From the top of your head, you can probably name 10 sports movies you love and know will stand the test of time. Of those 10, there’s a great chance that most of them are about American football. Whether they’re slapstick, funny, gritty, gutty, over the top dramatic, or somewhere in between, football in movies and TV shows have become synonymous with life’s every day adversities. They offer an outlet for us to cry, wince, laugh out loud, and become inspired.
And, on more than one occasion, you probably identified with a specific character and thought to yourself, “Man, I would love to have that guy on my team.” -mostly because you wouldn’t mind an attempt at tackling them, trade football stories or advice on life.
As for the coaches: those who exude confidence, playbook smarts, and possess an arsenal of inspirational quotes and speeches, are clear leaders. In celebration of the upcoming season, here are the ten coaches I’d love to be coached by and players I’d want as a friend and teammate on game day.
The Coaches
Tony D’Amato (Any Given Sunday):
Played by the incomparable Al Pacino, Tony D’Amato is at his wit’s end, trying to drive his Miami Sharks to the playoffs for one last shot at glory. With emerging superstar QB Willie Beamen at the helm, Tony D’Amato becomes one cranky SOB. After his inspirational half-time speech, how could his guys let him down? Life is a game of inches, people. Tony D’Amato looks like he can toss back a few, all while telling great stories.
Nate Scarborough (The Longest Yard):
In the 1974 film, Burt Reynolds played the inmate QB who wants to get even with the guards by playing them in a game of football. In the 2005 remake he plays the player/coach who assists Adam Sandler with the gang of miscreants. How can you knock a guy who can draw up the winning play and execute it at the ripe old age of 80? Nothing more inspirational than being able to walk the walk.
Coach Klein (The Water Boy):
In this 1998 Adam Sandler comedy, Henry Winkler (The Fonz!) plays a down-on-his-luck college football coach trying to convert the LSU Mud Dogs into a respectable team. Making that a bit tougher is his lack of confidence, crappy players, and an undisciplined (yet highly skilled) linebacker by the name of Bobby Boucher. What made Coach Klein great was his ability to succeed using highly complex trick plays. Having an abnormally large Medulla Oblongata doesn’t hurt, either.
Sam Winters (The Program):
Being the coach of a highly successful, yet dysfunctional, college football program is bound to bring out the crazy. What coach Winters was able to accomplish with so many player scandals is astonishing. What I admire most in Coach Winters was the acknowledgement of his team’s (and his own) short comings and the fact that he was never okay with it, though you did see him wrestle with that fine line. In the end, Coach Winters did what was right, to the astonishment of his coaches and players.
Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights):
I’m talking about the critically acclaimed TV series on NBC. Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) is the enigmatic high school football coach of the highly successful Dillon, Texas Panthers. He definitely practices what he preaches on and off the field -as seen through his family and community interactions. Coach Taylor has a knack for knowing what to say and when to say it. On top of all that he has one of the most inspirational speeches and quote in all of sports TV history, “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose.”
The Players
Thad Castle (Blue Mountain State):
This highly gifted (and highly unapologetic) linebacker is the steam engine that runs the crazy college football train known as the BMS Goats. Thad is also the butt of many jokes from his teammates, which he seems to take in stride -just before getting even. The gags, pranks, booze, and parties is what sums up college life: Thad Castle plays perfect host. Thad’s dependability through it all is something we all should admire and aspire to become.
Shane Falco (The Replacements):
With the NFL lockout in limbo, we might have to resort to using replacement players (scabs) to begin the season while the rest of this mess gets sorted out. Since the Quarterback is the most important position in football, why not get one with semi-pro/college experience? Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves) is not much of a partier and you can sign him cheap, so his focus and availability for the task at hand is optimal. Plus, we all want to know how he choked in that 1996 Sugar Bowl while at Ohio State.
Alvin Mack (The Program):
As the leader on defense for Coach Winter’s ESU Timberwolves, Alvin Mack is as tough as they come. He can hit like Ray Lewis, trash talk like Deion Sanders, and be as mean as Joe Green. Alvin Mack never used football as an excuse to rebel off the field, even with the raw deal he got at the end. Seriously though, have you seen this guy give his opponents a verbal tongue lashing? (very NSFW language).
Tim Riggins (Friday Night Lights):
Not sure he was ever a leader on any of the teams he was on but you can bet he was the best player. As a hybrid fullback/tight end/running back, Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) got the job done. His unwavering love for his coach and teammates is what motivated him to always be at his best. Playing through various injuries brought new meaning to toughing it out. His ability to drink/fight with the best of them and fix cars just adds more reasons to want him around.
Rod Tidwell (Jerry Maguire):
Undersized and underpaid, WR Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.) begged you to show him the money. Feeling like his talent was expendable, his team found every excuse in the book to delay a contract extension. His propensity to take the big hits over the middle, personality, charisma, and faith was eventually rewarded. It’s definitely refreshing to know that if you live and play justly the system takes care of you in return.
Of course there are players/coaches that missed the list (snubbed?), enlighten us with a fictional player/coach you wish were real.
