03x04 - Coach of the Year

[bunniefuu]

- [Announcer] Augustana backed
up into their own end zones.

th down and three yards to
go for the go ahead touchdown.

- [Coach Voiceover] Everybody
wants a piece of the champ.

- Teddy, you okay?

- [Coach Voiceover] You
hit a little harder,

you run a little faster,
and you concentrate

just a little bit better when
you're up against the best.

- Teddy, you okay?

- [Teddy] Yeah.

- The Hit Man says he's okay.

He's hurting, we're all hurting.

Soldiers hurt.

Soldiers hurt.

Soldiers hurt.

They hurt together.
- Teddy, you okay?

- [Coach Voiceover]
They bleed together.

- Teddy, you okay?

- [Teddy] Yeah.

- The Hit Man says he's okay.

(crowd cheering)
(heart b*ating)

- [Coach Voiceover] The
Hit Man says he's okay.

(crowd cheering)
(heart b*ating)

- I'm fine, Doc, I'm fine.

- [Doc Voiceover]
Teddy, you okay?

- [Teddy Voiceover] Yeah.

- [Coach Voiceover] The
Hit Man says he's okay.

- [Doc Voiceover]
Teddy, you okay?

- You okay, man?

Doc, come here!

- Mom.

(static)
(paint spraying)

? We've never thought upon

? The place where we belong

? Don't have to stand alone

? We'll never let you fall

? Don't need permission
to decide what you believe

? Whoo, I say Jump

? Down on Jump Street

? Say Jump

? Down on Jump Street

? Your friends will be there

? When your back is to the wall

? You'll find you need us

? 'Cause there's
no one else to call

? When it was hopeless a
decision's what you need

? You better be ready to

? Be ready to

? Jump

? Jump Street

- Mom.

- We're right here, Teddy.

- [Teddy] Did we win?

- to .

- [Teddy] I almost scored us
in the second half like that.

- Yeah.

- I feel kind of numb.

How come everything
feels so numb?

- When you made the tackle,

you hurt your neck.

- Means I'll what,

wear a neck brace for a
couple of games, huh Doc?

- When you hurt your neck,

you damaged your spinal column.

Reason you feel numb is

you're paralyzed.

- Mom.

- Easy, son, easy.

- [Teddy] Mom.

- It's gonna be okay, honey.

(people chatting in background)

- You know this is your fault.

- Marion just leave it alone.

- Leave it alone?

Leave it alone?

Is that all you can say.

Teddy's life is over.

- Don't say that.

- It's over.

It's over because
of a silly game.

- Teddy loved football.

Ever since he--
- Ever since

you put a ball in his hands.

- Marion.

- This will never heal, Jack.

- There's a white Jeep.

seconds to move
it, or it goes away.

- Oh, that's my Jeep.

Be a sweetheart and move
it, will you, Officer--

- Hanson.

- Hanson.

Yes, be a sweetheart
and move it for me,

will you Officer Hanson.

- And be a sweetheart and get
it washed while you're at it,

Officer, umm-

- Hanson.

- Hanson, that's right.
- Yes.

My name is Hanson.

- That's her.

- That's supposed
to be a secret.

- Jude, there are no secrets.

- A blow broke Teddy's neck
leaving him quadriplegic.

Unable to move
anything but his head.

Now the district attorney's
office would like to know if

Coach Rickman's attitude
and coaching style

might have contributed
to the injury.

- Wait a minute, Jackie.

The city wants to yank a
successful coach like Rickman,

bring him up on charges for
being too good at his job?

- Teddy was injured
the week before.

He didn't even participate
in contact scrimmages,

yet Rickman made him
play on Saturday.

- Yeah, well, these rah-rah
types are real Neo-Nazis.

- If he's forcing
kids to play injured,

we're definitely talking
criminal negligence.

- Rickman is the best.

Parents move into his district

just so their kids
can play for him.

- Why not?

He's produced more
NCAA scholarships

than schools combined.

He's won three state
championships in the

last eight years.

