Friday Night Lights: Structure Functional Theory Essay

Multiple chapters in the book discussed in depth about characters Boobie Miles, Mike Winchell, and Ivory Christian. Each of these players had varying backgrounds, and motivations about why they played football. These chapters also discuss the lives of players off of the field, and how the academics at Permian were backseat to their powerhouse football team.

The novel begins with preseason football in the heat of a Texas summer. The players and coaches practice over 4 hours a day in 100-degree weather. The media is affecting every player pushing for a state championship and college scouts at every practice. The boys who gave completely of themselves for their sport are unique personalities. From dedicated quarterback Mike Winchell to Harvard-bound Brian Chavez to the inscrutable Ivory Christian, the team was full of young men who were singular human beings, each one bringing something special and indefinable to their group. And that's just scratching the very surface.The book recounts the tragic story of Boobie Miles, team’s star running back who had been highly recruited by all of the major programs. He is expected to attend and earn a scholarship to a large state college. The community

Odessa’s small size makes it complicated for people to lead lives separate from football. Most everyone can say that they have taken part in the football phenomenon, the Permian Panthers. Jim Lewallen may not be a parent, but football is what he lives for. Being a retiree, Lewallen has been long removed from the highschool scene and yet he still relies on football as a pastime. He takes satisfaction in the players accomplishments as if they are his own children. It is what he looks forward to and what keeps his life interesting and prides himself in knowing all the plays. While anxiously awaiting the beginning of the season Jim explains to Bissinger, “That football is just something that keeps me going’. You know the kids’ moves, you know ‘em personally. It’s just like your own kids”(41). The indirect characterization of Lewallen in this scene leaves us to infer what he is like on a deeper level, leading the reader to conclude that Permian football is the focal point of Lewallen’s life. It presents him as protective, almost fatherly. The intensity he feels is proven when readers are informed that the players are like his

This pursuit of an undefeated season itself is symbolic of a message that success can be achieved through racial integration. Once again the driving factors behind the success of the team is the relationship we see between Julius and Gary. By constantly having this foundation to fall back on in times of difficulty the overall team comradery stays well completely in tact. The audience is able to see how Julius and Gary conduct themselves when they call team meetings where they are the sole ones talking about overcoming their difficulties. This is yet another straight forward attempt by the film to create these two individuals as signs of the racial integration and progressive

Sustaining the ambitions of not only themselves but the alumni and town of Odessa, Texas is a lot to ask from a young adult. That’s exactly what Permian football provides to the people of Odessa, where the post economic boom of the oil business has left the town in a racially tense, economic crisis. The lights on Permian High School’s football field are the only sanctuary for the west Texas town. Socially and racially divided, Odessa’s mass dependence on high school football constructs glorified expectations for the football team to temporarily disguise the disappointments that come with living in a town tagged as the “murder capital” of

They recruit guys from soccer, basketball, a farm and even other football teams to come and play for them. Lengyel has a new vision for Marshall, and calls them the “Young Thundering Herd.” Jack is the person to do things that most coaches wouldn’t do because that just in his personality. As a result he seeks out help from Bobby Bowden, the coach of the University of West Virginia. Jack asks him “if He and Dawson can see the coaches’ videos, plays, and handbooks and even if he had any tips for them.” Bowden laughs at first and asks “if Jack was serious…” He then see that the men are serious and allows them to view the tapes, rules, handbooks and anything else they wanted. He does this because Bowden understands that a team is in grief and confusion. When this happens Dawson’s disbelief that he had about the team and Jack trying to help changes and he becomes a little bit more optimistic about the future of Marshall and the town.

In Remember the Titans we witness Coach Boone fighting for civil rights, signifying the image of an outsider integrating into a foreign white team as their coach. Director Boaz Yakin, uses techniques to strengthen Coach Boone’s character where the initial hate and disrespect towards him succours the development of a meaningful arc. The disrespect and aggression is employed when a brick is thrown through his house window, threatening him with the derogatory coloured comments calling him “Coach Coon”. The pressure of quitting was not felt and heroically he encompasses the journey with Yakin emphasising Boones evocative discipline and determination forcing integration amongst the segregated football team. This technique is employed when we witness Coach Boone stepping up, pushing equality for the players in a determined strike to stop racial abuse for good. His actions initiate the forced building of friendship and acceptance when he forces both races to get to know and accept each other at the camp. Yakin heightens the themes of overcoming racism when Boone rallies the troops together to support their team mate during a sad time. Instinctively, the implicit segregation is evoked further bringing unity to the team, Coach Boone emerges as a ‘hero’ to both the coloured and white community.

Sports are a significant part of society and spectators enjoy particular events regardless of the type. However, there are many players who develop special working and social relationships with whom they are participating regardless of the type of sport. The relationship and how people interact with one another can be the determination of how successful a team can be. The particular film based on a true story that I chose is titled When the Game Stands Tall. This film consists of a high performing football team of De La Salle High School in the state of California. Jim Caviezel portrays the head coach (Bob Ladouceur) as a man with such vision and passion that goes beyond the fundamental principles of coaching the game of football. The football team had won 151 games without being defeated which is the highest winning record a team has had in the game of football. The film shows the internal struggles of the players in their lives as people, and how they perform on the field. It also shows the external tragic difficulties that they face while they attend and play for De Le Salle High School. In the movie, the head coach helps the students/players by not only coaching them but also showing them how to live a flourishing life by committing to endure difficult life situations and the way to overcome them. He helps teach the principles of brotherhood and companionship with the team that they build. In the movie, the head coach and the staff had taught the players

This novel develops characters that engage in sex, to teachers cheating so their high school football players can continue to participate on the football field. Many people have a major affect on football and society in this novel. One of the major characters was Boobie Myles. Boobie was supposed to be the star athlete on the Permian football team. In the beginning, Boobie was arrogant to his teammates and wasn’t a good team leader. All Boobie cared about was winning and getting to the next level of football to satisfy his athletic needs. When Boobie is injured, he realizes he took football for granted and would do anything to play again. The team needs Boobie and Boobie needs the team. Coach Gaines realizes Boobie was seriously hurt and gives an inspiring pep talk to the team about how the players need to put their heart in the game and how lucky they are to be playing for Odessa.

At the beginning of the movie after the first loss the coach told the team that winning is everything. This is important because throughout the movie I was able to see a change in the characters as they learned more about themselves. They were able to learn that winning wasn’t everything but learned that it’s important that they keep playing the game. During the funeral someone says, “The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away.” This was important to me because I can relate this to religion. There isn’t a real answer of why things happen the way that they do. It’s not in our control but a person can get through the tragedy by surrounding themselves with loved ones. That’s what I personally saw while watching the movie because the team rose beyond the ashes by having each other’s backs. The win at Marshall University was important because everyone in the town came together to watch the game. It just showed me that life keeps moving on but a person should never forget. In addition, another example is when Jack saw the West Virginia helmet has a MU on the back. This showed the role of religion in the community and how it unites people when times harsh, hence allowing the coaches to watch film in the opposing school’s campus. For religion and sports I believe that they are intertwined with each other. I say this because in the movie the players had faith and wanted to keep the team alive. By taking each day one at a time they were able to rise from the ashes and keep the program going. Even though the team wasn’t any good the University looked towards the light and saw this as a new beginning without forgetting about the past. Football kept the town going and allowed for people to remember the tragic

Functionalism looks at society in aspects of how it contributes to the steadiness/cohesion of the whole society (Anderson, Taylor, & Logio, P. 18). There are many institutions that are looked at that include the economic system, government, education, religion, health care, and family. All of which have different roles and perform different functions to ensure that society operates in a well-ordered manner. An example of this would be how family reproduces, takes care of children, exposes children to culture and heritage, supports other family members, and shares life experiences. Shared values and social stability are keys to this perspective. When this system breaks down it is because people’s needs are not being covered and shared values are deteriorating. When this occurs, it affects all parts of functionalism and the society must achieve

The film wasn’t about that 13-0 record and winning a state championship, but the struggle that came with it and all the hardships they had to deal and get past. Racism, prejudice, compassion and love were all key aspects of this film as shown. The racism, prejudice of the team when they first met was severe and had been changed. The love and compassion came as the team grew to become one unit and love each other and be able to become something more powerful than they could be by themselves.

Functionalism also portrays the link between social institutions such as the family, education and the economy. With proper socialisation from the family the individual enters the education system and subsequently would be positive addition to the workplace and by extension the economy.

In brief, this film is about two schools in Alexandria Virginia that integrated in the early 1970s to form T.C. Williams High School. The white head coach of the Titans (Coach Bill Yoast) is replaced by an African American coach from North Carolina (Coach Herman Boone). Tensions arise when players of different races are forced together on the same football team. Many of these tensions are eased during the two-week training camp in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. When players returned to Alexandria the players found the city in turmoil due to the forced desegregation of the high school. As the season progresses the team's success caused the community to accept the changes. After the Titans' perfect season, the team and the city were closer than ever.

Having attended public schools throughout my childhood and adolescence, I never was familiar with the term functionalism and its many elements. After observing and analyzing my field placement classroom I have come to understand the concept of functionalism to some extent. In general, functionalists “see schools as serving to socialize students to adapt to the economic, political, and social institutions of that society” (Feinberg, p.6, 2004). They also theorize that in order for societies to survive, they must carry out vital functions such as, attaining fundamental knowledge and acquiring essential skills and proficiency, acknowledging certain norms and values within their community, and recognizing authority figures. It is also