Friday Night Lights Essay

Friday Night Lights Essay
Friday Night Lights
Is High School football a sport, or is it more than that to some people? Recent newspaper headlines
include such items as coaches abusing student athletes; fathers of athletes murdering coaches, and
mother's disabilitating cheerleading candidates to assure their daughters make the cheerleading
team. In Odessa, Texas high school football is a major contributor to the society of a small town in
Texas society. Every Friday night, 50,000 people fill the stadium to see high school students put
their lives on the line to win a football game. H. G. Bissinger writes a novel called Friday Night
Lights, about a year in 1988 where High School players prepare and play on the High School team,
and what an impact they have ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This novel develops characters that engage in sex, to teachers cheating so their high school football
players can continue to participate on the football field. Many people have a major affect on football
and society in this novel. One of the major characters was Boobie Myles. Boobie was supposed to
be the star athlete on the Permian football team. In the beginning, Boobie was arrogant to his
teammates and wasn't a good team leader. All Boobie cared about was winning and getting to the
next level of football to satisfy his athletic needs. When Boobie is injured, he realizes he took
football for granted and would do anything to play again. The team needs Boobie and Boobie needs
the team. Coach Gaines realizes Boobie was seriously hurt and gives an inspiring pep talk to the
team about how the players need to put their heart in the game and how lucky they are to be playing
for Odessa.
H. G. Bissinger is the author of this book and the narrator. He is very descriptive about each
individual on the football team and how they impact society. Bissinger's word choice and sentence
fluency is excellent. He establishes his characters, develops the plot, and builds the novel to reach a
climatic conclusion. The sentence fluency is well structured and easy to read. Bissinger's writing
will not allow you to put the book down when you start reading the novel.
This book
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

High School Football Essay
High school football over the years has become a huge spectacle lets just talk about the DWF area or
we can even get smaller to make a point if you made a 25 mile radius these local high school teams
play at the Star (seats 12,000), Allen stadium (seats 18,000 cost 60 million), and McKinney's new
stadium (seats 12,000 costs 69.9 million). This is just high school football these young kids playing
under tremendous pressure from the start. The pressure to play high school football is immense,
there are so many media outlets for these kids, and they get coverage from what it seems like all the
time during the season, yet this is all just considered a recreational activity I think it has become
more than that now. The pressure for coaches is high as well dealing with parents, board members,
keeping up with classes as a teacher, and oh you also have to win since football is a performance–
based business (forewarning this will be said a lot). For example I will refer to Boobie Miles from
Friday Night Lights for one final point. Boobie knew if he did not make it in football there was
nothing special for him. That is why when he got hurt he still wanted to play, because he knew that's
all he had. That is a lot of pressure for a 16–18 year to handle, and if they are not up for it they
crack. In college the pressure only increases as well as the criticism this is where the money part
comes into play more so because of the huge contracts that coaches are getting. If your team is not

12 Angry Men And Friday Night Lights Essay
Don't come back to church next week. We don't want to take our chances, associating ourselves with
witchcraft. Stop overthinking it, just vote 'guilty' already. You better bring your A game Friday
night! Harsh standards and scary realities surround the books The Crucible by Arthur Miller, 12
Angry Men by Reginald Rose, and Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger. Every society is
composed of many meticulous standards and expectations. Generally, it seems to appear in sports or
in times of decision making. Realistically, it can show up anywhere and at anytime. Although
pressure may sound like a necessity, too much of it can be demoralizing. The escalating pressure of
society is a common theme shown throughout each story. Accusations ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
More than a couple of jurors were nervous about going against the norm. Which resulted in them
acting very similar to Parris. Regardless that everyone in the room was entitled to their own
opinions, the decision they were about to make was between life or death. Juror #8 simply chose to
vote 'not guilty'. He was one against many, but that did not sway his decision. All he wished to do
was review and scrutinize the dubious case, in which he was assigned. Some would say, he stood his
ground as if he were as stubborn as a mule. He was not going to let a few people's opinions get in
his way. Although he may not have been fighting against a town of people, he was getting harassed
by eleven other duplicitous opinions. For instance, Juror #3 even went as far as yelling, "Let go of
me, God damn it! I'll kill him! I'll kill him!" (Rose, 48). He had no right to make those threats,
period. As a matter of fact, there are no reasons that come close to justifying his actions. On a
positive note, thankfully Juror #8 did not give into peer pressure. Although on the other hand, sadly
many people in today 's society would have resulted to it. Generally speaking, the narrow minded
Jurors were very comparable to the church from The Crucible. The church demonstrated a very
strict biased against any suspicious activity. In a similar way, most of the jurors came into court with
irrational ideas and preconceived

Friday Night Lights Byh.g Bissinger
Sports are so glorified in some areas that schools will put athletics in front of academics. This is
exactly what happened the book Friday Night Lights by H.G Bissinger. BIssinger explains that the
town of Odessa houses the school Permian where everyone grows up on football. The school and the
town give so much praise to the football team that some football players couldn 't care less about
class and eventually the teachers don't care how those players do in class. Mount Vernon is a place
where the students are expected to do well in class first and everything else is second. The school
has extracurriculars, but knows the school's main job is to give students an education. Permian and
Mount Vernon are opposites on the scale of sports and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Permian doesn 't look forward to kids doing great things in academics.
Mt. Vernon does have other things to look forward to in the town so they would never spend 5.6
million on a stadium. The booster club is only willing to buy jerseys for the team every four years,
and those are varsity only jerseys. That means the freshman are wearing jerseys up to ten years old.
In fact the school did its first major improvement to the field in decades. The school put in brand
new bleachers into the side of a hill because they don 't want to spend the money to make a real
stadium. The money for these bleachers didn 't come from the town directly either. It came from
hard work of fundraising and the players and players parents doing most of the work. Bryce Cox, a
Mt. Vernon lineman, drew a picture that sold for five hundred dollars. It is all going to the football
program because the program is doing anything to get money for better gear and more opportunities
on the football field. With attention all the time on the football team, some players think football is a
job and everything else is in the way. Everything else includes school. Classes take a back seat as
players go to class, but zone out to focus on football. All that matters to them in winning on Friday
nights because that is what has been instilled in them. Boobie hated classes between the friday pep
rally and the game and

High School Football Is Popular
High school football began in the late nineteenth century along side many college football teams.
Practices became apparent with multiple pep rallies, cross–town and county rivals, mascots,
marching bands, and homecomings. High school football is considered to be the first tier of football,
prior to collegiate and professional play if a player is good enough. Over the years, high school
football has gained coverage by broadcast media and games can be featured on regional channels.
Overall, high school football is very prominent in many cities and towns across the United States,
but it is especially affluential in areas of the United States such as the state of Texas. In areas where
high school football is popular, not only do the high school students, players, and parents join in the
hype of Friday nights, but the entire town and community revolves around Friday night. The state of
Texas specifically, is known nationally as a very dominant football state. According to an article
from Elite Daily, over 165,000 Texan teens, in over 1,000 schools, participated in high school
football. With that being said, this research will discuss and touch upon the lessons and ideas one
can learn about competition, culture and community from high school football and the areas such as
Texas. It will examine the history of Texas football culture and the concept created entitled "Friday
Night Lights". Following that discussion, a cultural comparison will be featured between high
school

