This film is initially about a white high school football (gridiron) team and the effect on it, the school and wider community when amalgamation with a black school leads to integration of black and white students and teams. Long-term successful (white) chief coach (Patton) is pushed into second place by appointment of black coach (Washington) as new head under an affirmative action program. The film is strongly focused on American values and school system and has the usual overblown Yankee emotional hype, with musical crescendos in appropriate places - for example when the team wins, when the new coach earns wide respect, etc. However it is not without broader relevance in its treatment of bigotry and prejudice. In the final wash up, it is an 'OK' film which Australian audiences - and sport fans in particular - can draw good entertainment and possibly some inspiration.