This isn’t a great movie–in fact, it’s pretty formulaic and manipulative in spots. But I still like it. It’s a treat to see Denzel Washington act in his role, and several of the supporting players also do a fine job.
But the real reason I finally bought this film (Blu-ray version, on sale at Amazon) was that the story it tells is part of my personal history. From 1970-1975 I was in the Pride of Salem, the championship marching band at Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, Virginia. When the T. C. Williams’ Titans won the State AAA Football championship in 1971, they defeated Andrew Lewis for that title. The game was played at Victory Stadium in Roanoke on a bitterly cold day in December. I was there that day, playing in the band down on the sidelines. Our prize quarterback, Eddie Joyce, Jr., was running a fever with what we were told was strep throat. He had done a superb job all season, including a thrilling comeback victory over E. C. Glass High School, but this day was not his: he never could find his rhythm, and his tremendous arm had very little precision, in part because the defense started blitzing and our offensive line just couldn’t hold them.
The game was never close. T. C. Williams won 27-7 [EDIT: it was actually 27-0, as the ALHS touchdown, the first of the game, was disallowed–see comments below] after putting in their second string to avoid running the score up. I had never seen such large, fast, strong players. Over and over our quarterback was sacked, our receivers were smothered, and their offense ran over us. We gave it our best shot. We were completely outgunned. I think their second string could have beaten us that day. So it goes.
Now, many years later, I don’t mind so much that we were drubbed by the number two team in the nation, though it was very painful to witness. What I do mind is that Remember The Titans changed the name of my high school to “Marshall” and wrote it out of the drama. I don’t mind that they changed the game from an afternoon game to a night game, or even that they made it sound like a close game with a last-minute trick play pulling out the miracle win. But I sure wish they’d left the name unchanged. The “Marshall” coach they cast is a lookalike for Eddie Joyce, the head coach for us that year. The “Marshall” quarterback was number 12, as was ours. So why change the name? I can’t find a definitive answer to that question. I wish they’d left us in there.
That’s my Friday night story, and I’m sticking to it.
Absolutely, Andrew Lewis should have been the name of the Titan’s opponent in the movie. It’s sad Victory Stadium was torn down.
I was in the Pride of Salem (squad leader ’75-’76) and believe I remember you as Gardner Campbell? I was in the Red Platoon (drill team). Doubt you remember me (pretty shy), Kim Rolston.
They didn’t change your school’s name in the movie, instead Hollywood took dramatic license by changing what had been a regular season matchup between TC and Marshall and making it the state championship because it was actually as close as they depicted it in the movie, (the titans winning on a come from behind 4th down play) whereas the game against Andrew Lewis was a blow out and therefor not beneficial for a good movie ending
@Kim Yes, I’m Gardner Campbell, and I was Blue Platoon leader in 74-75. I do remember you, though I don’t know that we knew each other very well. At any rate, thanks for the comment, and I agree wholeheartedly about Victory Stadium. Alas!
@Steve Well, okay, they didn’t invent the game out of whole cloth, but to put the state championship in Victory Stadium (true) but use an entirely different matchup for the story still makes me unhappy. Logically, I’m sure they did the right thing by choosing a more dramatic finale–but I wish they’d kept my school’s name in there, just as a salute to the real challengers. It was a blowout, but it was *our* blowout! And we had some pretty heroic games ourselves getting to that moment. 🙂
I was looking for articles about my uncle Eddie Joyce – I can’t remember the years he was mayor of Salem. We live(d) 75 miles south in Mayodan, NC – uncle Mickey’s hometown. I was just a little girl back then, but I remember all the glory heaped on my uncle and cousin. It’s interesting to go back and read about him.
I remember that day as I was at the game too! I seem to remember Andrew Lewis scoring the first seven points, correct me if I am wrong. Every article that I have read on the internet posts the game as a blowout 27-0. That score is wrong. As an Andrew Lewis High School graduate, I too was disappointed that our high school’s name was not used. Does anyone know what the legal reasons were?
Robyn Cecil Stultz
@Robyn: I remember that we scored one touchdown–perhaps it was the first one. Your memory rings a bell. And I’ve just gone on the ‘net the way you did, and got the same results. I do *not* remember a shut out, though I have to admit it was a blowout whose score represented only Williams’ generous refusal to run up the score.
I also remember it as happening in the fall of 1970, but maybe it was the following fall. If the score on the Internet is wrong, how can I trust the dates? On the other hand, if my memory is deceiving me, how can I trust it? 🙂
The game was played in early December 1971. There was a punt early in the game that appeared to be a touchdown, but was disallowed. The final score of 27-0 was correct. It could have been far worse. I remember a couple players being sick that day. I also believe John Gaston, one of our better linemen was hurt. It wouldn’t have mattered – TC was the best high school team I’ve ever seen.
@John
First, are you THE John Hall? If so, a double welcome, since my brother speaks so very highly of you.
Second, thanks for clearing my memory and vindicating the “first touchdown” recollection. I remember now that it was disallowed. Can’t remember why–perhaps the whistle had already blown the play dead? At any rate, I also remember how much that call-back took the wind out of our sails–not that we had the wind at our back anyway that day. And yes, TC Williams was an extraordinary team, but I do remember that their skills were helped enormously by their size and by the sheer number of them. They seemed to have brought a small army. We looked pretty malnourished by comparison. 🙂
I also attended Andrew Lewis, graduated from Salem High & was at the game that day. However, at that time I was only about 10. The Andrew Lewis Marching Band was a marvel. I have been searching the web to find video of the band and the famous kick-back to share with my neighbor who is now in her high school’s marching band. Do you know where I might find footage?
I was teaching my first year at Andrew Lewis High School. I was at that game and I taught Eddie Joyce, Jr., Gee Sprinkle, and many other players. It was depressing to watch the game because the Titans looked like pro football players. Football was “king” in Salem and the loss was devastating. I think this game helped prompt the re-classification of high schools in Virginia based on size. TC Williams had a much larger student body than Andrew Lewis.
I was born is Salem and was a close friend of Sprinkle’s sister (Kylyne?) My grandfather owned Smead and Webber Pharmacy and my great-uncle was Ted Webber. Anyway, we moved to Roswell, Georgia. My first year there I was coached by the man that was replaced at TC Williams. Its a small world.
I agree with you completely. They shouldn’t have changed the the name of Andrew Lewis High School. My uncle Jim Nesse number 64 played on that team. Thank you for trying to set the record straight.
I just came across this article. As a 1974 graduate, I was there as well. In fact, I recently went through some boxes and found a scrap book of mine. I opened it up and there were all the newspaper clippings…at least up til the last game. I guess I was so down over the loss that I didn’t bother clipping that one out of the paper.
I’ve never understood why the name was changed.
How about a voice from the other side.
I worked with people who were at T.C.Williams. I often told them that if James Hobson had not fumbled the kick off with just a few minutes left in the game, we would have played T.C.Williams and would have beaten them. Then I would have been in the movie.
Yes…yes…I went to E.C. Glass and played football. I was a soph.and watched the game from the stands…. it seems Roanoke had it in for E.C. Glass because 2 yrs later Patrick Henry beat us and went on to win the state title !!!!
I enjoyed reading your article and all the comments from back in the good old days,
according to Eddie Joyce it was a monetary issue and The local school board would not give permission….coach, you are missed!
Friday night lights… We lived it in the 70″s… Good to hear from all of you.
Bryce Turner ALHS’75
TC Williams was suddenly twice the size of every other high school in the state by joining the junior and senior classes of two high schools. Nobody every had a chance. I’ve never been tempted to watch the movie because of this. To folks who have seen it, was that ever brought up in the movie, the numerical advantage. It’s not worth it to me to watch it to find out.
Hi. I attended Andrew Lewis HS 1971-1973, then moved to Alexandria and graduated from TC Williams in ’75. The movie got a bunch of stuff wrong – the depiction of Alexandria as a small southern town, the simplistic manner in which the racial divide was depicted – but it was a good movie nonetheless. I also remember Gardner Campbell; I think we had some classes together.
Bruce Nave, TCWHS ’75, would have been ALHS ’75