The Influence Of Friday Night Lights On Football Culture
The main idea of this paper is to introduce you to what really happens as a high school athlete and
the things you learn along the way. High school sports is way more than just playing the sport, it
shows you what you are really made of and how to handle problems life is going to throw at you.
The adversity you face as an athlete carries over to real world problems and you have been there and
done that, so handling adversity is second nature. This information comes from all my coaches,
myself and Friday Night Lights. I feel I have already grown as a person by competing in athletics
and calling other people my brothers. Not only does high school athletics help you in the long run,
but it helps you with problems you have now.
High school sports ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It showed everyone's problems and how they handle those problems. In some cases like the star
quarterback Brian who was paralyzed from the waist down, showed how he handle that major
obstacle by himself. Rarely did Friday Night Lights show the coach, players, or family support him.
In real life football culture the star quarterback who was paralyzed would get endless amounts of
support. Not only from his family, but his football family too. The football family along with his real
family would be there with him through all the ups and downs. Not just for a month, but for his
whole life. Football culture creates a bond that can never be broken and Friday Night Lights did a
bad job of showing that truth, but in other cases, Friday Night Lights did an amazing job by showing
the truth of football culture by how they handle adversity. Adversity is everywhere and can hit you
at any time of the day and any day in the year. As adversity hit the star Running Back Dash, he
folded it up and called it quits. He was going to be a gangster and play the "streets" game, but
something changed inside of Dash. After the abuse charges and numerous of injuries he could not
quit, he worked harder than he has ever worked before. He pushed himself to the limit and got that
scholarship he dreamed of getting. You might ask what changed inside of Dash, and that answer is
his coach. His coach walked to his house and told him how it was, he saw great talent and a great
young man. All Dash needed was a reminder and throughout all the problems that have been
explained in this paper you always need that back bone of advice and Friday Night Lights did a
fantastic job of proving that. In the TV show the coach was the backbone for advice. Any problems
the players faced they went straight to the coach. They did not go to their mom or dad, but they went
to the leader of their second family and that holds a

Friday Night Lights Book Report
Friday Night Lights is a non–fictional book written by Harry Gerard Bissinger III. Bissinger wrote
the book in 1990. Chris Weeden wrote that Bissinger said, "It's my best book, my most ambitious
book, but I knew halfway through it was going to have a very limited audience" (2006). Bissinger
was in search of a town controlled solely by sports. Therefore, this search led him to the Permian
High School in Odessa, Texas (the setting for the novel). Friday Night Lights shows how a
struggling town uses its beloved high school football team to overcome racial problems, political
disagreements, and an unprosperous economy. The Permian High School football team and the
superstars of the team give the struggling community something to believe ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
At last, the chance to go to the state championship came down to a 4th and 6 for the Permian High
School with ten seconds left. A touchdown would win the game for the Permian football team;
however, an incomplete pass would end the game in a devastating matter. The dedicated followers
of Permian Football told the result of the play with pure silence opposed to the eruption of the other
team. The Permian High School football team lost the semi–finals and were taunted with "NO MO'
MOJO, MOJO NO MO!" (Bissinger, 1990, p. 334) from the opposing fans. The valiant superstars,
team, and town's dream had fallen just short for that season. The well–known player names of
Boobie, Winchell, Mcdougal, Billingsley, Chavez, and Christian were taken off the depth chart wall
following game; which will soon be replaced by the future of Permian Football. Nevertheless, a life
lesson is taught to each player and fan, life goes on... Friday Night Lights written by Harry Gerard
Bissinger is a must read for any sports avid reader. Bissinger illustrates the lesson that life goes on
through a treasured football team surrounded by a troublesome community. Bissinger is also able to
show how a local high school sports team influences the activities that happen in the town. In the
grand scheme of things, a local high school football team should not be able to unite and inspire a
community to continue on despite the hardships, but the Permian Football team was not your
average high school

Night Lights By Peter Berg And Executively Produced By...
I find it essential to my being to embody the predictable role of an average college student and
watch various shows on Netflix during every free second of my day. Most shows available on
Netflix are not necessarily what is currently available on cable, but that doesn't mean the shows
aren't worthy of being watched on a continuous cycle for hours upon hours, until suddenly realizing
that it's 12 am and the paper due in two hours has yet to be submitted. One of the few shows I would
consider worthy of such procrastination is viewable via Netflix, and is called Friday Night Lights.
Friday Night Lights was developed by Peter Berg and executively produced by Brian Grazer, David
Nevins, Sarah Aubrey, and Jason Katims. The show ended after only five solid seasons in 2010, but
continues to leave everyone who watches hooked, and relating to the various tribulations within the
plot line, including football fanatics, academics, and housewives alike; all within a matter of
episodes.
This American drama television series focuses on a small high school in a fictional town located in
rural Texas, called Dillon. This small town eats, sleeps, and breathes Dillon high school football.
The community in this town is tight–knit and the show focuses on the football team: The Dillon
Panthers, it also zones in on the highly respected Coach: Eric Taylor. In each episode the only
characters you're guaranteed to see are Coach Taylor, along with his wife, Tami, and his daughters
Grace and Julie. The

Friday Night Lights, By H. G
Friday night, under the fluorescent lights glistening off the white shinning helmets with a large black
letter P on both sides. The smell of popcorn and hotdogs fill the air. The screams of twenty thousand
fans echo throughout the arena. That 's more than the number of fans at some NBA games. Football
is more than a game to the people of this town. It 's a way of life, it 's serves as a way out for many
in the town, and it helps forget the horrible economic struggles the town faces. Football for this
town created a false atmosphere, and became an addiction to this town. Football becoming an
addiction has positives and many negatives. "Friday Night Lights," by H. G. Bissinger, tells the
story of the small town of Odessa, Texas, and how football has become an addiction and taken over
the lives of everyone in the town. First, football is more than a game to the people of Odessa, Texas
it 's a way of life. Something they 've been taught about since the day they were born. The tradition,
the honor, the respect that you receive from playing on the Permian football team. This isn 't you
average High school football team where you walk on and your apart of the team. If you suck then
don 't even bother to try out. These kids learn the guts that it takes to be able to even put on a
practice jersey for the team. Football is fearless to the people. The parents want their children to play
even though they could get seriously injured. Their not like some parents today who say football

Racial Tensiona and Low Expectation on Black Athletes in...
In Odessa, an oil–rich town in West Texas, there is a line that separates the two races of blacks and
whites. They called it "the American version of the Berlin Wall – the railroad tracks that inevitably
ran through the heart of town" (Bissinger 91). The tracks are the symbol of the barrier, tension, and
attitude that stand between the two races. To the Odessan whites, African Americans are often
considered extraneous, with few hopes and dreams to follow. It is also a common part of everyday
language to blurt out the word "nigger," without ever categorizing it in a racist context. To escape
the predisposed perception, the football stadium, where the night lights shine, is the solitary
premises where blacks accepted as an identity, as well ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This accident not only jeopardizes Boobie's career, but also lay down the principal truth behind
athletes of colors. Accordingly, Bissinger shows the readers how Blacks are viewed: "Just do to him
what a trainer did to a horse...shoot him to put him out of the misery of life that no longer had any
value" (Bissinger 67). The imagery illustrates here depicts an oppression tone which translates to the
fact that Blacks athletes are solely exploited until they have reach their point of exhaustion. In sum,
Bissinger is implying that African American are only accepted in the realm of Odessa football
because they are physically capable of bringing victory to the game. However, when black athletes
are seen as no longer useful in the playing field, the Permian whites automatically omit them from
the hierarchy. Laurence Hurd, an African American Church of Christ minister, compared this
prejudice to the period of slavery: "Today, instead of the cotton field, it's the sports arena" (Bissinger
109). Through the dialogue of Hurd, the reader can clearly see that this comparison reflects the
antebellum era, in which labor oppression as well as unfair discrimination were at its prime against
people of color. For that matter, Hurd is essentially highlighting the perpetuation of blacks'
exploitation, specifying the continuous prejudice thoughts from the White society. Unfortunately,
Boobie fell under this curse of