- You ready to suit up, Penhall?

- Football?

I knew this day would come.

Yes sir.

- Look, Harry will
handle background.

Booker?
- Yeah.

- You're the foil.

- Alright.

- Oh, Captain, are you really
set on that combination?

- Beef and brains, I think
it's a perfect combination.

(scoffs)

- You don't want
this assignment,

just tell me, Penhall.
- No, no.

I want it.

- Swell.

- Hello sports fans.

(bangs file cabinet)
(yells)

Hey, hey.
- What.

- We should probably
talk about this

since we're gonna
work together, right?

- Yeah.
- Alright.

How about doing something
really outrageous,

something really crazy,
you know, like maybe--

- We're just going in there
to play football, man.

Alright?

- [Fuller On Phone]
Well, like I said,

when they told me
they were moving,

I knew Augustana was the
only place for them to play.

- Oh, well it's good to
see that our reputation

stretches all the way
back to New Jersey.

- Hell, Valdosta,

Moeller,

Augustana,

you're all legends in
high school football.

- Thanks.

We work very hard
to make that list.

I hope these boys
can contribute.

- Yeah, well I'm
certain they will.

Now, like I said,
they're brothers.

One's a half-back, and DB,

and the other's a line
back and tight end.

- Uh huh.

- And there's one more thing

I should tell you
about these boys,

now, they're the best
players I ever coached.

But they are a little

unique.

- Unique?

- Weird.

- Any drug problems?

- No, no, no, no, no.

They just a bit strange.

I can't explain it.

- Coach, if these
boys can start for me,

I don't care if they spend
their nights in drag.

- Oh no, they never done that,

that we know of.

- I appreciate the call,

and good luck with your season.

- Yeah, thank you,
thank you, I'll need it.

- Would you send in

Doug and Dennis
Blackwood, please?

- So, I hear you boys
wanna play some football?

- Maybe.

- Maybe.

- [Both] Maybe.

- One, two, three.
- One!

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

- Okay, break it up.

Offense, defense.
- Blackwood.

Alright, listen up, Dennis.
- No, I'm Doug.

Don't make that mistake again,

'cause I'm really
sensitive about it.

- Take the right, inside, Doug.

- Okay, boss.

- Unique.

- Defense, scrapes strong.

- Ready? Break.

(grunts)

- [Blue Team] Break!

- [Players] Go left,
go left, go left.

- Blue .

Blue .

Now!

Ten hut!

- [Dennis] What the
hell is your problem?

- Nothing, I feel fine, Dennis.

- That's the way he
hits his brother?

- Yep, and he likes his brother.

- Hey, pal, I wasn't
put on the team

to be a traffic accident.

- Oh, you can't take it?

- I'm supposed to make
you look good, remember?

- You don't think I could
have ran right through you,

if I wanted to?
- No, I don't.

- No, you don't?
- Excuse me, gentlemen.

- My office, now.

- You're toast, pal.

- What you got, Harry?

- Personal highlight
films, Captain.

All these parents taped
the Augustana games

with their home video cameras.

And guess who they isolate?

- [All] Their kid.

- What a great idea.

- That's good work, Harry.

Look, I want every
tape of that accident.

- You got it.

- Okie dokie.

You two wanna tell
me what's going on?

- There's nothing going on.

Sir.

- Any first
impressions of Rickman?

- Yeah, just another
rah-rah n*zi dink.

- I happen to think
he's a hell of a coach.

Taught me more in one day
than I learned in two years

at my school.

- They didn't teach you
cheap sh*ts at your school?

- That was a clean hit, Dennis.

- I put Booker in there

so you wouldn't hurt
anybody, Penhall.

The last thing I need is you
injuring some high school kid

or your partner in
your quest for glory.

- Well, I gotta go all out,

if I expect not to
get hurt myself.

And if you can't take it,

shouldn't go crying
to the captain.

- I can take anything
you can dish out.

- Really?
- Yeah, really.

- Hey, excuse me?

I thought there was
no problem here?

