Thursday Thirteen #15: Football Movies

With the season now officially over, I've been a little afraid of going through football withdrawal. However, I started searching through the film archives and I've discovered all sorts of football movies (many of which I didn't even know existed) to help me get through the off season.

Thirteen football movies I had never heard of but look interesting

1·The Best of Times (1986)
Robin Williams as a high school football player (now all grown up) who wants the chance to replay his worst moment, when he fumbled the ball in the big game.

2·Code Breakers (2005)
Based on the true story of a cheating scandal at West Point in 1951 which eventually led to the expulsion of 83 cadets, including Coach "Red" Blaik's son.

3·Facing the Giants (2006)
When a losing high school football coach learns he is facing infertility and discovers a group of parents are looking to get him fired, he turns to his faith in order to fight his fears and failures.

4·Go Tigers! (2001)
A documentary following the 1999 football season of the Massillon, Ohio Tigers. You can also check out the team's website.

5·The Junction Boys (2002)
A made-for-ESPN movie starring Tom Berenger as legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant during his time at Texas A&M.

6·Knute Rockne All American (1940)
The life story of Notre Dame player and coach Knute Rockne. Features Ronald Reagan as Notre Dame's first All-American player, George "The Gipper" Gipp.

7·The Last Game (2002)
Documentary made about the CB West High School football team in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and their extraordinary 1999 season. You can reach the team's website here.

8·North Dallas Forty (1979)
Nick Nolte stars as a player on a fictional Texas football team who stuggles with the team's prohibition of recreational drug use, but prescription of multiple drugs to increase players' ability to perform on the field.

9·Possums (1998)
The town of Nowata has cancelled their losing football program. The local radio announcer decides to keep broadcasting an imaginary season, sending the Possums to the state championship--until the real state champs challenge them to a game.

10·Second String (2002)
Made-for-TV movie along the lines of The Replacements. The Buffalo Bills are well on their way to the Superbowl when all the players come down with food poisoning and a new team must be brought in for the playoffs.

11·Semi-Tough (1977)
Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson play professional football players whose friendship is threatened by their competition for the affection of the team owner's daughter.

12·Something for Joey (1977)
Fact-based TV movie about the relationship between 1973 Heisman Trophy winner John Cappeletti and his younger brother, Joey, who battled leukemia.

13·Weapons of Mass Distraction (1997)
Another made-for-TV movie, but this one stars Gabriel Byrne and Ben Kingsley along with half a dozen other people I've heard of before. Kingsley and Byrne play competing media big wigs fighting to own a professional football team at any cost.

Check out other thirteeners at ThursdayThirteen.com.