Overcoming Adversity In Saul Indian Horse
"It is your reaction to adversity itself, that determines how your life story will develop". – Dieter F.
Uchtdorf Considering that we are all going to experience adversity it is paramount that we overcome
adversity and personally develop and learn that experience to improve your life. In the novel Indian
Horse written by Richard Wagamese and Friday Night Lights written by H.G Bissigner Saul Indian
Horse and various members of the Permian football team encounter adversity respectively. Saul
Indian Horse overcomes adversity throughout the novel while the Permian High school fails to. In
both novels, adversity is encountered through discrimination, personal barriers and unfortunate life
experience. Discrimination and stereotypes are both forms of adversity that attack someone based on
who they are and are challenges that need to be overcome; this is apparent in both novels." The
Kelly's would be your legal guardians, Saul. That means you could leave here and attend a regular
school. You'd have a home, Saul. A real home." (Pg. 95) It is evident that living at St. Jerome's
residential school is a horrible and traumatising experience through Saul's detailed explanation. The
children attending residential school were verbally and physically abused and furthermore the
cultural was stripped from them. Their basis for discrimination was based exclusively on the
children being Ojibway. Fortunately, because of Saul's immense hockey talent, he was offered a
better life through living with Fred and Martha Kelly. Despite the discrimination, Saul focused on
improving at hockey which consequently provided him with the opportunity to leave St. Jerome's
residential school. Unlike Saul Indian Horse, the girls at Permian high School ARE unable to
overcome the subjugation of females and stereotypes of gender roles. "Some of the Pepettes
(Permian High School cheerleaders) spent $100 of their own money to make an individual sign,
decorating it with twinkling lights." (Pg. 27) Every girl at Permian high school desired to be a
Pepette. A Pepette is assigned to a football player and has several responsibilities to fulfil for the
football player. Females at Permian high school goal was to date a football player, once this had
been

Friday Night Lights Book vs. Movie Essay
Friday Night lights
Is High School football a sport, or is it more than that to some people? I've learned that the book is
more sociological, which means that it focused on our human society of racial issues and also
emphasizes the economy and the divide between the wealthy residents of one city versus the more
working–class denizens of another are all subjects that are given an in–depth examination. This is
more of the main or focal point of the whole book and in not so much in the movie. Although
Bissinger's story is a true–life recounting of the 1988 football season of the Permian High School
team, it reads like fiction and even though I believe his book is superior, the theatrical adaptation
still stands apart as one of the great ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In Odessa, Texas high school football is a major contributor to the society of a small town in Texas
society. Every Friday night, 50,000 people fill the stadium to see high school students put their lives
on the line to win a football game. H. G. Bissinger writes a novel called Friday Night Lights, about a
year in 1988 where High School players prepare and play on the High School team, and what an
impact they have on a small city in Texas.
The novel begins with preseason football in the heat of a Texas summer. The players and coaches
practice over 4 hours a day in 100–degree weather. The media is affecting every player pushing for a
state championship and college scouts at every practice. The boys who gave completely of
themselves for their sport are unique personalities. From dedicated quarterback Mike Winchell to
Harvard–bound Brian Chavez to the inscrutable Ivory Christian, the team was full of young men
who were singular human beings, each one bringing something special and indefinable to their
group. And that's just scratching the very surface.The book recounts the tragic story of Boobie
Miles, team's star running back who had been highly recruited by all of the major programs. He is
expected to attend and earn a scholarship to a large state college. The community

Essay On Friday Night Lights
The television series Friday Night Lights gave a glimpse to the rest of the world what Texas high
school football is made of. In the series, the entire town of Dillon, Texas is obsessed with the
football team and they do everything to support the boys; the players, cheerleaders, rally girls,
coaches, and even managers are glorified in the small West Texas town. They feel like celebrities
and are treated like it, but the stardom does not last forever. The song Devil Town was written for
this series and with its repetitive lyrics and the dragging sound of the music, it describes the life in
Dillon without any actual details. The music and lyrics of the song simultaneously start, creating a
feeling of hurriedness, and not leaving any time for the listener to think about the music and the
feeling it creates on its own. This reflects the lifestyle teenage boys were thrown into upon the
entrance of high school and their rushed, and somewhat forced, decision to join the Panther football
team. Halfway through the song, the music becomes ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The words "devil town" sound much more pronounced than the preceding lyrics in the line and that
emphasis of the singer's voice adds to the shock of the name– calling. In addition to this, is the
speaker's name– calling of his friends and himself as "vampires." When sang, the word is very
drawn out and sometimes sounds like four syllables which further highlights the word and its
meaning in the context of Friday Night Lights. Instead of bowing down to the people of Dillon like
every other person, the speaker is calling him and his friends blood– sucking monsters. This is
considered borderline blasphemy against the football "religion," as it is often referred to as in Texas.
Accentuating the word "vampire" as the singer does, only pushes his disappointing realization to the
listener

High School Sports Essay
Competitive sports play a large role in many high schools. In high school I played every sport;
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, I even Wrestled. High school sports
over the past couple of years have become increasingly difficult to keep up with due to the vast
amount of preparation you're expected to do. Most recognize that the Pro's and the NCAA have gone
too far with there's willingness to win. That do whatever it takes to win mentality kills from the
game in my opinion.
High school sports on the other hand are still a classic battle of one's rivalry against another in
shaggy glory. They give us hope that something in sports is still unsullied and restores our faith in
the family values. Though in some places ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this book the Permian high school football team would spend close to $70,000 on charted jet trips
to away games and building a high school football stadium that seated nearly 20,000 and costs
roughly around $5.6 million. Though my high school did not spend nearly as much for any of those
things we did build a wrestling room for our wrestling team, space that could've been used to create
about 5 classrooms. That would've shrank the class room sizes so students would have a better
learning experience instead of the 31:1 student teacher ratio there was when I was a senior.
A school that recently spent a massive amount of money toward athletics in St. Anthony's high
school located in South Huntington, New York. They just build a 140,000–square–foot field house.
The student center will feature a 200–meter indoor track, a multipurpose center court, a weight
room, locker rooms and a team store. It also will include classroom space for chorus, band, orchestra
and dance. The cost for this field house you ask? 41 million Dollars, Money that could've been used
to acquire better teachers or lower tuition the school. The arguments for these sport centers are
simple; the football programs are not just self–sustaining but they also support other sports, these are
stadiums the community wants so there's no harm, particularly when there privately financed. If my
school spent that much money to build a field house like that I'm pretty

