My All-American Page #2

You will.

- (drums beating in rhythm)

- (crowd cheering)

Let's go, Farmers!

You can do it!

Let's go, Freddie!

Fifteen straight times you

mullets have lost to this team.

The tide will turn tonight.

This game.

Now, get out there and kick their butts!

PLAYERS:
Yes, sir!

(marching band)

Whoo!

Nice hit, Freddie!

(yelling)

There we go.

Set! Hut!

Go, Bobby!

Come on. Come on! Come on, Bobby!

That's it.

- (whistle blows)

- Yeah!

- Come on, Freddie!

- (crowd cheering)

(jeering)

- (whistle blows)

- (jeering)

This is your team.

Get 'em ready.

Offense! Huddle up!

All right, guys. (panting)

We will not lose this game.

This streak ends now.

We have 57 seconds to go 82 yards.

Not a problem.

- Right?

- Right.

- Right?

- Right!

- Let's go out and do it!

- Yeah!

Come on!

- What do I do?

- Just give the damn ball to Freddie.

Down! Set! Hut!

Come on, Fred!

- Go! Go!

- Freddie, go!

Go! Go!

Run! Freddie, run!

(panting)

(whistle blows)

Oh, my God! (squealing)

(cheering)

Yeah! That's all right!

- Well done, young man. Nice game.

- Thanks a lot. Thank you.

Never seen anybody your size do

as much damage as you do out there.

Thanks. You do a lot of damage

yourself. Wish I had your size.

You'd be dangerous.

Hey, you want a ride?

No.

Your dad's always there watching.

Every practice, every game.

- All my life.

- (chuckles)

Did he play when he was younger?

He was an amazing athlete... the

best in every sport he ever tried.

If he hadn't gotten in a car

accident and banged up his knee,

he would have been a Major

League Baseball player for sure.

So he's like one of those dads

living his failed dreams through you.

He just wants me to give everything

I have in whatever I do, all the time.

School, sports. It's all the same to him.

I've seen a lot of dads like that.

What matters to us both is

for me to get a scholarship.

We don't have a lot of money for tuition.

I'm sure you're gonna get plenty of offers.

So far, nothing.

I bet you don't have that problem.

So many, I don't know

what to do with them all.

Must be nice.

Hey, you ever hear of Army's

two great running backs,

Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis?

They were called Mr.

Inside and Mr. Outside.

That's us.

(chuckles)

- Sounds good, Mr. Outside.

- Okay, Mr. Inside.

Hey, one more thing.

Lakewood used to be the

number-one team in the state.

You know we're not gonna lose

a game the rest of the year.

Sounds good.

I appreciate you taking

my call, Coach Crowder.

Just wanted to make

sure you got my letters.

Well, I will tell him you

said that, sir. Thank you.

- (chuckles)

- Tell him he's also a 4.0 student.

Well, 165, with room to put on more.

Well, I assure you, sir...

He weighs more than 145 pounds.

A junior college?

Well, thank you anyway.

- Who's next?

- The air force.

- They recruit smaller players.

- I have to study.

(sighs)

(sighs)

(door opens, closes)

You wanted to see me, Coach?

The University of Texas.

What about it?

Mike Campbell, their defensive coordinator,

is somebody who trusts my word.

And he thinks a little

different than most coaches.

University of Texas?

Me?

No guarantees, of course.

Well, did they show any interest?

Well, they came up

yesterday to recruit Bobby.

Oh, well, that's why.

Hold on now.

I made Iron Mike watch

a season worth of film.

You got his attention.

Okay. What do I do now?

Well, they want you and Bobby

to fly to Austin this weekend

to meet Coach Royal.

You need to sit down, son?

No, I have to go. I have to tell my dad.

Now, wait.

I'd be careful about getting hopes up.

They meet with a lot of kids

without making them an offer.

Right.

It means a lot they wanna see me.

Thanks, Coach.

University of Texas.

Doesn't look real.

Been a lot of great football

played here over the years.

Never thought I'd see this place.

If I have anything to do with

it, you'll be playing here.

But it's not up to me.

- You ready to go meet him?

- Yes, sir.

All right.

(clock ticking)

Freddie Steinmark.

Yes, Coach, that's me.

Watched film on you again this morning.

You run like you got a school

of minnows in your pants.

Thanks.

I like the way you attack.

I try to teach my kids to

drive through the ball carrier,

not just lay him on the ground.

Looks like that just comes natural to you.

I'm thinking about...

you playing some safety

and maybe returning punts.

How's that sound to you?

Maybe you need some time to decide.

Um... No. No, sir.

What is it, son?

Well, every other coach just

thought I was too small to play.

Too small. (scoffs)

Well, I'm 5'10".

I was an okay college football player.

Okay?

He quarterbacked the University of Oklahoma

to an undefeated season in 1949.

Mike.

You want me to play here for you?

Son, I'm offering you a scholarship

to attend the University

of Texas and play football.

How can I be more plain?

You will not regret

giving me the chance, sir.

Becoming a Longhorn and part of this

football team is a dream come true.

Give me my hand back now, son.

Sorry.

As for you...

Well, I figure you Colorado

boys can be roommates.

- Yes, sir.

- (chuckles)

- Thank you.

- All right.

That's all for today, boys.

We'll be seeing you back

here in two months. All right?

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

Sir, Coach, thank you very much.

Thank you. Thank you.

- (door opens)

- (chuckles) Wait for it.

(door closes)

(Freddie, Bobby whooping)

- Never gets old.

- (chuckles)

Thanks for the ride.

Why didn't you call?

I kind of wanted to tell you in person.

So, what happened?

I can't believe that place.

Everything is bigger and better in Texas.

And that means?

Coach Royal, he, uh...

he offered me a full scholarship.

What?

I'm so happy for you, Son.

You worked so hard for this.

Answered prayers.

Yes.

Answered prayers.

FREDDIE:
So now I have

to look at everything

in a totally different way.

Over there, Wheat Ridge

is where I used to play.

University of Colorado.

No, thanks. You had your chance.

Nope.

And Notre Dame had their chance too.

You know, I wanted to go there all my life.

Till now.

My dream is to play them some day

and show 'em what a

terrible mistake they made.

You know what? Forget the Broncos.

I'm going with my first

choice now... Chicago Bears.

Coach Royal believing in me

makes me think anything is possible.

I have a surprise for you.

- Uh-oh.

- Oh, no. It's a good surprise.

Oh?

Actually, it's a... it's a great one.

It's too dark.

It's an acceptance letter.

From Texas.

What? How'd that happen?

I applied and was accepted.

Well, what about your plans to go to CU?

No. You and I are part of a bigger plan.

Well, ye... I know. But I

didn't know you were gonna...

No, Spanish is my major. They have

the biggest department in the country.

I thought your parents said there

was no way they would ever let you...

- I am very persuasive. (laughs)

- Yes, you are.

- You're going.

- We're gonna have the best time in Austin.

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