- There's not.

- Rickman is a great coach.

Teaches you how to stay in the
game mentally and physically.

He's a winner

who wins.

- Yeah, but at what cost.

I wanna know how
far he'll go to win.

Look, is there a team
doctor at practice?

- Not full-time.

- Yeah, well, that's typical.

Nobody between the
coach and the player

to determine if the player
should be on the field.

- A guy knows when he's hurt.

- You ever played hurt, Penhall?

- Sure.

- Why?

- 'Cause I didn't
wanna miss a game.

- Exactly.

The kid wants to play, the
coach wants him to play.

The doctor's caught
in the middle.

So Teddy was injured
all that week.

Yet he started
Saturday afternoon.

Penhall, I want you to try to
get close to the Vukovich kid.

Find out just how hard
Rickman pushed him.

- You want me to talk to him?

I mean,

can't

Ioki check him out?

- Look, I know
it's uncomfortable,

but it might do you
some good, Penhall.

Might underscore
your own mortality.

- How ya feeling, Champ?

We just wanted to stop
by and let you know

our thoughts are with you.

- Thanks.

- I got somebody here
who wants to meet you.

Blackwood.

- Hey, I'm Doug Blackwood.

I just transferred
in to Augustana.

I heard about your accident,

and I wanted a
chance to meet ya.

I wish this could be under
better circumstances,

meeting you and all.

Maybe I could come
back sometime,

and you could tell me how to
stop that Dexter Hecter, huh?

- Yeah, sure.

- Okay, that's enough
about football.

Thank you all for coming.

- Teddy,

we all signed it.

- You got a minute, Coach?

- Sure.

- It's really nice of you

to bring the guys by today.

Listen, I just wanted to say,

I wanted you to know

that I understand that this
was a terrible accident.

I don't blame you.

- I appreciate that, Jack.

Teddy was a hero.

These boys know it.

I've been thinking about naming
a special award after him.

We've got a kickoff
club banquet coming up,

and I'd like to establish an
award that embodies courage

and all out effort.

- That'd be real nice, Coach.

- Uh, uh, uh, hey, hey.

- Oh, Andrea.

- You were the one who said
we should keep this a secret.

- Well, I changed my mind.

- In my office?
- So what?

- So, you were pretty good at
playing Mr. Cool and Distant

at your place of business.

- Well, they already know.

- Oh, okay.

I'll have to drop by
your office later.

You won't mind just

throw you over Penhall's
desk for a nice big hello.

- Now, see, that would be fine.

But right now we're
in your office

at your desk.

- And you don't have the nerve.

- Excuse me.

Look here.

Get rid of this.

- Excuse me.

Am I interrupting something?

- No, not at all.

I was just clearing my desk.

Tom Hanson, Councilman Davis.

- Hi.
- Glad to meet you.

We've met before?

- Yes, I'm over at Jump Street,

and you tried to
dismantle the program.

- Well, I hope that won't
affect your vote come November,

Officer.

- Saw you over at the
courthouse today, Hanson.

- Yeah, to drop something
off at the D.A.'s office.

- As in Deputy D.A. Garrett?

- Yeah.

- Oh, come on, Hanson,
you holding out on me?

- You know you'd be the first
to know about my love life.

- Bull. Penhall would
be the first to know.

- Well, you'd be the second.

- Blowfish will be the second.

- [Coach] Ten hut!

Ten hut!

Now,

ten hut!

(grunts)

(whistles)

(players yelling)

- I'll get over it, Coach.

- The doc's here today,
have him check it out.

That's enough for today.
- That's it.

Three laps and out.
Now get outta here.

- You have some personal
problems with your brother?

- My brother's a
little delicate, Coach.

- There you go.

- Yeah, feels better.

Think I'll be able
to practice tomorrow?

- You probably should
stay off it a day or so.

- You think I could play

if I don't hit for the
whole rest of the week?

- We'll make that
determination later on.

- How you doing, Doug?

- Not bad.