Research Paper On Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights Research Paper In H.G. Bissinger's novel Friday Night Lights he goes in–depth
describing the world surrounding high school football in Texas. There is nothing like high school
football in Texas, it is the best thing to happen to many of the people that live there. Winning a high
school state championship in Texas can make someone a hero for the rest of their lives. This being
said, it causes a lot of difficulties once this peak in their life is over at such a young age. Many of
these people do not know how to live with themselves after their days of football are over. They
grow up and live through their kids. Sports and academics are two of the areas of life where parents
attempt to live their dreams and ambitions through their children. Some parents try to continue their
athletic careers or have a successful athletic career through their kids on a daily basis. This can come
from them not fulfilling lifetime dreams or having an unsuccessful career when they had the chance
to participate in these athletic events. Charlie Billingsley is a very good example of one of those
parents. He lives his old running back career through his son, Don Billingsley, who also plays
running back. Charlie was a very successful player for the Permian football team. He played in
college but let alcohol become more important than football. Charlie admitted to it in Friday Night
Lights in a conversation. It is stated, "As Charlie Billingsley said, "I got him to live through,

Essay On Friday Night Lights
H.G. Bissinger tells the story of the obsessive town of Odessa, Texas in his book, Friday Night
Lights. This town has a toxic obsession with high school football and wastes away the week, only
seeking the excitement of Friday nights that are filled with Panther football. The expectations held
for the athletes of Odessa are suicidal and the preparation for life outside of high school is almost
non existent. The town of Mount Vernon, Iowa also lives for Friday nights, however it has a healthy
balance between the thrilling football nights and ordinary, day to day life. Mount Vernon athletes are
held to reasonable standards and are thoroughly being prepared for a successful future. The town of
Odessa is an insane town with twisted ideas that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Most coaches just expect their players to show up, follow the rules, and try their best. If a player is
on time and doing their best at practices, then the coaches are usually happy and satisfied. Mount
Vernon coaches would actually be angry at their players if they lied about having an injury, because
that would result if the player being out of the the season longer than if they taken a break to heal
their wounds. While coaches want to win games in Mount Vernon, just as the coaches of the
Permian Panthers, they still respect the health of their players and almost always put them first.
Permian high school has little to no academic expectations for their student athletes, especially the
football boys. If someone was injured on the team, the coaches didn't expect them to go to class.
Bissinger states, "There was no point in coming to school just to go to class" (Bissinger 49). These
boys are being taught that academics aren't important because football will be their only future. If
these boys do attend their classes, their academic ability is way below average. '"Even though you
have trouble reading, I think you read good. I hope that you become a professional football player,
said Shauna"' (Bissinger 50). Isn't it sad that a high school boy's reading ability is so bad that a
young girl knows that that isn't normal? The academic system for Permian athletes is setting up
these kids for total

Friday Night Lights: Structure Functional Theory Essay
Functionalism views society as the stability and assimilation of a range of forces that function
within it. While society is a separate entity with a life of its own, there are individual elements
contributing to that stability. Functionalism as a sociological theory emphasizes assimilation rather
than the dissociation of society. Therefore, the society is seen as a whole that is compromised of
parts which give one another their identity and their function. The part, whether that is education,
such as a school, or sports, such as a football team, operates in relation to the other parts, and cannot
be entirely understood in isolation from the other parts. All the parts are interrelated, and when there
is a disturbance in any one of the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The individuals in Odessa have "shared values or generally accepted standards of desirability"
(Wallace and Wolf 18) regarding their feelings of high school football and the meaning of coming
together as a town in support for the team. Hence the values that are placed on football, solidarity,
and winning the theory of functionalism can be seen and applied in Friday Night Lights. In order to
live up to the reputation of the town and peers, the Permian Panthers and the coaches set goals so
that they will have a winning season. The goal that is set is to win the state championship and
nothing, including injury will change that goal. This occurs when Boobie Miles, the star running
back, chooses to play in spite of a torn ALC, rather than yielding to the unimaginable pain that he is
in. The team imposed a structure, which establishes the goals and values of the team, therefore
reinforcing the team's solidarity to winning the championship not only for them but for the town. In
spite of the team and coaches setting the goal, Boobie's injury while playing against Midland,
sidelines him for the rest of the season. It is at this junction in the movie that we the injury of one
player affecting the entire team, which leads to the break–down of the whole community. Change is
seen within the team's attitudes and new ways to play without their star running back. In addition,
the desire to win changes the coaching

Friday Night Lights Book Report
H.G. Bissinger tells the story of the obsessive town of Odessa, Texas in his book, Friday Night
Lights. This town has a toxic obsession with high school football and wastes away life until Friday
nights. The expectations held for the athletes of Odessa are suicidal and the preparation for life
outside of high school is almost non existent. The town of Mount Vernon, Iowa also lives for Friday
nights, however they have a healthy balance between these exciting events and ordinary life. Mount
Vernon athletes are held to reasonable standards and are thoroughly being prepared for a successful
future. The town of Odessa is an insane town with twisted ideas that only focus on winning football
games, rather than preparing its young for a successful ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The football field is always filled on Friday nights however, unlike Odessa any other day could be
just as exciting. Almost every month, one can visit small festivals or events. These events bring the
community together and keeps the town lively unlike the dead town of Odessa on any other day. The
people of Mount Vernon express themselves in various things such as, art and antique festivals,
weekly band concerts in the summer, and an annual town festival. Mount Vernon also has a lot to be
proud about such as, all of the state championships from every sport, the historic buildings, and a
strong sense of community spirit. Everybody know everybody and tends to lend a helping hand
when needed. If football was taken away from them, they would be perfectly fine because they have
a balance between football and other aspects of

Essay On Raiders Night
Long nights playing football
The book, Raiders Night by Robert Lipsyte was a very different book compared to other 9th grade
books. While you guys might feel that your gonna read how a guy gets a scholarship and wins a
championship but this book proves that not every sports book is the same. If you go to the library,
and pick any book off the shelf. I doubt you'll find one involving drugs and steroids. At the same
time it was a great book, I loved the intensity on how Matt has everything he needs but now needs to
learn how to put away his distractions and stay focused. For me it was very easy to relate in life, I
was never the big guy that everyone knew. I was just there for football nothing else. I liked the book
a lot because of its intensity, its interesting organization of the book, and it's way how the formed the
characters.
The raiders night was taken place in a town called Nearmont takes us through the eyes of a football
team and how flaws can make a team better than it already was. Matt an 18 year old is starting his
senior year of high school. He is the captain of the Raiders it seems as though he has everything in
the world, good grades, girls, football, but when an event happens that could change his whole life.
What is the captain suppose to do about it? "Should we have stopped it, he thought? Could we
have?" ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These themes are shown through Matt throughout the book. "He thought I was the captain"........"
"So what if I said you messed up and there's an investigation and your games are cancelled and you
don't get a major division 1 scholarship and I go to a no named school. Close to home. Dad on my
back? Who does that help?" The Fantastic descriptions of the characters made it easy to follow the
intense book. The book problems dealt with and problems people deal with everyday. How there are
pros and cons to every decision made. These details were such a big impact to the book the
massively improved the

Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger Essay
H.G. Bissinger's Friday Night Lights brings to mind the cold, autumn nights of 1988 where a town,
just like any other rural town in America, was brought together in such a raw and emotional way.
From the rise and fall of Boobie Miles to the push for the playoffs, it is clear that 1988 Odessa was
swept up in the glory of football to replace the grandeur of the 1950s, which seemed to deteriorate
throughout that hectic decade. While a modern reader may view Bissinger's masterpiece as a tale
from a dated and faraway place, several factors have kept it in the public's eye. What is it about
Friday Night Lights that still resonates today? The answer can still be found in the same rural towns
of America. Though it may seem incredible, Texas is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Furthermore, the English department at Permian High School was starved of necessary learning
materials so funds could instead go towards the football program. Gerrymandering even occurred in
the school district so Permian could hold on to its precious team and receive all of the talented black
players from the poor side of town. Practices such as the ones mentioned above are by no means
extinct. In my own school district of Round Rock, Texas, similar things occurred.
Though my district prides itself on preparing students for college, football is still king. It seems as if
Round Rock requires at least one of its five 5–A schools to be good at football. In 2010, Cedar
Ridge High School was created in the Round Rock Independent School District. Strangely enough,
once Cedar Ridge opened, all high schools seemed to be concerned about their football teams. All of
the extraordinary players were primarily from the area of the city that Cedar Ridge was being built.
Rather than being proud of Round Rock for accommodating more people due to the school's
location, citizens were angered when Cedar Ridge became the new powerhouse in football. Citizens
of Round Rock not being able to put instances such as this in perspective and celebrate a new school
is a major similarity to the Odessans of 1988. A community and its culture hold a

Argumentative Essay On Tv Show
5 TV shows people love to binge watch over and over
(–– removed HTML ––)
Binge watching is the new way that we all watch TV. Netflix and other streaming services have
made that possible for us. It's the ultimate TV freedom. Here are five TV shows people love to binge
watch; make sure that you add them to your list!
1. Friday Night Lights
The ultimate football show was Friday Night Lights. The TV show was based on the 1990 novel,
which the 2004 movie was adapted from as well. The show features a football team in a fictional
town in Texas. A new head coach starts at the school, and he's tasked with getting the team to the
State Championship. It's from this that you meet the different players and learn their stories. It's
engrossing and deals with a lot of issues that still matter today.
(–– removed ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is about Lorelai and Rory Gilmore (mother and daughter) in the fictional town of
Stars Hallow. Lorelai got pregnant as a teenager and has created her own life for her and her
daughter. Rory is herself a teenager and is going to a very prestigious school to help her get into an
Ivy League college. The show focuses on their relationship, the wonderful cast of characters from
the town, and Rory's school.
3. Grey's Anatomy
A medical drama along the lines of ER, Grey's Anatomy is on its 14th season and still going strong.
The show starts off following a group of medical interns at a hospital. The interns all become friends
and also start having relationships with other doctors. The show is addictive and engaging.

4. Entourage
Entourage was a massive hit when it was released, and it's an easy show to binge watch. The show
follows fictional actor Vince and his entourage as they all figure out how to navigate Hollywood.
One of the reasons the show was so popular was the appearances of so many real life actors in the
show.
5. Breaking

Friday Night Lights Should Be Banned In Public Schools
The story Friday Night Lights takes place in a small town called Odessa, Texas in the year of 1988.
After every year of football they hang a picture of each player who made All–State. This reminds
the rest of them what glory looks like. Friday Night Lights gives a perspective of how every small
town high schools are and is very popular for it, however it should be banned in our public schools
because it contains profanity, racism terms, and sexually situations; the results of reading this book
can cause more teenagers or even children to use offensive language, cause more racism than there
already is, and be sexual at a young age. Despite that students now use profanity in their public
schools and even more out of school, this could cause more children and teens to use the offensive
language around their peers.
As Jerrod McDougal states in the book, "I've got no idea what I want to do. I've got no idea what
school I want to go to. My SAT won't be worth shit. And no football schools want me," (Bissinger
308). When McDougal says this, it represented the confusion of about 90 other football players.
After every year Permian football is over; two teenage boys have the opportunity to have a shot for
college football. However, the others just have the memories to look back on. Accordingly to TIME
it states, "The researchers found that on an average teen novels contain 38 instances of profanity,
which translates to nearly seven curse words per hour of reading," (Sifferlin).

What Is The Significance Of Friday Night Lights
H.G. Bissinger makes it clear that while Odessa is a unique place, the ideas he presents can be true
almost anywhere: "Odessa is the setting for this book, but it could be anyplace in this vast land
where, on a Friday night, a set of spindly stadium lights rises to the heavens to so powerfully, and so
briefly, ignite the darkness" (XIV). Friday Night Lights, a book by H.G. Bissinger, is set in Odessa,
a small town located in Texas, where football is revered by the entire town. Bissinger talks about
"the enormous effect of sports on American life" and how it creates a sense of false hope (XII).
Lewis H. Lapham, a famous American writer, commented on the purpose of sports in America that
correlates directly to Friday Night Lights. Lapham argues ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Sports are a large part of America's culture as well as Odessa's. In Friday Night Lights, the players
spend their entire lives training to be successful because sports are all they have to look forward to.
During the final game of the season to make it to state, Ronnie Beavers told his team, "This is the
last minute of your life" (326). Beavers quote shows the importance of the moment. If Permian does
not win the game, they have nothing to look forward to in their future. This semi–final game is
"much more than a game" for Permian. What Beaver is saying is ridiculous, the Permian players act
like Football will determine their future. By following the players and the town, Bissinger is able to
show readers how important sports are in Odessa. Bissinger notes how it was "obvious" that the
students of Permian hold the town on their shoulders (XIV). By following the story of the American
small town, including many personal anecdotes, Bissinger shows the effect that sports have in
Odessa. Friday Night Lights supports Lapham's claim that games represent much more than a game.
It is not merely a game but a way of life. Permian players eat, breathe, and live football. Their lives
are centralized around one thing: Football. Bissinger describes the town when he states, "If you went
to their homes, you might find black toilet seats, or black seat cushions, or black phone book covers,
or black paper plates, or black clocks, or black felt on their pool tables" (39). Bissinger throughout
the book displays how the town revolves around sports. Everything that Odessa does is centered
around the football team. The players train everyday to work to improving their record and that is all
that matters to

Friday Night Lights Movie Vs Book
The book that i read was Friday Night Lights a town, a team, and a dream by Buzz Bissinger. The
movie was the 2004 film. Now the book is way better than the movie. It gives a closer look at some
of players and it goes more in depth on how football is everything for the town odessa. In that way
the book version helps the story being told.n contrast, Ivory is ruled by his nonchalant attitude
toward football. Ivory loves the sport, but hates the pressure that comes along with it. Deeply
religious, he considers being a preacher until he is contacted by a recruiter. After graduation, Ivory is
the only player awarded a football scholarship. This character seems to reinforce the idea that, no
matter how hard they try, the blacks of this community

