The Story Behind Remember the Titans
This fall, Cinema Del Ray featured Remember the Titans in celebration of the movie’s 25th anniversary. I was very interested to learn the story behind the inspiring sports film, beloved for its great soundtrack and exciting plot featuring the 1971 T. C. Williams High School football team. I had lots of questions: what part of the movie is fact, and what is fiction? What was Alexandria like more than 50 years ago?
Here’s what I found out about the true story of the Titans in 1971:
- Alexandria integrated its high schools by consolidating all 11th and 12th graders into T.C. Williams High School in 1971. Freshmen and sophomores went to Francis Hammond and George Washington High School. After the schools integrated, several arrests were made because of brick throwing incidents.
- Many of the characters in Remember the Titans are based on real people: Herman Boone was the head coach and Bill Yoast was on the coaching staff. Gerry Bertier, Julius Campbell, the Rev, as well as other Titan players portrayed in the movie are real too. The movie didn't have time to show that the cheerleaders also had to resolve racial tensions. Learning each other's cheers eventually created a strong squad with a good mix of cheer styles and chants.
- When the season began, the Titans quickly saw that by bringing the best players from three different schools together, they had created a powerhouse team. In the movie, they seem like the underdog at times. In reality, their only close game was against Marshall (which was written as the championship game in the screenplay). The Disney version shows T.C. Williams playing against all-white opponents; actually, all the teams they faced were integrated too.
- When the Titans finished their 13-0 season by winning the state championship, Alexandria was jubilant! The victory even drew national attention, with President Richard Nixon reportedly telling The Washington Post that "The Titans of Alexandria saved the City of Alexandria." The Titans’ amazing season and championship win brought Alexandrians, black and white, together in celebration and support of a common cause.
After Remember the Titans was released in 2000, it became a family classic that has stood the test of time. I loved learning that the story behind the movie is just as inspiring.