- You know, I always
wanted to be a linebacker.

- Really?
- Really.

The heart and soul
of the football team.

You know what Bear Bryant
said a linebacker oughtta be?

"Hostile,

"agile,

"mobile."
- Yeah.

I love it.

- Doug, I wanna talk
to you about something

I feel is very important.

If you give % out there,
you will not get hurt.

I guarantee that.

You only get hurt if you
don't go hard enough.

Now, it's up to you,
it's your responsibility.

- [Doug] I understand.

- You know,

one of the most valuable
things a player can learn

is the difference
between pain and injury.

Pain is a suffering in the mind

that goes along with discomfort.

Now we all feel
discomfort now and then.

But what makes us really tough,

what makes us true soldiers,

is when we can
overcome that feeling.

Now, an injury is damage,

real physical damage.

The mind can't overcome
that, only the body can

through treatment and healing.

- Well, I don't
think I'm injured.

- Good.

'Cause I want you to know
what a fine group of men

you're playing with out there.

Now you don't have one brother
out there on that field,

you have .

Now they've played
in pain together,

they've spilled blood together.

And you're a part
of that spirit now.

- Yeah.

I understand.

- Whether you play or not,
that's strictly up to you, son.

- Thanks Coach.

- How you doing, bro?

- Don't call me bro.

(keys clacking)

I'm just saying that

I don't think we'll be able to
make a case against this guy.

Teddy Vukovich was a
very aggressive player.

That was a freak thing, you
know, one in a million chance.

- Oh, who do you think taught
him to play that way, Doug.

- Jackie, what-- (stammers)

She's got it in for the game.

You have it in for the game.

What do you even
understand about it?

- I understand that it's about
fumbling the other players

so you feel superior,

so you feel a little
better about yourself.

- Oh, please.

- I also understand it's a
very brutal, and dangerous,

and ridiculous
game the boys play.

A game that produces emotional
as well as physical cripples.

- But it's never boring.

- This is true.

I mean when Doug Flutie pulled
it out in the last minute

against the 'Canes in
the Miracle Miami game,

now that, that was exciting.

- Well put.

- Captain!
- Yeah.

- I got something you're
gonna wanna see right away.

- What, another
personal highlight tape?

- Fred Hennessy, Jr.

- Fat Freddie?
- Fat Freddie.

This is Rickman and the Doc
arguing during the game.

This was right before
Rickman signaled Teddy

back in to the game.

- No soundtrack, great.

- [Fuller] Yeah, but one person
knows what they were saying.

- Fat Freddie.

(sighs)

- You want a little
piece of advice?

- Nope.

- Too bad, you're
gonna get it anyway.

I think you better remember
you're investigating a case,

not trying out for a
college scholarship.

- Yeah, I know that.

- So what are you?

Living out some fantasy?

- Maybe.

Hey.

I was a good ball player
stuck on a bad team

with a bad coach.

Now,

now I'm getting this rush,

and I'm feeling
good about myself.

I know what winning looks like,

but I wanna know
what it feels like.

- Yeah, but you're taking
this too seriously.

It's just football.

I mean, have some fun.

Hit somebody.

- Yeah, well, you don't
understand either.

- No, I understand.

But I think it's a crock.

I mean, where's
that great moment?

Do you ever think about it?

Is it when you win?

Right before you think
you're gonna win?

Right after?

It's kind of fleeting,
don't you think?

These coaches smile
and congratulate you.

Then they come in the next day

and say you can't
rest on your laurels.

You gotta prove yourself
over and over every day.

Who really benefits here?

The player,

or the coach?

- I gotta play.

- If you got some ghosts,

you better deal with them, man.

Or they're gonna haunt
you for a long time.

- I told you I didn't
want any advice.

- How's your leg?
- Better.

- You've proven you're a very
special player, Blackwood.

I'm looking for you
to become a captain

of the special teams.

- Really?
- Really.

I need some
leadership out there.

I need somebody who embodies
the spirit of special teams.

I'm looking for
reckless abandon.