Essay on Friday Night Lights
Brant Norlander
2/20/11
Sociology of Sports
Prof. Delany
Friday Night Lights Sustaining the ambitions of not only themselves but the alumni and town of
Odessa, Texas is a lot to ask from a young adult. That's exactly what Permian football provides to
the people of Odessa, where the post economic boom of the oil business has left the town in a
racially tense, economic crisis. The lights on Permian High School's football field are the only
sanctuary for the west Texas town. Socially and racially divided, Odessa's mass dependence on high
school football constructs glorified expectations for the football team to temporarily disguise the
disappointments that come with living in a town tagged as the "murder capital" of ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
He is eventually cleared to play through court cases and relentless commitment by the school's
administration. In the midst of all the madness and all of the hype surrounding high school football
in Texas, it is clear that there is no recognition of the importance of education. There is so much
emphasis put into high school football in these communities like Odessa that athletes pour all of
their hopes and dreams into it. Ultimately once these you athletes are eventually stripped of the
game of football, their futures are jeopardized and their lives are irrevocably damaged. They are
finally exposed to the real world more underprepared than ever. Fundamentally all that is left is a
few memories of athletic stardom and still an inadequate education. Bissinger does a good job of
depicting Permian's sex roles which emerge from the social significance surrounding the football
team. Gender inferiority is abundant throughout Permian's socialization. The football identity was
something that was revered. The girls of Permian desired anything having to do with their football
team, while their proximity to the epicenter of the program gave them more honorable status within
the schools social

Friday Night Lights : A Recurring Theme
Marcos Vieira Filho
Due: March 31, 2015
Friday Night Lights
Book Essay
Racism: A Recurring Theme in Friday Night Lights The surprisingly non–fiction novel, Friday
Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream, was written by H. G. Bissinger in 1990. The story
follows the Permian High School Panthers football team of 1998. The setting takes place in the town
of Odessa, Texas. Bissinger describes this town as, "the setting for this book, but it could be
anyplace in this vast land where, on a Friday night, a set of spindly stadium lights rises to the
heavens to so powerfully, and so briefly, ignite the darkness." (16). It highlights the teams attempt at
a Texas state championship with plenty of distractions and obstacles along the way. The main barrier
for players and staff of Permian High was racism. Some may find it hard to believe but in the town
of Odessa, desegregation was simply a "suggestion" and the community refused to accept the fact
that white and blacks are equal. It was not until the early eighties that Odessa desegregated.
To better understand the theme of racism throughout the novel towards African American players
and staff of Permian High, a school made up of almost ninety percent minorities, one must
understand the background on how this book came about. The other two schools were Caucasian
and almost entirely white schools. While at Harvard, Bissinger had an idea to write a book that was
focused on the impact that high school football had on American culture

Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights Questions 1. For Brian Chavez, football does not play as large as a role in his
life as it does for the other players. Chavez is very smart and works hard at school, therefore he
plans to have a career from his education, not from football. Boobie Miles is relying on football as a
career and does not perform in school, therefore football plays a very large role in his life as he is
relying on football to make money as a career. The people of Odessa are similar to Boobie as they
only care about football, not education. Football does not play a similar role in my community.
Chavez will be much more prepared for life after football as he has a good education to fall back on,
whereas Boobie has made his life revolve ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
7. Bissinger's descriptions of classroom activity reveal that the role of education was not important
compared to football in Odessa. My school is not like that but I can imagine some of the bigger
schools are. I agree with Bissinger's statement because Odessa was just the same as a lot of other
high schools in America. This didn't make it a bad school, just a typical one. 8. Values mean
different things to different people as they have differing beliefs and values. After this book was
published, people's values may have changed as they realized they have had the wrong values and
priorities, and needed a change. 9. Odessa was very low class compared to Midland, which made
Odessa even more passionate about beating Midland as it is like sticking it to the upper class. 10.
The consequences of these people making their relationships expendables means they are pushing
away and sacrificing the people that love them the most in order to obtain something they think they
want/need, but overall has very low importance to their lives. 11. The kids salvation is similar as
Trappers. They look to be heroes who are paraded atop the shoulders of the town as the previous
team was. They also may look to be successful in football as a way to get out of Odessa. 12. There
are double standards with the treatment of high school football players by fans, coaches, teachers,
parents and school administrators, as they tend to look away if it is a

Friday Night Lights By Lewis Lapham
"At times Odessa had the feel of lingering sadness that many isolated places have, a sense of the
world orbiting around it at dizzying speed while it stood stuck in time...300 miles from the rest of
the world" (33). Odessans don't mind the isolation because they have high school football to wrap
their lives around. In 1988, H.G. Bissinger moved to Odessa,Texas and had the up close and
personal opportunity to study a small southern town and see how high school football affected the
lives of its residents. In the same fashion, writer Lewis Lapham studied how sports affect people
from all over the nation and came to the conclusion that sports must "preserve an illusion of perfect
innocence." Lapham's views can clearly be linked to the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After all, the Permian school district gerrymandered the boundary lines in order to get as many
black kids to play on their football team as possible. However, they only convinced themselves of
their tolerance. When almost all minorities lived behind the barrier, over the tracks, excluded from
white interaction outside of school, it is hard to believe that the love for sports triumphed over
racism. On the field, blacks were welcomed for their athletic skill. Off the field, it was back over the
tracks where they belonged. Blacks knew what the tracks represented: "Symbolically and physically,
the tracks were still a barrier and still defined an attitude" (92). The school and team integration
covered the racism that was still clearly present in Odessa. The former principal of the "black
school" said that "[t]here 's no integration, there is desegregation. There is no integration in this
community, the same as any community in America" (98). The townspeople of Odessa know in their
hearts that true integration doesn't exist, but it didn't matter because the government saw that
Permian high school finally became integrated and allowed blacks and Mexicans to play on their
sacred sports team. In this case, football wasn't just a game. The integration of the team was a
blanket to cover all of the racism and separation. At the end of the day, sports didn't save the
minorities; they had to go back to the rough side of town.

Descriptive Football Essay
I sprinted onto the field to the noise of the most raucous crowd I had ever seen or heard at Dickinson
Stadium, home of the Newton North Tigers. The occasion was not a playoff game, a clash of two of
the state's best teams, or even a rivalry game. It was the school's one "Friday Night Lights" or
"FNL" game for the season. Even on a cold October night against a weak Framingham squad, the
allure of FNL drew more fans than any other game. Football games always gave me an adrenaline
rush, but that night was another level, it was as though there was a bubble around the Newton North
campus, all the problems of the outside world were forgotten. There was only this game, this
atmosphere, this moment. When I went into the game for the first time, I was both the most nervous
and most excited I had been all season.
This was a stark contrast to the atmosphere just eight days later. That day we had our playoff game,
a much more important event than our 29–0 triumph over a hapless 1–6 Framingham team. But on
Saturday at two o'clock PM, one would have thought Dickinson Stadium was hosting a golf
tournament not a playoff football game. The student section was barren and the crowd was
predominantly family, supportive, but not giving the boost a rowdy group of high schoolers could
have provided. I was, of course, still ready for the game, but it was hard to get excited seeing the
empty bleachers, after they had been filled to the brim just days earlier, in colder weather, for a less
important game. This display made me realize that all high school football should be played on
Friday night.
Playing on Friday night is what an overwhelming majority of players and fans prefer. For the
players, they get to play in front of their peers but it goes deeper than that. There's just something
about the lights cascading down on the field, making a small town feel like the center of the world
that gives Friday Night Lights a vibe Saturday afternoons can never hope to replicate. For a few
hours, young people of all walks of life come together and are part of something bigger than
themselves, something that does not happen too often these days. Yes, this is also true about
Saturday games, but when a team is told they cannot play music for

Friday Night Lights Sparknotes
Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream is a 1990 non–fiction novel wrote by H.G.
Bissinger. The story chronicles the pressures and expectations of the Permian Panthers football team
in socially divided Odessa, Texas. Throughout the story, challenges are presented with each of the
protagonists: James "Boobie" Miles, Mike Winchell, Don Billingsley, Gary Gaines, Brian Chavez,
and Ivory Christian. The book begins with the author talking about his motivation to write the book.
Also the author discusses the importance of Permian's game against Midland Lee High School (their
arch–rivals). Tensions were rising greatly, and by the end of the game, star tailback Boobie Miles
quits the team and Permian lost 22–21, leaving them in a three–way tie, with only two spots open in
the 5A playoffs.
The initial chapters discuss the town of Odessa and its history, unique facts, its people, etc. One of
the major topics discussed is the demographics of the town's two high schools: Odessa and Permian
high school. Also, other social issues such as crime rate, murder rate, and segregation (which is also
dedicated to chapter five). Multiple chapters in the book discussed in depth about characters Boobie
Miles, Mike Winchell, and Ivory Christian. Each of these players had varying backgrounds, and
motivations about why they played football. These chapters also discuss the lives of players off of
the field, and how the academics at Permian were backseat to their powerhouse football team.

