unless you think it's a bad idea.
- Let's push them to the limit, men, huh? - Right, coach.
Come on, hit it, now!
Check!
Not good, coach.
James, James. Get over here.
That's supposed to be a post route.
- Post? - Post.
You do know the difference between a post route and a flag route?
No, coach.
All right, all right. You see the big goalpost there?
That's why they call it a post route. Post. You head right to that post.
Cut 10 yards, to the post.
See the big pylon down at the corner of the end zone?
That's what we call a flag, all right?
So when you're running the flag route...
...10 yards to the corner of the end zone, to the flag.
- All right? All right. - I got it.
Do it again.
Come on! Let's go!
Nice speed, Booth! Nice speed!
Nice speed. Shalhoop. Hey.
- What are you doing? - Oh, I kick the ball, coach.
But after you kick it, son, you're still a football player.
Good job, George. Good job, George. Come here, come here.
- What's your name, 51? - My name's Creole.
Creole. This Redbook's taking me only so far.
Urbanek, I need names. Last names on everyone's helmet. All right? This afternoon.
Now, Creole, the man outweighs you by 75 pounds. Okay?
When you're hitting him up high...
...he'll beat you and you'll be on your ass every time, all right?
You gotta come in here, you gotta get him low.
Get him in the legs, okay? That's how you'll keep him from coming through.
- Stay low on him. Low, man. - What should I do if he goes low?
Good question. George says, what does he do if he goes low?
Five-one comes low. Head slap and you're around him.
Like that. You see that? Head-slap the shit out of him.
- Give me second team, McNally. - We don't have a second team, Jack.
Shit. Okay, yeah, we do have a second team. Jackson! Urbanek!
Lengyel, McNally, Dawson...
...line up here. Offensive line, watch this.
- Coach, you don't have any pads on. - Now, you just play ball, Olson.
Quarterback's still standing.
Big on big. We can run an offense.
We can save a young man's life. Come on, now. Power I. Big on big.
We got a huge problem on the O-line, coach.
I don't think it's because the defensive line is so spectacular.
No. No.
Men. Power I. You know I'm a fan of it, that's why I brought it here.
I have learned in the last two weeks that it is not working.
So as of right now, the Power I goes in the trash...
...along with every flea-flicker, double reverse...
...and every other trick play that you may have in your playbook.
Get rid of it. Men, it is time to simplify. Ball.
So put our heads together here.
What is the simplest offense...
...that you have ever run and actually won a football game?
Any idea's a good idea. No right or wrong in here today, men, let's talk it out.
Well, there's always the Veer.
The Veer. That's interesting. Talk that out, Red.
Well, the Veer's an option offense. Spreads things out.
Takes the focus off any one man.
It's designed for teams that don't have a strong offensive line.
Now, that is us in a nutshell. Well, who runs it that we can talk to?
Bill Yeoman came up with it at Houston...
...but other than West Virginia, no one really runs it outside of Texas.
- West Virginia runs the Veer? - Yeah.
Jack, that's crazy. We're rivals.
You think they'll invite us to lunch and hand over their playbook?
They don't have to take us out to lunch.
We'll pick some up on the way.
Morgantown. The Veer. I like it.
Eight-time Southern Conference Champions, Red.
Jack? Jack, I gotta tell you, I really don't think this is your best idea.
- Red! Good to see you again. - Oh, coach.
- How are you? - How are you?
- And this must be? - Coach Jack Lengyel.
Jack. Bobby Bowden. Pleasure to meet you.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
Bobby, thank you for taking the time with us today.
- My pleasure, not a problem. - All right.
Yes, sir.
So I can't wait to hear. What can I do for you boys?
Well, the thing is...
...coach...
...we're thinking about adopting the Veer this year.
Now, I understand that to be your bread and butter, as it were.
We're just hoping that we could come down here and maybe...
...you could give us a few pointers.
- Pointers? - Tips.
Advice. Anything that you'd be willing to show us.
Well, we'd really appreciate it. You seem to be the man who runs it so well.
He's good.
- You're the best at the Veer. - That's what they say!
I'm coming straight to the man.
Reg, I got your burger.
- Chili on the fries? - They were out.
Come on, Stretch. Gonna be a rough year if that's the best you can do.
What?