REMEMBER THE TITANS
Top
class American Football may be looked on as a multi million sports
industry, where fame and fortune is guaranteed for
the talented few.
But history shows that there are some major examples where
money was not a motivating factor as demonstrated in a new gridiron
movie from the Disney stables.
Remember
the Titans brings a side of American Football to the silver screen
that has not been seen for a long time.
This film bring to life the true story of a Virginia High
School in 1971 where football traditions were put to the test
as the local school board was forced to integrate an all white
school with and all black school.
In
what was a potentially volatile situation, the touch paper appeared
to be smouldering when they brought up Herman Boone from South
Carolina as Head Coach of the TC William High Titans overlooking
the more vastly experienced coach with a steadfast local following,
Bill Yoast.
But
despite coming from different backgrounds, both men soon discover
that they have more than just football in common.
Both coaches were men of honour with a strong work ethic,
who not only managed to mould a group of angry young men into
a winning team but guide them into responsible caring individuals.
As
a result this new team spirit brought a town together that were
separated by barriers of prejudice and intolerance and sowed the
seeds of what was to become a life long friendship.
Heading
the cast is Academy Award winner Denzel Washington as Herman Boone
who first became captivated with the story during the script’s
early development stages and when the time came, had no problems
slipping into the role.
He
said: “This role
was fun. I liked
spending time with Herman and watching how he operates.
I knew from the time I hit the field, I had to take charge.
I made a point not to get too close to the players, to
keep it a coach/student relationship even though some of the guys
were a little older than high school age.”
“Even
if I did not know what I was doing, I wanted to appear as if I
was in charge and they seemed to respond to that.
I enjoyed getting the troops together and getting them
energised.”
Supporting
Washington the sidelines is Will Patton as Coach Yoast, who sees
his world fall apart when he loses out on the top coaching job
to an outsider but decides to take his demotion for the sake of
his students as well as his daughter Sheryl, who was devastated
at the prospect of her father not holding the title of head coach.
“The
hardest thing I had to do was to explain to my eight year old
daughter why I wasn’t head coach,” said the real Bill Yoast.
“When the school board told me that I was not getting the
job, I was hurt and disappointed but I never felt bad toward Herman;
he was always nice to me.
He turned the defence over to me.”
As
in the film, all of the actors playing the team members learned
the art of football when they trained at a special training camp.
And according to actor Woody Harris, who plays Julius Campbell
the experience had a similar effect- whilst it was tough, it bought
the players together.”
“It
broke down barriers. I
was military conditioning.
Some cats had never touched a football and so had to learn
to run, hit and catch, but not everyone is athletic,” he said.
“ Some of us who were, had not played with pads and helmets.
Suddenly you realise you can’t breathe with all that stuff
on and then it rains. You
think- I have to play now?
It is not like tennis.”
Pics C/O Buena Vista
UK
Remember the Titans is available on Video