Personal Narrative: Western Pennsylvania Friday Night Lights
Western Pennsylvania Friday Night Lights A Fond Farewell I watched my husband, Mike, take the
field during the Freeport High School Football alumni night as part of the farewell season for Swartz
Field. The school district for the tiny town along the Allegheny River recently voted to construct a
new facility since the renovation of the 93–year–old stadium would be too costly. This is not my
hometown mind you. But on this Friday night, I felt a sincere sense of loss. Maybe not as deep and
personal as the Freeport residents, but a sadness for the passing of an era and tradition. Maybe I was
caught up in the perfect September evening complete with a sun–filled, cloudless blue sky that gave
way to a pink and purple sunset and a fall chill in the air–perfect football weather. The stadium sits
in the heart of this old blue collar, hardworking, melting pot town. My husband can still rattle off
any last ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Surrounding these gridiron veterans were the next generation of players, cheerleaders, flag barriers
and majorettes and, on this night as part of the anniversary remembrance for 9–11, the local military
color guard. The stadium sits tucked deep within the valley framed by the homes and the wooded
hills of western Pennsylvania. It's not hard to recognize a Norman Rockwell moment when you see
it. The stands were filled with the same mix of generations whose sons, fathers, grandfathers and
great, grandfathers played in this humble stadium for this unapologetically proud town. And the
people know their football. They live for their football. The rules of the game are just as simple as
the rules they live their lives by–work hard, treat others with respect, be accountable and don't forget
where you came

Ideological Criticism : Small Town Ideology
Ideological Criticism: Small Town Ideology And Rural Values in the Media
INTRO:
When the general public thinks about Small Town America; cows, tailgating, football, and recently,
the confederate flag seem to be the picture that Modern America has "painted" for Rural America.
Small town America attracts a lot of different people and contrary to popular belief some of the
communities are very diverse. Lately, small town America and rural America in general for that
matter have been under weary scrutiny since the election of Donald Trump as president. While
Small Town America seems to have gained a negative reputation due to recent events in the media,
its values and small town ideology have been in the spotlight before. Small Town ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
On Thursday night, the night before the game Jason Street and Tim Riggins, one of the main
characters, are at a party discussing Jason's future in the NFL and how Tim will take care of him if
he lets him live off one percent of his salary and they toast to Texas Forever. The night of the big
game comes and Jason Street ends up tackling an opponent and hurting himself in the process, he is
carried off the field in a stretcher and taken to the hospital. Meanwhile, Coach Taylor must put in the
backup Quarterback, Matt Saracen, who is highly inexperienced and unprepared. At first, Matt
makes several rookie mistakes but with Coach Taylor's guidance and expertise, the Panthers go on to
win the game. The episode ends with both teams praying for fallen Quarterback Jason Street and
Coach Taylor in an over voice saying, "We are all vulnerable, and we will all at some point in our
lives fall."
METHOD OF CRITISISM:
Ideological criticism is a method of rhetorical criticism that focuses on a selected artifact and
analyzes the ideologies that may be present or exist in regards to the artifact and the culture it
encompasses. It explores the themes, ideas, values, and ideologies that are implied or otherwise
hidden in artifact and what can be deduced, or what can be told about the way one culture regards
another. An ideology as defined by Sonja K. Foss, is: "...a mental framework––the language,
'concepts, categories, imagery of thought, and the systems of representation

Essay on Friday Night Lights by Buzz Bissinger
"'Athletics last for such a short period of time. It ends for people. But while it lasts, it creates this
make–believe world where normal rules don't apply. We build this false atmosphere. When it's over
and the harsh reality sets in, that's the real joke we play on people'" (Bissinger xiv). "Friday Night
Lights" shows the darker side of high school football. Players are taught to play games to win, and
thats all that matters. Football players are put under a tremendous amount of pressure, almost
enough to be considered unfair. Even though football is a "team sport", pressure on individual
players is unnecessary. Some players have the burden of the team, the city, their family, and their
future, resting on their shoulders. These players ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"But there was no way he could fulfill the requirements of the NCAA for number of courses needed
to qualify for a nonrestrictive scholarship" (Bissinger 65). Boobie thinks that he has to show the
college scouts more of his football playing ability so he pushes himself too hard and comes out with
a serious knee injury. All Boobie wants is to have a career in football, and now ruins his own
dreams. He has made himself his own worst enemy and ruined the only thing he was prepared for in
life. Boobie also experiences harsh pressure from his uncle, L.V. "Some who knew L.V. thought he
had pushed Boobie too much, wasn't living for him as much as he was living though him" (Bissinger
61). Boobie even admits his uncle pushes him too hard (Bissinger 63). L.V. pressures Boobie
because he himself never got the chance to play high school football, so now he can force Boobie to
experience everything he wants. L.V. treats Boobie's life as his own, which makes Boobie stress
about his game and his life being just how his uncle wants it to be. He wants to exceed his standards
and be better than his uncle ever thought he could possibly be. Boobie also plays for his uncle
because he believes that football is the way to repay him for everything he has done for him. The
way L.V. talks so highly of Boobie makes the audience believe that Boobie's short–lived high school
football career is the most important thing to L.V. "He couldn't get those

Friday Night Lights By H. G. Bissinger: An Analysis
In Friday Night Lights, H.G. Bissinger uses powerful examples of the harms, dangers, and unethical
behavior in football in order to evoke an emotional response from his readers and change their
opinions about high school sports, specifically football. Bissinger explores the obsession of the
Texas town of Odessa with football, showing the side effects of this culture. In America, the benefits
of high school sports are heavily touted, but the dangers are often not discussed. Bissinger offers a
counter argument in this often one sided debate in order to challenge the domination of sports in
high school environments. By appealing to the emotions of his readers, Bissinger is able to make an
effective argument against the influence and excessive love of high school sports in America. In
order to convince the reader about the dangers of high school football, Billinger shares the stories of
former football players and the long range effects of them playing football. The story of former
Permian player Joe Bob Bizzell showcases the effects and dangers of playing football in high school
and beyond. Bizzell shares the fact that "he felt [the effects of football] in the mornings when he
couldn't bend over to tie his ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Bissinger, in Friday Night Lights, is able to successfully argue against the overarching importance
and harmful practices of football. Bissinger focuses on the negative consequences football has on
the town of Odessa, highlighting injuries, unethical conduct, and the deprioritizing of academics. By
using various forms of rhetoric, Bissinger is able to make the reader reevaluate their position
concerning football and high school sports in general. In addition, the accusatory tone of the novel,
towards football, further brings attention to the wrongs of football and the culture that comes with it.
Through his mastery of rhetoric, Bissinger advances his view about the dangers of football in
America to his

