"I have never met one person who can say one positive thing about him, which is weird. 1. (Alexandrias population in 2001 was 60% white.) Alexandria resident Marc Solomon said, "You can 'Remember the Titans' without honoring TC Williams. The head football coach for a large high school was an important public figure whose job could be forfeited if the season didnt go well. The concentration of older, larger, and more experienced players gave T.C. Before their first game, Boone is told by a member of the school board that if he loses even a single game, he will be dismissed. We were allowed to ask what we liked better Indians/Titans/or a possible name change to something else. Between 1969 and 1984 Menomonee Falls had two high schools. The team pulled together despite the racial tensions. 4. Coach Boone coached the Titans for five more seasons before retirement, while Coach Yoast assisted Boone for four more years, retiring from coaching in 1990; the two coaches became good friends. By being on the team he was promising that he would work hard for the benefit of the team, which included the black players for whom he was supposed to block. The fights at the beginning of camp are underplayed in the movie. In addition, the white players from one of the schools (Hammond High) had never played with blacks. Williams High School, located in Alexandria, Va., voted unanimously on Monday during a school board meeting to remove Williams as the school namesake, the Los Angeles Times reports. 7. These similarities were the bedrock fundamentals of their coaching styles and allowed them to work together despite other, less significant but perhaps more obvious differences. Williams into the mid-1980s, by the late 1980s, white players reported that the team belonged to the black players. Williams. Should Coach Boone have taken the job in the first place or should he have insisted that Yoast get the job? Consolidation also meant that players were competing for starting positions with nearly three times as many other students as before. 2. They don't have to worry about race. Lastik had lived in an integrated section of the city and got on well with black kids. (Do your share to make your school and community better; Cooperate; Stay informed; vote; Be a good neighbor; Obey laws and rules; Respect authority; Protect the environment). Coach Boone did tutor students to help them get into college. Remember the Titans holds together very well as a work of fiction. Could you tell the difference between this plant-based egg and a Meet the sailing robots trying to solve climate change, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Even Gerry Bertier had long hair. There are some near misses. What was most difficult for the players to accept in the changes the team had to face? WebIt's important to know for REMEMBER THE TITANS that it wasn't until 1971, 17 years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, that black students came to T.C. Options abound, and some teams go with the commonplace while others go with the truly unique. Football at T.C. It was the honorable and ethical thing to do. That night, while celebrating the victory, Gerry is severely injured in a car accident and is paralyzed from the waist down. There is no right answer. An organization by that name does exist today. SUBJECTS U.S./1945 1991, Diversity/African-American, & Virginia; Sports/Football; SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING Breaking Out; Friendship; Teamwork; Leadership; Male Role Model; MORAL-ETHICAL EMPHASIS Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Citizenship. This scene was added to emphasize the selflessness of the players. Parenting Points "[30] Jeff Vice of the Deseret News admitted that although the film contained dialogue that was "corny, clichd, and downright cheesy at times," as well as how it relayed its message in one of the "most predictable, heavy-handed manners we've seen in a movie in years", the film "serves as a reminder of how much goodness there is inside people, just waiting for the right person to bring it out." If MFHS declines to revive the Titans mascot, perhaps the community could support that name, and push for a village wide vote. Why did Coach Yoast stay on as an assistant to Coach Boone? It wasnt that he wanted the players to hate him, but that he saw the need for them to go through a common searing experience. Nearly ten years earlier in the summer of 1971, head coach Bill Yoast of the newly integrated T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, is leading his white players in summer workouts. At camp, Coach Boone required whites and blacks to room together. How did this happen? In 1971 Alexandrias star football player was Gary Bertier, the citys only All-American. Check out TWMs Guide: One of the Best! See Learning Guide to Gentlemans Agreement. Williams crew team, which is predominantly white, had lavish facilities funded by private contributions. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Blog at WordPress.com. The racial composition of the city changed as middle class white families left and community support for football declined. Williams player. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The screenplay, written by Gregory Allen Howard, is based on the true story of coach Herman Boone, portrayed by Denzel Washington, and his attempt to integrate the T. C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School) football team in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971. [18], Remember the Titans opened strongly at the U.S. box office, grossing $26,654,715 in its first weekend and staying within the top five for six weeks. Look at the coaches and the players Bertier and Campbell. He wanted to start a petition to change the name as to not highlight and praise someone with such a controversial past. Their opponents didnt appreciate the fact that the Titans had an advantage in having only seniors and juniors at the school. In 2004, when residents tried to change the name, one of the reasons it was not changed was out of fear that famed 1971 Titans football team would be forgotten. This is a historic moment for everybody, Hutchings, a Black man, told reporters. I feel like thats a suitable solution. The film focuses on Louie Lastik and Ronnie Bass, but there were probably others. The first mascot symbol used was exact (to a plagiarizing effect) to the Redskins logo with burgandy, grey and yellow in the mix. Williams a substantial advantage over most other football teams in its division. Discussion Questions 12. abolition of racial segregation in public schools, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Super Bowl 2019: The 25 best football movies of all time, ranked", "Ranking the 20 best football movies of all time", "Remember the Titans True Story - Real Gerry Bertier, Bill Yoast, Herman Boone", "This legendary football coach won't forget the Titans", "Remember The Titans Is A Lie, And This Man Still Wants You To Know It", "Barack Obama Wins Big: 'Change Has Come to America', "Canadian album certifications Various Artists Remember the Titans", "American album certifications Soundtrack Remember the Titans", Recording Industry Association of America, "Remember the Titans (2000) - DVD Widescreen", "Remember the Titans All Available Formats & Editions", "19 of the Most Loved or Hated Movies: Films That Got A+ or F CinemaScores (Photos)", "Remember The Titans movie review (2000)", Gaining Ground / Sport bridges racial divide with a minimum of cliches in Remember the Titans, "AFI's 100 Years 100 Cheers Nominees", Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Motion Picture, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Remember_the_Titans&oldid=1148804396, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from July 2016, All articles needing additional references, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Track listings that use the collapsed parameter, Certification Table Entry usages for Canada, Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments figures, Certification Table Entry usages for United States, Pages using certification Table Entry with shipments footnote, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes template using name parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards 2000, Robert L. Sephton, Christopher T. Welch, Julie Feiner, Cindy Marty, Gaston Biraben, Suhail Kafity, Best Performance by a Youth in a Leading or Supporting Role, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Drama, Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress. What characteristics of each do think is their best trait as a male role model? "[29] Some detractors like Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Denzel Washington should have held out for a better script before he signed on to star in Remember the Titans, but you can see why he wanted to do the movie: He gets to play Martin Luther King Jr. and Vince Lombardi rolled into one nostalgically omnipotent tough-love saint. "[25] Wilonsky however was quick to admit "The film's intentions are noble, but its delivery is ham-fisted and pretentious; you can't deny the message, but you can loathe the messenger without feeling too guilty about it."[25]. Bay Titans 26 Cardinals 22 # Denotes that mascot name is in America's Top 15 MASCOT NAMES USED BY ONLY 1 SCHOOL. Yoast sought to be more obviously nurturing. 5. 11. In 1971, T.C. Yoast accepts Boone's offer to work under him, but Boone warns Yoast that it is his team and he will not tolerate Yoast undermining him. Solomon started a petition to rename the high school for a simple reason. He didnt own one. Could the team have succeeded if the players had not followed the Responsibility Pillar of Character? Williams High School in Virginia -- famously featured in the movie, "Remember The Titans" -- is getting a complete makeover in an attempt to distance They dominated league play from the first game and had only one close game during the regular season. He pushed everyone very hard. Both men cared deeply for their students; both possessed moral courage; and both wanted to win. But then again, none of them knew this when Boone took the job. At the start of the calendar year, a petition was started to change the name. In fact, their children had grown and matured in a short time under the tutelage of a master teacher, Coach Boone. "[22] At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to critics' reviews, the film received a score of 48 based on 32 reviews. He, too, was a gifted athlete, becoming an All-American the next year. Remember the Titans is an American biographical sports film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. This did not occur; neither did his speech at Gettysburg. Bertier was in his senior year and appeared destined to play professional football. Campbell and Bertiers mother remained friends after Bertier died. Suggest specific concerns about aspects of sports that are not yet fully open to all races. Bertier was even more fierce, strong-willed, and aggressive than is shown in the film. The game uses Mad Men's Ken Cosgrove and it's made by @. Coaches Boone and Yoast agree that a coach is first and foremost a teacher. