 Movie Review:
Glory Road
Production Company: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: James Gartner
Cast: Josh Lucas, Derek Luke, Mehcad Brooks, Emily Deschanel, Al Shearer, Tatyana Ali, Jon Voight
Rating: PG for mild language and some violence
By Gregg Tubbs
(UMC.org)—What does it mean to be part of what has been called “the most important game in college basketball history?” How does it feel to win “the greatest upset in college sports history?” And what happens when you do it with an untried coach and a starting squad of freshmen with only two things in common—their love of the game and the color of their skin? Just maybe, you change the world. Glory Road tells the stirring, true story of how a little college captured the attention of the nation, breaking down racial barriers at a time when old school basketball meant “white” and some of the country’s best young players were playing on street corners, not college courts.
Glory Road tells the story of how perennial Division 1 underdogs, the Texas Western Miners, rose through the ranks to beat the University of Kentucky Wildcats, the most feared team in the NCAA, and their legendary coach Adolph Rupp (Jon Voight). © Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Jerry Bruckheimer, Inc. |
The latest in Disney’s series of uplifting, fact-based sports sagas (Remember the Titans, Miracle), Glory Road mines some familiar territory, but does it with enough skill, humor and heart that it feels fresh and moves with the speed of a good game of hoops. Josh Lucas (Coach Don Haskins) leads a fine ensemble cast of young actors in this story of how perennial Division 1 underdogs, the Texas Western Miners, rose through the ranks to beat the University of Kentucky Wildcats, the most feared team in the NCAA, and their legendary coach Adolph Rupp(Jon Voight in a small, but effective role).
The victory was a stunning upset, but to understand what made it historic, you need to know a little bit about sports in 1966. The “color barrier” had already been broken in many sports. Joe Lewis, Jackie Robinson and other courageous men had already paved the way for talented athletes of color to compete on a level playing field with white players. By 1966, Jim Brown had already finished his meteoric football career; Wilt Chamberlain was the NBA scoring champ; and the MVPs in baseball’s American and National Leagues were Frank Robinson and Roberto Clemente. But college basketball was desegregated in name only. Many teams, even in the South, had black players, but never as starters. They were allowed to play only late in games, and, as the unspoken rule went, “You play one at home, two on the road and three if you’re losing.”
When Texas Western hired Don Haskins (Josh Lucas) as their men’s basketball coach in the summer of 1966, neither suspected what they were getting. © Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Jerry Bruckheimer, Inc. |
When Texas Western (now the University of Texas, El Paso) hired Don Haskins as their men’s basketball coach in the summer of 1966, neither suspected what they were getting. Haskins, who had just coached a high school girl’s team to a state championship, was hungry for the chance to coach Division 1 and coached to win. However, at Texas Western, football was king, so the basketball coach was regarded as little more than a headmaster for the men’s athletic dorm. With little reputation and no money for recruiting, Haskins couldn’t attract top prospects. Determined to build a winning team in spite of these obstacles, he scoured the country for undiscovered talent—searching for basketball players at YMCA’s, playgrounds and parking lots. He eventually finds his players—all black and filled with talent, fire and pride. But their road to glory would be a hard one, filled with prejudice and resistance to change that would challenge their spirit, their nerves and their faith in each other.
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| The "Mighty Miners" of Texas Western endured the spit, the jeers, the vandalism, and even violence that comes with breaking down barriers. © Disney Enterprises, Inc. and Jerry Bruckheimer, Inc. |
Glory Road is at its best when it reminds us that most heroes are reluctant and come in unlikely packages. Haskins and his players, white and black, never set out to change basketball. They simply wanted to win. Yet the more they won, the more they realized that the team had come to stand for something—a dangerous precedent that, for some, needed to be stopped, but for others, represented an exhilarating and liberating symbol. On the eve of their improbable championship game, Haskins makes his must courageous decision—one supported by the entire team. He will not only start with black players; he will play only black players throughout the game. Kentucky’s Coach Rupp fumed to his all-white squad that this was an insult to their team. But it was the “Mighty Miners” of Texas Western who endured the spit, the jeers, the vandalism, and even violence that comes with breaking down barriers. Within a few years, college basketball would become truly integrated, and even Rupp would draft black players for Kentucky.
Many of the Miners went on to have NBA careers, and Haskins himself was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997. But for many, the singular achievement of their careers was that pivotal year when they stood together—brave, proud and unified— to become not simply champions, but heroes on the road to glory.
Gregg Tubbs is a freelance writer living in Columbia, Md.
This review was developed by UMC.org, the official online ministry of The United Methodist Church.
Study Questions
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Were you aware of the history of segregation in sports? Were you surprised that it still existed in 1966?
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Have you ever personally experienced racism? Have you ever been guilty of it yourself?
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Coach Haskins believed in strict discipline. Did you agree with his methods? Do you believe Christians need spiritual discipline?
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Who have been the coaches in your life? Who helps you know “the rules?” Who gives you encouragement? Who leads you by example?
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Do you think Haskins set out to recruit black players or to find the best available players? What did he say about this in the film?
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Was there a particular character in the film that you related to the most? Who surprised you the most?
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The film’s advertising uses the question “What does it take to change the world?” How would you answer that question? What do you think was the most important quality the players needed to change the world?
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Would you have allowed “Scoops” Cager to play, despite his heart ailment? Did his mother’s speech to Coach Haskins affect his decision?
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Why did you think the players turned on each other as the pressure mounted? Did you see evidence of racism that went both ways?
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How does difference and fear of those who are different from us contribute to racism? How does the Bible’s teaching that all people are created in God’s image relate to the issue of racism (Genesis 1:27)? (See also James 2:1-13, which teaches against favoritism or holding one person higher than another.)
Group Activities
Fair and Unfair Competition: In one scene in the film, the boys on the Miners basketball team, white and black, try to one-up each other by seeing who can toss a wad of paper into a trash can. For this exercise, set up your own free-throw competition, using a can or basket and a foam ball, wadded paper or other soft “ball.” Pick “team” leaders and choose sides for two teams. As a way of exploring fair and unfair competition, purposefully exclude some members from your group based on a random attribute. Try excluding all males, or those with blue eyes, or anyone whose last name begins with a letter from the first half of the alphabet. Those excluded must sit out and watch the game. After a few rounds, stop and discuss how it felt to be excluded as well as how it felt for those who were included to see someone who could have helped your team not be allowed to play. Ask the team leaders how they felt not being able to “draft” their players based on talent alone. Once you’ve discussed “unfair” competition, choose teams again, including the whole group. How does this change the competition?
Hall of Fame: Sports fans often debate lists and judge players by their career numbers. For this activity create a “Hall of Fame” of the top five people who have done the most to break down racial barriers in our time. Consider athletes as well as others like Dr. Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks. When you’ve agreed on your modern Hall of Fame, create a parallel list of Jesus’ “Hall of Fame” moments—teachings or deeds that broke down the social barriers of his day. Consider such things as: telling the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), eating with sinners (Matt. 9:10-11) and promising a thief a place in paradise (Luke 23:42-44).
Learning from Sports: We can learn much about life and faith from sports. Paul often referred to the life of the faithful as a race to be run (Gal. 5:7, Heb. 12:1). As a group, discuss what lessons we can learn from sports. What qualities should a good athlete or winning team have that are similar to those needed to be a fruitful member of God’s team and win the race of faith? Consider the role of teamwork, discipline, knowledge of the game, obedience, hard work courage and perseverance. Compare to the “Christian conditioning” described in 2 Peter 1:5-7.
Resources
Official Glory Road Web site
Theatrical Trailer
QuickTime
Windows Media
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