Football is a lifestyle in the southern region, where individuals, whether they are players or mere enthusiasts, invest their entire physical and mental well-being into the sport. H. G. Bissinger’s book, Friday Night Lights, portrays an authentic tale of the Odessa Permian High School Panthers football team during the 1988 season, shedding light on the reality of life in a town that harbors not only football fanatics but also individuals struggling with racism and economic challenges.
In the movie Friday Night Lights, director Peter Burg depicts a team and a town longing for the state title, without exploring the issues of race, gender, education, and other significant themes discussed by Bissinger in his book. As Bissinger puts it, “Those lights become an addiction if you live in a place like Odessa, the Friday Night fix.” (Bissinger XVI). The focus is primarily on football, with education taking a backseat. The Permian Panthers, the high school football team portrayed in the film, were no ordinary team. They had an unparalleled win-loss record in the state and had secured five state championships.
Playing football for the team was the ultimate achievement for every boy in the town. In Odessa, people’s identities revolved around the school football team, and many experienced the thrill of victory through the players. This obsession with having a successful season had a negative impact on education, as class time, homework, and test-taking all suffered. The townspeople were so consumed by their love for football that they didn’t question the team’s extravagant spending on chartered planes for away games, which cost $20,000 per ride, while teachers struggled to find funds for textbooks and essential teaching materials.
Students who were not on the football team experienced negative impacts because a large portion of the funding went towards supporting the football team. LaRue Moore, a teacher at Permian high, earns $32,000 for having 20 years of experience and holding a master’s degree. In contrast, Gary Gaines, who serves as both head coach and athletic director and does not teach any classes, receives a salary of $48,000 along with a new Taurus sedan each year. The allocation of resources towards the football team hindered the academic development of students. Boobie Miles, for instance, had a school day that began with a language arts class where he performed at a level two years below his peers. He was assigned to write a research paper about zebras. Next, he attended Algebra I, a course typically taken by freshmen, and struggled to pass. In the afternoon, he enjoyed creative writing class where he played with a purple plastic gargoyle-like monster and wrote a few words for his story. This class was his favorite because the teacher had low expectations for him and recognized football as his main talent.
He eats candy and leaves early for football practice. Not only is this happening at Permian but Dallas Carter also goes on to win the state championship, although they face severe penalties the following year for tampering with grades. The principal changed one player’s grade to a passing grade so that they could play in the championship game. This demonstrates how people were so focused on winning that they couldn’t admit their mistakes and had their priorities distorted. The movie Friday Night Lights barely mentions the educational aspect addressed in the book.
The passage briefly mentions Boobie expressing his frustration to his uncle in the car about being limited to only playing football and not being able to do anything else. Another instance occurs when Winchell, Chavez, and Billingsley are shooting in a dirt parking lot. Winchell and Billingsley lament that they are trapped in Odessa because their families rely on football, and their grades do not support other options. However, Chavez, who later attends Harvard, has an escape from the town through his strong grades, freeing him from dependence on football.
In 1988, race was a major issue and it continues to be a significant concern even after 21 years. The term “nigger” is frequently used in Odessa, Texas. However, those who use this word do not view themselves as racist or hold any animosity towards black individuals. Instead, they perceive that there are two distinct categories within the black community – those who are amiable and diligent, and those who are boisterous, indolent, thieving or reliant on government assistance. The Caucasian inhabitants of Odessa do not consider these individuals deserving of being labeled as black or receiving respectful treatment.
Odessa has its own symbolic division between black and white residents, represented by the railroad tracks running through the town. These tracks serve as a physical and metaphorical barrier between the races, emphasizing the ongoing racial attitudes and tensions. The townspeople in Odessa only accept black football players if they excel in the sport. Once the players are no longer useful to the Permian Panthers football team, like Boobie Miles, they lose their significance to the town and are seen as just another derogatory term. The film adaptation of the book barely addresses the issue of race, despite it being a central theme. There is only one scene in the movie that brings attention to race – a meeting between the coaches of Permian and Carter to decide on the location and officials for the state championship game. The African-American Carter coach expresses discomfort with bringing his team and fans to Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium due to the presence of white Permian fans.
There was a discussion about the racial identity of the officials during the game. Someone even questioned whether having black officials would ensure victory for Carter Coach. When the African American players from Carter entered the championship game, they made barking sounds like dogs, which seemed to suggest their inferiority compared to the mostly white Permian team. Even at our present school, athletes are treated differently, both positively and negatively.
Both a boy and a girl faced disciplinary consequences, but their outcomes differed based on their involvement in sports. The girl, who was not engaged in any sporting activities, was expelled from campus while the boy, who participated in a sport, received a milder punishment. I have personally encountered a similar situation when my group of friends, all athletes like myself, were being reprimanded by the RA. The RA initially inquired about our participation in sports and allowed those who answered negatively to leave before proceeding to record our names for documentation. Furthermore, within the cafeteria setting, it is customary for athletes to occupy the right side while non-athletes typically sit on the left.
A college official once approached us and shouted because only athletes were on one side. This occurred because a boy had taken a chair from the other side. There are definitely instances where athletes receive advantages and also instances where they face disadvantages. In 2009, sports hold great importance to people. Many individuals are highly passionate about games, players, and teams. I found the book “Friday Night Lights” to be exceptionally good and enjoyed it more than the movie adaptation. It captures the realistic aspect of the game, making you feel as if you are experiencing it alongside the characters due to its authenticity and relatability; everyone has gone through the struggle of working hard for something and ultimately losing.
The movie portrayed a distorted and beautiful image, without delving into the underlying dark aspects behind the scenes. The author expresses their disappointment and shock at encountering extreme racism, misguided educational focus, and a town that had lost its ability to self-reflect. Ignoring these elements would have been a journalistic failure. (Bissinger 353)