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Consider the force of law, the concern for the common good, a sense of justice and even self-interest as possible factors. Best Books for Young Adults by Betty Carter, Second Edition, Young Adult Library Services Association; 2000; Childrens Catalogue, Eighteenth Addition, edited by Anne Price and Juliette Yaakov, the H.W. "Alexandria school plan to be offered". [17], A restored widescreen hi-definition Blu-ray version was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on September 4, 2007. Social-Emotional Learning Im very, very happy to be part of this history of Alexandria City Public Schools history.. They were not only racial, but between students of the same race who were from different schools. Boones coaching style was in-your-face and he demanded a full effort from all of his players. 3. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay informed and engaged. Possible Problems ), (Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule; Be tolerant of differences; Use good manners, not bad language; Be considerate of the feelings of others; Dont threaten, hit or hurt anyone; Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements). Forced by Boone to room together at training camp, these boys, initially hostile, became best friends. His motto was, Miss a block, and you run a mile. He believed that life was tough and that to help his players mature he needed to be firm, even harsh at times. His previous job had been in North Carolina where he had a reputation as a race man, i.e., a man who stood up to racially prejudiced whites. The difference between a passage and a right of passage is that people all have transitions in their lives. As shown in this film, once people start working together for a common goal, they realize that they have much in common and some become friends. If a team doesnt coalesce, if its plagued by racial divisions or loyalties holding over from schools, it wont win games no matter how much bigger or more experienced its players. T.C. The film was nominated and won several awards in 20002001. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Real life is never this simple, but then that's what the movies are for". Yoast lost his relationships with many of them when he acted honorably toward the team and Coach Boone. Answers will vary. 10. Just before the state semi-finals, Yoast is told by the chairman of the school board that they have arranged for the Titans to lose so that Boone will be dismissed and Yoast reinstated as head coach. Coach Boone applied his racially neutral attitude across the board and if a white boy was a better player than a black student, he got the position. (LogOut/ The stars of the team were heroes. Mike Nichols wrote a column about the Indian mascot recently, and Ive argued here that other people could take offense to ethnocentric mascots. In addition, racial prejudice leads one to other wrongful actions, as it did Bertiers former friend. These help people to celebrate and adjust to the rights and duties of their new situation in life. Worksheet for Cinematic and Theatrical Elements and Their Effects. I agree with changing out the Falls Indians with something a little less ethnocentric and going back to Titans it wouldnt be such a bad thing. How did the individuals portrayed in this film make racial integration work? Williams record for the 1990 2000 period was 30 wins, 70 losses. Williams High School is the Virginia school the movie Remember The Titans is based on. Disloyalty to the team and dishonesty to his teammates. He made all the key decisions correctly, such as changing the seating on the bus, making black and white players room together, making the boys learn about each other, and bringing Yoast onto the team and trusting him. Give your students new perspectives on race relations, on the history of the American Revolution, and on the contribution of the Founding Fathers to the cause of representative democracy. Benefits of the Movie This happened all over the South, perhaps haltingly at times, with backsliding often, but ultimately the actions of people like Boone, Yoast, Bertier and Campbell improved the lives of many people in that region. What is the Pillar of Character that is dishonored by racial prejudice? TWM offers the following movie worksheets to keep students minds on the film and to focus their attention on the lessons to be learned from the movie. Williams High School. "[27] Roger Ebert, in the Chicago Sun-Times, viewed the film as "a parable about racial harmony, yoked to the formula of a sports movie," adding, "Victories over racism and victories over opposing teams alternate so quickly that sometimes we're not sure if we're cheering for tolerance or touchdowns. [21] Rotten Tomatoes reported that 72% of 137 sampled critics gave the film a positive review, with an average score of 6.3/10. By deciding not to do that in a key play, he was being dishonest. Williams High School facing the unenviable job of replacing the successful and beloved Coach Bill Yoast and of coaching the Titans during Bertier: Mom, just get to know him. Mother: I dont want to know him. We do not know if this exchange really occurred, but it exemplifies one of the themes of the movie. Denzel Washington plays the dictatorial Coach Herman Boone who arrives at T.C. While the team is at camp, it shows Coach Boone waking them up at three in the morning to go for a run. 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Tutor students to help them get into college seniors and juniors at the of... Controversial past the film focuses on Louie lastik and Ronnie Bass, but there were probably.! Is a historic moment for everybody, Hutchings, a petition to change the name as to not and!, remember the titans high school mascot an All-American the next year your child that the Titans have been a success dictatorial!