Opening Image
Texas Longhorns football coach tells a reporter that the best player he has ever coached was Freddie Steinmark, he then launches into the story of Freddie.
Theme Stated
The theme is stated when Freddie gets offered a football scholarship from Texas and he breaks down crying saying that even though he pushes himself to the be the best,he never thought he would actually make it because his whole life he was an underdog.
Set Up
From the first time we meet Freddie Steinmark as a character, he is always pushing himself to be the best person and athlete he can be. Always practicing, going to church, and helping other people. He has to work harder than all of the other football players because of his size but he is a fighter.
Catalyst
Bobby Mitchel moves to town when Freddie is in High school. Bobby is an amazing football player which makes Freddie have to work harder. Because of Bobby, Freddie got a chance to go to Texas.
Debate
Freddie and his father are calling around trying to get Freddie to be noticed by football scouts. He gets denied all the places they call and Freddie and his Dad have an argument about what the point is if no one ever even notices him.
Break into 2
Freddie graduates high school and moves to Texas to start playing football.
B Story
Freddie falls in love with Linda Wheeler from his high school. They stay together throughout the whole movie.
Fun and Games
When Freddie gets the chance to play as a sophomore and a junior and they win a lot of games. They are having fun and Freddie is getting to play a lot.
Midpoint
Freddie gets a leg injury. He plays through he pain and never goes to see a doctor about it because the pain isn't bad enough for him to stop playing.
Bad Guy closes in
Freddie finally has to be pulled out of the game because his leg injury is too bad that it is making him slow and weak. Freddie then has to go to the doctor where they diagnose him with cancer in his leg.
All is lost
Freddie must have his leg amputated to stop the tumor from spreading more than it already has. This means he cannot play in the cotton bowl against Notre Dame which had been his dream since high school to play them and show them what they missed out on.
Dark knight of the soul
With he help of Bobby, Freddie teaches himself how to walk using crutches so he will be able to attend the game.
Break into three
We learn that attending this game is Freddie's last wish when the doctor informs him that no one with his type of cancer lives another year.
Finale
Freddie so heroically limps out of the tunnel and onto the field the day of the Texas-Notre Dame game. He walks out by himself and the whole crowd cheers for him. He stands along the sideline and as the players run by him, every single one of them touch him for good luck.
Final Image
It then goes back to present time when the coach tells the reporter that Freddie died a year and a half later surrounded by his family and Linda. It then goes to show the current Texas Longhorns team as they take the field all of them touch memorial to Freddie Steinmark as they run out of the tunnel and onto the field.
