Michael Wu

ENGL 112B

Dr. Warner

Unit Plan

Nov. 27^th, 2007

Football and Life:

Lessons learned on and off the gridiron

The great Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the first two Super Bowl winning teams in

NFL history with the Green Bay Packers, once said “Football is like life – it requires

perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.”

Vince couldn’t have said it any better or clearer than that. Whether it’s playing pickup

football in the backyard with friends or watching professional athletes fight for every

yard on Sundays, I can see why people are in tune with the sport. People always ask me

“Why do you watch such a barbaric sport?” My answer to them is “If you have ever sat

down in front of a television or attended a game, you will know why and understand the

reason we watch football.” No, it’s not mainly for the bone-crunching hits or the

gorgeous looking cheerleaders. It’s those times when it’s fourth down and one late in the

fourth quarter and your team needs that one yard to make or break a game; that’s where

football is not a barbaric sport, but an art in the arena of sports. To watch a great running

back like Walter Payton leap high into the air to gain that one yard that his team needs to

win the game draws us in and makes us stop whatever we are doing at that very moment

and pay attention to see if he accomplishes his goal.

Most teens have always had an interest in sports, whether it is cheerleading,

soccer, basketball, or football, the focus of this unit plan. I chose this sport mainly

because of Vince Lombardi’s quote. The centerpiece that I have chosen is from one of

my favorite authors, Chris Crutcher. The title of the book is called Deadline. It’s a story

about an 18 year old teen by the name of Ben Wolf who had big things planned for his

senior year. Unfortunately for Ben, he finds out from his doctor that he has a life-

threatening illness and only has one year to live. Now I’m sure you’re wondering why I

chose this story as my centerpiece. The reason I chose this story is because I feel that all

of us have met or will meet someone like Ben. He is an inspiration to all both on and off

the field. Knowing that he only has one year to live, Ben takes advantage and lives every

day to the fullest, doing everything he never thought about doing, including playing

football with his brother, Cody. If we could stop for a second and look into our own

lives, we would find that we have a little “Ben” in each one of us, whether we know it or

not. I have also chosen several other novels and smaller pieces to complement the sport

of football and how it relates to life.

Vince Lombardi Quote taken from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/v/vince_lombardi.htm

LAUNCHING THE UNIT:

Before reading Chris Crutcher’s Deadline, have your student’s complete one of the following activities.

1. Have students write in their journals about death, whether it is family or friends, that they have experienced. How did they feel and what helped them overcome their grief?

2. Have students watch the movie Rudy. Encourage them to write down one important idea or scene that they found significant. Have an open discussion sharing their ideas and also discuss the obstacles that Rudy faces and how he deals with them.

After reading Deadline, have the student’s complete one of the following tasks.

3. Do a reader’s theater having students take turns playing the different characters in the novel. After completing the reader’s theater, have students write down their experiences reading the different parts. Have them answer some of the following questions

1. Which character do they relate most to and why?
2. If they were in the shoes of the character they have chosen, what would they do differently?

4. Have students watch the movie Brian’s Song. Ask them to think and compare Brian Piccolo to Ben Wolf. How are they similar? How are they different? How do other people perceive them and treat them? Compare the way each person deals with the idea of death and discuss.

OTHER YOUNG ADULT SELECTIONS:

1. Something for Joey (1977)

Based on the true story about the relationship between Penn State football player John Cappelletti and his younger brother Joey, who has leukemia, John and Joey's bond is a strong one. Joey hangs out with John in the Penn State locker room, and inspires him to be the top college football player in the country. Their bond knows no boundries and goes beyond making touchdowns and winning awards.

* Plot summary taken from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076738/plotsummary *

2. The Lunch Bowl by Steve Boga

Ronnie first meets the new kid, David Strong, after David’s incredible catch in the “Lunch Bowl” football game. David seems to have everything, even Katie, who has been Ronnie’s friend since first grade. Ronnie is small and not athletic, but he is funny and becomes a successful radio announcer. Although they are high school friends, Ronnie is jealous of David until a car crash changes things---all told in nine short chapters.

3. Fighting Tackle by Matt Christopher

Because of a growth and weight spurt, Terry is moved from his beloved position of defensive safety to offensive tackle on his football team. Unable to convince his coach to move him back to his former position, Terry is determined to earn the position back by improving his speed. At the same time, Terry’s younger brother Nicky, who has Downs Syndrome, is practicing for the Special Olympics. Nicky’s speed angers Terry, who has always supported his younger brother. Readers watch Terry learn to balance his own needs with those of his brother.

4. Crackback by John Coy

Miles, thrilled to be playing varsity football, loses some of his excitement when a dictatorial coach takes over and sounds all too much like Miles's father. When a teammate insists Miles try steroids, he wrestles with what he believes and wants from football and life.

* Plot summary taken from Kathleen Odean’s website which is http://www.kathleenodean.com/yabooks_recentreviews.htm *

5. Running Wild by Thomas Dygard

Who would have thought that senior Pete Holman, who was always cutting classes, smoking at school, and even getting into trouble with the law, would end up a football star? Given the choice between a night in jail and joining the team, he even surprises himself when his interest in the play book doesn’t fade, and he finds out how to use his natural ability. When his old gang, who can’t understand the thrill of succeeding on the field, jeopardize his chance to play by stealing his play book, he learns what it really means to be part of a team.

6. Good Days, Bad Days (No Author)

This official NFL book is a collection of anecdotes from fifteen of football’s most famous players, such as Troy Aikman, Gary Clark, Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders. These players recount some of their best memories and worst tragedies in the game of football. Lessons applicable to any walk of life can be learned from each of the stories. The good times reflect the benefits of hard work; the bad times create character.

7. Rudy (1993)

Rudy grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of 5 people and has set his sights upon joining the team.

* Plot summary taken from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108002/plotsummary *

8. Radio (2003)

Football coach Harold Jones (Harris) befriends Radio (Gooding), a mentally-challenged man who becomes a student at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson, South Carolina. Their friendship extends over several decades, where Radio transforms from a shy, tormented man into an inspiration to his community. In 1976, in Anderson, South Caroline, the football coach Jones (Ed Harris) of the T.L. Hanna High School protects a handicapped young man from the abuse of some of his players. He says his name is Radio it's really James Robert Kennedy (Cuba Gooding Jr.), who can hardly speak. After some months in the companion of Coach Jones and resistance of part of the locals, Radio becomes popular, beloved and a symbol for most of the population.

* Plot summary taken from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316465/plotsummary *

WORKS CITED:

1. Crutcher, Chris. Deadline. New York: Harper Collins, 2007.

2. Coy, John. Crackback. Scholastic Press, 2005.

3. Stover, Lois and Stephanie Zenker. Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High. National Council of Teachers of English, 1997.

* All plot summaries of books taken from this book except for John Coy’s Crackback *

4. Boga, Steve. The Lunch Bowl. High Noon Books, 1994.

5. Christopher, Matt. Fighting Tackle. New York: Little, Brown, 1995.

6. Dygard, Thomas. Running Wild. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1996.

7. Good Days, Bad Days. New York: Puffin Books, 1995.

8. Something for Joey. Director Lou Antonio. CBS Television. 1977.

9. Rudy. Director David Anspaugh. TriStar Pictures. 1993.

10. Radio. Director Michael Tollin. Revolution Studios. 2003.