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Friday Night Lights Research Paper

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Friday Night Lights is what makes the state of Texas function. Texas with out football is like a baby without nourishment, lifeless and suffering. In the state of Texas, high school football falls second to none. The high school stadiums are bigger than college football venues. Friday Night Lights, the movie, is based in Odessa, Texas. Where as, the tv series is set in Dillion, Texas a made-up city. Two different cities, one same goal. Injuries, coaches and the quarterbacks are always important to a football team and thats what made these two stories special. Friday Night Lights the movie focuses on a brand new team with just one returning offensive starter, the running back Booby Miles. Booby was cocky, arrogant and had amazing natural ability. …show more content…

In the tv series Jason Street begins the season, until he suffered a career ending hit that paralyzed him for his life. This paved the way for no-name Matt Saracen, a sophomore backup who had never seen the field and had very limited athletic ability. Where as, the movie features Mike Winchell a senior, receiving his first start ever as a panther. The hard-working, small and determined quarterback faces adversity and leads his panther team to victory even without star running back and offensive juggernaut Booby Miles. Winchell takes it upon himself to lead his team and show them what he can do. On the other hand, in the tv series, Matt Saracen is struggling to find confidence in his new role on the team. “I just want to be back-up again.” He pleads. This is where coach Eric Taylor steps in and teaches the young quarterback how to work with what he’s got, and how to manage a football game. Saracen in his first start only threw the ball four times, but one pass was a completion for the game-winning touchdown. Mike Winchell and Matt Saracen are your average, home-grown, Texas boy, who grew up without a father or a mother. Both Saracen and Winchell are without parents, but still have loving grandmas that attend/watch every game. The two have very similar backgrounds but opposite demeanor, Winchell always worked hard and never was handed anything. Saracen was handed the starting quarterback job after Jason was paralyzed, and he didn’t want the responsibility. This adds to his uprising throughout the next couple of weeks. After he won the first game at quarterback, people said, “Jason Street who?” He didn’t know Jason before the injury and he didn't know what to do, so he went to Jason for help regarding leadership and stepping up when the team needed it. Jason taught Saracen to not take anything for granted, how to leave it all on the field and how to overcome adversity and

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