Football Movies

We are on the eve of the first all-out college/NFL football weekend. Since I already gave you my Top 5 Baseball Movies, I thought I'd give you my Top 5 Football Movies. To be honest, they're a little tougher to come up with than the Baseball movies.

5. The Replacements - It probably doesn't even make my top 100 all-time movies. I've probably watched bits and pieces of it every other week on TNT. For Football movies, it was something a little different. I'm a sucker for Gene Hackman.





4. Friday Night Lights - Watching this one had moments that reminded me of the High School I went to. It's not your normal "sports movie". It was pretty depressing. The darker side of "when High School football becomes religion" came out in this movie. I always laugh uncomfortably when I see the scene with the 30 year old guy wearing his High School championship ring, living in the past. An all-to familiar scene.
And no, I'm not that interested in the TV Show.




3. Jerry Maguire - Tom Cruise second football movie (his first one wasn't too terrible). Some great moments in this one. Lipniki (man, he's all grown up) is hilarious. Cuba Gooding Jr. is top-notch. "Show me the money!" This is about as close to a "chick-flick" as I can get.


2. Rudy - How can I grow up in the shadow of the Golden Dome and not love this movie? "Ru-dy, Ru-dy, Ru-dy..."This has everything a good sports movie should have in it. Against all odds, the underdog fights his way to the top. Probably #1 on the list of movies that guys would say has made them cry.
Plus, Samwise Gamgee is in it. Most people will say Rudy is in Lord of the Rings, but not me...





1. Remember the Titans - I'm a sucker for these stories. So many great "redemption" stories in it.
Great moments... Gettysburg... Gary and Julius face off after practice... Coach Yost confronts the refs
Great lines... "Who's your daddy, Gary?"... "Attitude reflects leadership, Captain."... "Alice, are you Blind? Don't you see the family resemblance? That's my brother."
Besides Lord of the Rings, this is probably the movie I've used the most in messages. It may rank in my top 10 all-time movies.


*** Disclaimer: I'm yet to see Invincible. I'm sure this movie would crack the top 5.