Rob Brown ( From Finding Forester ) plays Ernie Davis the two time all American from Syracuse University and helps the team to its first National Title in 1960.  I have always believed that the greatest story is one that conveys hope and realized dreams through hard work and perseverance.  We should never tire of watching these stories and the timing is perfect against the backdrop of possibly the first black man to ever win the presidency. 

We need to be reminded that this nation has not always treated people with equality. No matter how ideal the motive, we somehow need to be reminded that all people are created equal in the eyes of the nation and all have an inalienable right to succeed to what ever level of success they an attention, unencumbered by racial prejudice.  Today , to be white is an invitation to be a minority in many communities, and it is becoming of all people to remember the lessons of racial bigotry and prejudice of the past lest we suffer the same trauma going forward.  Today In Iran there is a supposed leader that denies the Holocaust ever happened.  The effects are the same to dehumanize a group of people their identity with the rest of society to make it possible to subjugate them or worse exterminate them.  A movie like this a few times a year is a good reminder that this is possible, it still takes place in parts of the world and needs to be addressed and eradicated like a cancer where ever it rears it's head!

It is sad that Ernie's career was cut short by leukemia and possibly in today's world he might have survived it. It is remarkable that his coach, Ben Schwartzwalder played by veteran Dennis Quaid, was able to grow through the experience as did Ernie , and one of the highlights is his receiving the Heisman trophy, again the first black man to achieve that. 

I especially liked the strong family ties and support he receives from family and the community, as well as power to overcome adversity in a real powerful way.  He let his game talk for him !   In School he did very well academically as well.

I have a special empathy for the actors that have to play parts of despicable bigots and racists in movies today. It is seems to me even harder to play than a murderer.   There is one scene in the beginning of the movie with Ernie and a young boy being chased by a group of white boys.  This puts the time around 1949 -1950. Remembering my own past and a prejudicial step father in the early and mid 1950's, intuitively I always knew he was wrong but fear and hatred of "different" people can occur in many situations.

Recommended