I'm looking for an animal.

- I'm your animal, Coach.

- Show me.

- Better call for a fair catch.

- Never.

- Two, ready?
- Hut!

- Now!

Ten hut!

(players grunting)

- What the hell was that?

(grunting)

- Kicking team, here right now!

- Six nothing, bro.

(team yelling)

(whistling)

- Break it up, break
it up, break it up.

Hey, that's it, that's it.

Hit the showers.

- Now they're ready
for Windsor High.

(players chatting)

- Hey.

- Hey,

you okay?

- Oh yeah.

- So what's the deal, man?

How come you and your
brother always fighting?

- He's the one.

- Yeah, well, he says
the same thing about you.

- Yeah I know.

Hey, listen, I'm gonna
visit Teddy Vukovich,

you wanna come?

- Nah, I don't think so.

- Oh, I know what you mean.

You were there when he was hurt.

You were playing, right?

- No, I was on the bench.

Look, Blackwood,

I gotta run now, okay?
- Yeah, sure.

- [Jack] You got
a visitor, Teddy.

- Hey.

- I'll be down the hall
if you need me, son.

- Is it okay if I sit down?

- Yeah.

- How ya feeling?

- Not bad,

considering I can't even go
to the bathroom by myself.

Got a tube running down my leg.

I don't even know
when I go, man.

What the hell are
you doing here?

- I wanted to pick your brain,

see what you know
about Dexter Hector.

- You got the job,
you figure it out.

- If you want me to
go, just say the word.

- No.

You could stay.

- You know, you're the
first guy from the team

to come and see me by himself.

- Really?

- People get spooked, you know.

I can see it in their eyes.

- I heard that you were hurt.

Did you wanna play that day?

- I always wanted to play.

Soldier's always ready to fight.

- But you were hurting.

- Yeah.

- 'Cause,

I'm hurting, and I don't
know if I can tell the Coach

that I can't play.

- Yeah, well, if you can,
you're a bigger man than I am.

Was.

I've always pictured myself in
a Chicago Bears uniform, man,

since I was six years old.

Number , man.

- Butkus.

- He retired when I
was two years old.

My father used to always
tell me about him,

used to show me the films.

How do I see myself now, man?

Hmm?

- I don't get this.

You're a cop and you play
high school football?

- For a good cause.

- Told you I don't
wanna talk about Teddy.

- You were sitting right there,

you heard what was said.
- Look, man, I can't.

I just can't.

What would my father say,
what about Coach Rickman?

- Or Teddy Vukovich?

The guy's stuck in a wheelchair
for the rest of his life.

Or haven't you
thought about that?

- Yeah, I thought about that.

Look, man, you don't
understand what I go through.

I don't like football.

I'm not good at football.

I mean,

look at me, man.

Do I look like a
football player to you?

My father holds
six NCAA records.

Man, I been hearing
about those records

since I was eight years old.

- Well, maybe it's time for
you to stand up to your father,

but we're talking about a
guy who's paralyzed here.

- Forget it, man.

You wanna nail
Rickman to the wall,

do it without me.

I didn't hear a thing.
- Hey, hey, hey.

Come here, come here.

Listen, it's real important

that you don't tell anybody
about me, you got that?

Or my brother.

- Hey don't worry, I just wanna
be left alone, alright, man?

I'm not telling anything
to anybody, period.

- As soldiers,

you fight together.

You sacrifice for
your high school,

your coach,

and most of all, for
your fellow soldiers.

Now you have all
heard me talk about

the brotherhood of pain.

It has never been more manifest

than in this situation
of Teddy Vukovich.

Teddy Vukovich would rather die

than let a teammate down.

He gave his life for this team.

That's why this game
today is dedicated to him.

Now, I spoke to Teddy this week

and went over to the hospital.

"Stop Dexter Hector.

"b*at Windsor."

That's what he said to me.

That's what he wants.

That's what you all want.

You have the power to
give him what he wants.

You have the power

to give him what he wants.

He was your classmate.

