‘Woodlawn’ Opens Big With Faith And Football

Football has a deep Catholic history, beginning with schools like Notre Dame and Boston College; continuing through legendary coaches like daily Mass-goer Vince Lombardi and Don Shula; to players like quarterbacks Roger Staubach (of “Hail Mary play” fame), A.J. McCarron and Philip Rivers, linemen Matt Birk and Luke Kuechly; wide receiver Luke Willson, and kicker Justin Tucker.

But as a game beloved in the American South, it’s got equally deep roots in non-Catholic Christianity, exemplified in current days by outstanding, faith-filled players like Tim Tebow, Russell Wilson and Benjamin Watson.

So perhaps it’s not surprising that a faith-based movie rooted in a great football story is scoring big at the box office.

Released Oct. 16, Pure Flix’s “Woodlawn” has this far garnered over $4 million, and ranked number nine among all movies released at the same time. It also got an A+ rating from Cinemascore, a respected gauge of audience opinion for the film industry for more than 35 years.

Directed by Jon and Andy Erwin, “Woodlawn” is executive-produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, under their Lightworkers Media banner.

Newcomer Caleb Castille stars as Tony Nathan, an African-American student at Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1973, during government-mandated desegregation.

Its football team, the Colonels, is caught in the middle of rising tensions in the town, which escalate into cross burnings and riots. Then an outsider (Sean Astin) on fire for Christ convinces the coach (Nic Bishop) to let him bring the “better way” of Jesus to the players. The change he inspires among players both black and white spreads to the rest of the school and the town.

The team goes on a winning streak that takes it to the state playoffs, and Nathan attracts the eye of legendary University of Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant (Jon Voight).

Said Downey and Burnett in a statement:

“Clearly WOODLAWN got this extraordinary rating because it’s an A+ film. WOODLAWN takes the audience on a sweeping journey, which is both exciting and emotional. The Erwin Brothers made an incredible film, and people are loving it. We are very encouraged.”

The story didn’t just end with a football game. Click here to see an AL.com story on what led up to the time of the movie, and what’s happened in the decades since.

“Woodlawn” also taps into the spiritual side of football, as former Raven Birk discussed with me not long ago:

I’ve always said football’s a very spiritual game,” he said. “The game will bring you to your knees, so you might as well start there. It’s just because football’s so difficult, and the highs are high, and the lows are very low, and it’s so much work and grinding and dedication.

“You have to have a spiritual experience or awakening while you’re doing it. You just have to, otherwise it’s like you’re not even alive. Football brought me back to my faith.”

Click here to find out how to see “Woodlawn” in your area.

And here’s a sneak peek: