I thought the movie was ok. All of the action scenes were with 2004-ish looking players and equipment. The hits were totally overdone.

The scene with the father going out on the field during practice was complete BS- although when he gives his son the ring at the end it's kind of touching, I suppose. I'm not sure how he ever found the ring after it was thrown out the window, but that's another story.

If the movie prompts anyone to go to a high school football game for the first time, I'm afraid they'd be a bit disappointed.

the key is -- ITS A MOVIE -- dont try to analyze it, just enjoy it

Well I thought it was a good movie. The story line was pretty good and anyone that played football I am sure could associate with one of the characters in the movie. However, if it wasnt Hollywoodized and exaggerated, I think it could have been a great movie.

from a tx kid
 

I haven't seen the movie but I did read the book, in hardback when it first came out. It really did capture much of the escence of high school football in texas. Nothing I have ever experienced comes close to the religious like reverence that football holds in texas. It doesn't matter if you are in a town of 200 people or a town of 2 million people. Football is just different in Texas.