Stereotypes In Sports
For most Americans, sports are the topics of conversations daily. Whether an athlete is thinking
about an important practice they have later that evening, or a fan is discussing the big game from
last night, sports play an important role in impacting lives. Lewis Lapham claims sports serve as
much more than just games, are unlike any other business in the United States, and deliver illusions
of perfect innocence. I support Lapham's ideas saying that sports provide falsehoods of hope, eternal
glory, and relief, and that people are often blind to these deceptions.
According to Lapham, sports promise positive abstractions like innocence, hope, and good
overcoming evil. However, sports fans are oblivious to these illusional unkept promises. ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For many players, participation in their sports offers an escape from these stresses. They are able to
leave behind the responsibilities at home and give it their all out on the field. Athletes feel great
levels of euphoria while competing because sports offer them a safe haven from reality. To Ken
Skates, a Permian High School alumni, football was "always something to fall back on." He states,
"I get out to the football field, and everything wipes clear in my mind" (Bissinger 329.) Like
players, fans also use sports as an escape from their everyday lives. Parents put a lot of effort into
their children's teams. Some, like Dale McDougall in Bissinger's Friday Night Lights, even dedicate
the majority of their time helping to benefit their team. McDougall "had built a life around it, a
whole routine – the lasagna dinners, the booster club meetings, the practices in the dappled
afternoon light with that sweet breeze blowing across, and of course, those wonderful games, so
glorious, so exciting, the power of a million stars shining down on Odessa on a Friday night. She
knew it had to end sometime, but she wasn't ready yet, not in this final minute, not for her, not for
her son, not for her town" (Bissinger 326.) McDougall spends weeks making lasagnas and preparing
for her son's games as a

The Importance Of Parenting In Friday Night Lights
Parenting is very important to children, and it directly or indirectly affects all aspects of a child's
life, from school and behavior to social relationships and sports. The non–fiction book, Friday Night
Lights, by H. G. Bissinger takes place in Odessa, Texas in 1988 and focuses on the Permian Panther
high–school football team. Football acts as a "driving force" for many high–school and upper level
athletes, and often keeps the players striving to do better on the field, and in life. The support parents
give physically, emotionally, and financially to their child that is participating in sports is important;
however, fathers' involvement specifically can often bring added pressure due to the high
expectations. Mike Winchell,Permian's starting quarterback, strived to make his father proud. His
father, Billy Winchell, had been in an oil accident that "Had cost him his leg," and eventually his
father leg go,all too soon for Mike(Bissinger,73). Mike's fathers death at 13, combined with his
parents split–up when he was 5, forced Mike to grow up at a very young age. Billy and Mike had a
very strong father–son relationship,and his father assisted in coaching Mike the sports that he
played; Billy was a very demanding and harsh,but compassionate instructor, guiding Mike through
his baseball and football career. Billy was very leaneate in certain charastics of raising his son,but
also consequential in other aspects,insisting "He had to go to college,there could be no two ways

Examples Of Stereotypes In Friday Night Lights
The stadium lights blind everyone. Crowds of people of all color cheering as the Pepettes stand at
the bottom of the bleachers. They shout enthusiastic cheers with bright smiles as the Permian
Panthers run in. This was the peak of all of Odessa's Friday night. This was Friday Night Lights.
H.G Bissinger's Friday Night Lights is a nonfiction novel about a small high school football team in
Odessa, Texas. It was focused during the year of 1988; Permian High School was desegregated a
few years earlier. Odessa came together to support the football team every week no matter what.
However, the town itself was riddled in prejudice towards those of different race. Bissinger uses this
novel to put emphasis on the portrayal of racism in a small town ... Show more content on
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Before the time of integration, Odessa was split into two. There was a white and a minority
community which similar to the Berlin Wall had "railroad tracks that inevitably ran through the heart
of town" (Bissinger, 91). The famous phrase "from the wrong side of the railroad tracks" describes
the minority community. The black population lived in poverty, while the write population enjoyed
their riches. However, once desegregation came into Odessa, the minorities that could afford it,
moved into the rich neighborhoods and soon everything was integrated. It, nonetheless, was not
perfect, racism still ran deep within their roots, but it was progress. In the beginning of the 1988
football season, Boobie Miles suffered from a severe ACL injury, which forced him to quit playing
this season. As a result, his assistant coach automatically thinks poorly of Boobie, believing he is a
quitter because he is no longer a star. He then compares Boobie to a "lame horse," who needs to be
"shot" because he can no longer perform (Bissinger, 284). This causes a lot of problems for Boobie
but luckily his uncle, LV, is there to support him. Bissinger describes many conflicts between the
different races to explore the prejudice and racist thinking of this

Friday Night Lights Movie Review Essay
The movie "Friday Night Lights" is based on a book by author H.G. Bissinger. It takes place at
Permian High School in Odessa, Texas in 1988 when tension between races was still strong in some
areas of the south. There is a focus in some areas of the film having to do with the racial tension and
ongoing conflict between the student body and the city as a whole. Even though desegregation had
happened by the time the book was written and the film was made, schools sometimes were still
racially divided. I also felt the movie showed how this football program exploited their black
athletes. Of interest to me was, the following of two of the main football players who are black.
Boobie Miles and Ivory Christian. They are as well respected as their white equivalents on the
football field but, it illustrates how attitudes change when the players walk off the field. The movie
touches on the many controversial subjects like, racism, hypocrisy, and failure where as the book is
extremely socially–oriented, and centered primarily on racial issues and educational priorities. The
film touches on these issues, but, as I wrote, it is not the focal point of the movie. It appears that
some of the scenes in the movie were actually filmed in the football stadium the Panther's played
yet, other home games looked as if they had chosen another Texas stadium to film. Football is huge
in Texas. While researching the truthfulness of the movie, I came to find that the local affiliate pre–
empted a Major

Symbolism In Friday Night Lights
H.G. Bissinger's Friday Night Lights occurs in Odessa, Texas where Permian football remains the
diversion through which the locals are able to live vicariously through, leading to the local's
attitudes and personal lives relying largely on the success of the team. This is evident when looking
at Jim Lewallen, L.V. Miles, and Charlie Billingsley. Odessa's small size makes it complicated for
people to lead lives separate from football. Most everyone can say that they have taken part in the
football phenomenon, the Permian Panthers. Jim Lewallen may not be a parent, but football is what
he lives for. Being a retiree, Lewallen has been long removed from the highschool scene and yet he
still relies on football as a pastime. He takes satisfaction in the players accomplishments as if they
are his own children. It is what he looks forward to and what keeps his life interesting and prides
himself in knowing all the plays. While anxiously awaiting the beginning of the season Jim explains
to Bissinger, "That football is just something that keeps me going'. You know the kids' moves, you
know 'em personally. It's just like your own kids"(41). The indirect characterization of Lewallen in
this scene leaves us to infer what he is like on a deeper level, leading the reader to conclude that
Permian football is the focal point of Lewallen's life. It presents him as protective, almost fatherly.
The intensity he feels is proven when readers are informed that the players are like his

Friday Night Lights Essay

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Friday Night Lights Essay