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As predicted, No. 1, The Blind Side, beat out No. 24, Air Bud: Golden Retriever, in our first match up in our greatest football movie tournament. It's time to continue the first round of the tournament with our next match up: No. 2, Brian's Song, versus No. 23, Necessary Roughness. The winner of this game will advance to the next round and move one step closer to football movie greatness.
Before we get to the vote, a little about your match up:
No. 2 Brian's Song versus No. 23 Necessary Roughness
Brian's Song is the touching true story of Chicago Bears teammates, Brian Piccalo and Gale Sayers, who formed a close bond, especially after Piccalo discovered that he was dying.
I'd like to tell you about a guy I know, a friend of mine. His name is Brian Piccolo. And he has the heart of a giant, and that rare form of courage that allows him to kid himself and his opponent, cancer. He has a mental attitude that makes me proud to have a friend who spells out the world 'courage,' 24 hours a day, every day of his life. Now you honor me by giving me this award. But I say to you here now Brian Piccolo is the man who deserves the George S. Halas award. It is mine tonight... and Brian Piccolo's tomorrow. I love Brian Piccolo. And I'd like all of you to love him too. And so tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him.
Necessary Roughness is a story about the Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos struggle to form a competitive football team out of their actual student body because of NCAA Sanctions. The makeshift team consists of a 34-year-old quarterback and a female placekicker and other misfits. Regardless of the odds stacked against them, the Fightin' Armadillos take the field against their rival, and No. 1 team, the Texas Colts.
From Champs to chumps. Just six months ago, The Texas State Fighting Armadillos were billed as the greatest college football team in history, and now, they are history. Yesterday, the commision slapped Texas State with a staggering list of infractions including recruiting violations, steroid abuse, illegal payments to players and , of course, grade tampering. To where these guys are going, their yearbook photos will be used as mugshots. Joining us tonight is our guest commentator, the legendary Ed "Straight Arrow" Gennero, the man who once threw five All-Americans off his football team for taking money from boosters, but still won the Cotton Bowl. Thanks for joining us tonight, coach.
Can Ed "Straight Arrow" Gennero lead the hodgepodge football team from Necessary Roughness past the true story of the friendship between Brian Piccalo and Gale Sayers? We shall see.