He was your friend.

But when he put on that uniform,

he was your brother.

You fought with him.

You bled with him.

And now, share his pain.

I know you don't wanna
let your brother down.

I know I wouldn't.

Alright, let's go!

(team yelling)

- [Announcer] This
is Dave Harnum

with KTFW, Agustana
student radio,

back with you live

as the Augustana
Bulldogs take the field

for the start of
the second half.

This ball game is
all tied up at -

between conference rivals

the Augustana Bulldogs

and the Windsor High Wildcats.

(crowd cheering)

- Would you take
some of this please?

Excuse me.

Sal, could you put
that thing down

and grab some food, please?

- Hey, Penhall said
not to miss a thing.

- Evidence. Can
you believe this?

What I miss, what I miss?

- [Announcer] Four
minutes, seconds

left in the th quarter.

Augustana pinned deep
in their own territory,

clinging to a - lead.

- Gold line special,
gold line special.

Let's go Wyatt, let's go.

What's the problem here?

Ready, break!
(team grunts)

- [Announcer] Augustana,
with it's defense rated

number one in the conference,

sets up to try and stop Windsor.

nd down in the
Augustana -yard line.

Windsor sends Beech
right, Elias to the left,

and in the back
field, Dexter Hector,

who leads the conference
in rushing right now.

- Come on, Blackwood.

- [Announcer] Sherman
takes the snap,

hands off to Dexter Hector,

up the middle,

stopped by Doug Blackwood.

The Lion's done it.
(whistle blows)

For no gain on the play.

(crowd cheering)

- Dough, you all right?
- Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, you ain't nothing.

(yelling)

- [Announcer] rd down
and goal for Windsor High.

A field goal does him no good.

Doug and Dennis Blackwood,
recent transfers

from New Jersey,

doing a hell of a job
here in this second half.

(crowd cheering)

(players yelling)

Sherman takes the snap.

Pitches to Dextor Hector.

Sweet vine, he's
going all the way!

Oh, he's nailed
by Doug Blackwood.

Inside the Augustana
-yard line.

That makes it th down,
less than a yard to go

with one minute,
seconds left.

This may be the last
chance for Windsor High.

If they don't score here,

Augustana should be able
to run out the clock.

- [Augustana] Hut!

- [Windsor] Break!

: left in the game.

th and Goal.

Windsor High coming
up to the line.

Dexter Hector, the long setback.

(players yelling)

And he's down by the
Blackwood brothers.

(crowd cheering)

Augustana takes over the ball,

st and from their
own -yard line.

(grunts)

- It's too soon?
- No, no.

I really hurt my
leg, it's no bull.

- Really?
- Yeah.

- We really did it, didn't we?

- We sure as hell did, man.

I'm through, Doc, I don't
think I could play no more.

- It's okay, you did one
hell of a job out there, son.

- [Announcer] Augustana
with the ball.

Dixon breaks a
tackle at the five.

He crushes them to .

The , the full goal.

Oh, and it's Windsor's ball
on the Augustana -yard line.

The snap pitched outside
to Dexter Hector.

Sweeping left, he's
got plenty of room.

Stopped at the -yard
line by Marvis.

No time outs
waiting for Windsor.

The clock running down,
only seconds left.

Windsor going to the
hurry up offense.

The snap, Sherman
fakes to Dexter Hector,

drops back, Elias is
wide open on the ,

he throws.

Oh, he's going in the hole.

Oh, he's down on
the -yard line.

Windsor marching
right back down field.

The injured Doug Blackwood
was sorely missed

on this side.
- Time!

(whistle blows)

- [Coach] Blackwood,
we need you.

- I can't Coach, I'm hurt.

- I want the defense
here right now.

- [Assistant Coach] Defense,
defense, get over here.

Defense, right now.

- Blackwood here has
decided to take himself

out of the game.

He's through for the day.

You guys can carry
on without him.

How many of you guys
are hurting, huh?

You're all hurting.

How many of you guys have taken
yourselves out of the game?

Just Blackwood here.

Your brother was
right. You're a wimp.

- Come on, Coach, what
are you waiting for.

Get your team out on the field.

- Now you get back
out on that field,

or you leave the stadium, son.

- [Announcer] Well
it looks like,

yes, the injured Doug Blackwood

is coming back into the game.

(crowd cheering)

- Time! Time!
(whistle blows)

- [Announcer] Augustana
has called time out.

And Doug Blackwood is
coming back off the field.

- What's he doing?

- He's retiring from the game.

- Now you get back out
on that field, mister.

I'm talking to you.

I've given you an order.

- Hey.

I wanna tell you what he said.

- Listen, I told you we had--
- We got him.

We got him dead bang.

Freddie told me everything.

Listen,

the Doc wanted
Teddy out, period.

Rickman insisted
that he goes back in,

he just overruled the Doc.

You were right and
I was wrong, Jackie.

I owe you a big apology.

We can make this case.

We got a case.

Captain, I see what you
was talking about, man.

There's nobody between
the player and the coach,

and the Doc has no
power over Rickman.

So we got this guy.

Somebody die?

- Yeah, our case, Doug.

- I take it this is
your undercover officer?

- Doug Penhall,
Councilman Davis.

- Oh,

the

Councilman Davis.

- Listen, I wanna thank you
for your fine work on this job,

and by that I mean the
Augustana victory last night.

Your assignment's over.

Talked to the chief, and
I've talked to the D.A.

I'm putting an
end to this farce.

- Wait a minute,
you can't do that.

- I can't?

Coach Rickman is a
hero in this community.

I went to Augustana,
I'm proud of this man.

If I'd known how far
you were gonna go,

I would've put an end
to this a long time ago.

- He sent a hurt player--
- You have involved yourself

in a reckless manner.

You're setting up
the school district

for a massive liability suit.

No way.
- Oh, okay.

So Coach Rickman just goes
on doing what he's doing,

and you're not going to do
a thing to stop this guy?

- What I'm gonna do

is give him an award.

(people chatting)

- Can I have attention please?

Like to say a few words
about Coach Rickman.

We all love a winner.

Coach Rickman

is

a winner.

He turned us

into winners, into soldiers,

into warriors.

Coach Rickman encouraged me,

no he made me,

play

at %.

If you play at %,

you won't get hurt.

If I do get hurt,
it must be my fault.

I must not have played at %.

Coach Rickman taught me
to punish the other guy.

But what I didn't
realize is that

I was actually punishing myself.

(people murmuring)

See the human body is not
meant to be a battering ram.

Yesterday I played,
and I was hurt.

I didn't want to admit
that I was in pain.

Teddy Vukovich didn't want
to admit that he was in pain.

(people booing)

Teddy's in a wheelchair
for the rest of his life.

- Who are you?

- Who am I?

I'm your wake-up cal, pal.

Coach Rickman does not
care about your kids.

He cares about winning.

(crowd booing)

We all love football.

But these are kids.

And we're training
them to be K*llers.

A win-at-all-cost coach
may be what you need,

but it's not what
your kids need.

Alright, alright, I'm
outta here, I'm going.

You may not get nailed for this,

but you should.

- Now, ladies and gentlemen,

that young man is a close
friend of Teddy Vukovich.

And he's understandably
very upset,

as we all are about
what happened to Teddy.

Now, later on this evening we
will be dedicating a new award

in Teddy's honor.

An award that embodies
courage and bravery.

But right now, I'd like
to introduce the man

who brought us here tonight.

Coach of the Year.

For the third year running,
ladies and gentlemen,

Coach Lyle Rickman.

(applause)

- [Teddy] You really said that?

In front of all those people?

- Yeah.

In front of all those people.

More scarier than
leaving the game.

(giggling)

It's really good
to hear you laugh.

- Yeah.

Yeah.

You know I'm gonna get out of
this chair one of these days.

- I know you will.

- Yeah.

(mellow music)

(upbeat music)