Season 1 Episode 1 Recap

MONDAY
Panther Football Radio opens their phone lines to talk about Panther Football.
The camera pans around the town as a caller calls the Radio station to talk about the new coach (Eric Taylor). “Who does he think he is Mack Brown?”
The camera pans to the football stadium with Coach Taylor and a NBC channel 8 news van arriving to the stadium. The camera continues to pan around showing Tim Riggins sleeping on the couch. We then go into Matt Saracen grandmother’s house. Matt is the back-up quarterback and he made two tuna sandwiches. One for his grandmother and the other he will eat after football practice. Honk, Honk!! A station wagon is out front to pick him up. It is Landry Clarke and he’s driving Matt to school. Matt is looking at the sports section of the newspaper that has a big picture of the coach and a picture of Jason Street the starting quarterback and Brian “Smash” Williams the star running back. The radio is playing in the station wagon and they are talking about Jason Street. Quarterback Jason is the star of the team with a 72% completion percentage which is number one in the nation. Landry asks Matt will he get to play at all.
Tim Riggin’s older brother is waking Tim up and reminding him that 49 players are up and ready to go right now. Tim’s girlfriend Tyra Collette walks in the room and lies on Tim, who is lying on the couch. Tim’s brother doesn’t like what’s going on and makes a smart remark “this is life. This isn’t Maxim magazine”.
Lyla Garrity is getting ready to go to school she’s a cheerleader and her mother tells her that she’s not to go out with Jason this evening because she wants to have a family dinner with everyone. Lyla is Jason’s girlfriend.
At the football field an interview with Star Quarterback Jason Street and Coach Taylor is being conducted by Tommy Hastings. We learn that Coach Taylor has been Jason’s coach all through Pee Wee football and coaching him through freshman and JV (Junior Varsity). The team is running practice and a Notre Dame scout is speaking to Jason’s parents. The Notre Dame scout tells them that he’s the best he’s seen.
The star running back Brian “Smash” Williams is being interviewed now. He’s very confident and explains that they are going to go undefeated and win a State Championship. He exclaims that he’s going to win a National Championship with Mack Brown (University of Texas) in Pasadena after High School. He’s then asked a question about his dead father and Brian says he doesn’t want to talk about it. Then Tommy asks him about racism on the team. Brian says he doesn’t let racism affect him.
The interview shifts to Tim Riggins. Tim expresses the fact that he doesn’t like Brian but it’s not because of racism…he just doesn’t like him. He’s asked about how aggressive he is and Tim says he just likes to hurt people. The interviewer then asks Tim if he’s been drinking because he can smell alcohol on him. Tim denies the fact that he’s been drinking.
Tackling drills start and the coach makes a little speech reminding everyone that in 5 days a group of men will be coming down here to “destroy you”. Tim Riggins is at the center of the tackling drills.
Tommy asks how good this team is. Brian says that they have the best team because he’s on the team. Tackling drills continue and Tim is getting knocked around. Tim reinforces his feelings about Brian “I hate him”. Tackling drills continue with Brian talking trash and the Coach still yelling and then asking Tim to get up.
The team is being filmed during lunch; they are at a local hangout ordering food. The interviewer (Tommy) is talking to Jason Street. Jason eats an Aztec burger on the same week they have a game. Tommy asks him if he plans on endorsing the Aztec burger but Jason’s girlfriend Lyla is very defensive and says he doesn’t have any endorsements. Then Brian “Smash” Williams yells out that he has endorsements. He says he will endorse Nike, Adidas, Coke and Pepsi. Tommy asks him isn’t that a conflict of interest. The “Smash” says he’s going to bring the whole world together. Landry and Matt want to sit next to the coach’s daughter Julie Taylor but they are discussing whether she speaks to football players or not. They approach her and she asks them if they are on the football team. Matt and Landry explain that Landry is in her English and Matt is the backup quarterback and he doesn’t play just Jason Street plays. The coach’s daughter tells them she won’t sit with them.
Tommy then asks Jason’s girlfriend Lyla how he handles the pressure of having the number one team in Texas and Lyla says that he’s competitive when he plays but he’s not like that off the field. Tyra is making fun of Lyla and then calls her a whore behind her back. Then she walks across the room and sits next to “Smash” and asks could she get a bite of his burger. “Smash” says that she can have a bite of anything she wants.
The coach is doing film work for the up coming game. His wife says she heard a rumor that they have a car dealer endorsement appearance that they have to go to. The coach forgot to tell her about it.
Matt is at home with Landry. Matt is outside practicing trying to throw a football through a tire. Matt’s grandmother is out on the porch looking at him practice. Landry says he’s thinking about starting a Christian Speed Metal Band. Matt’s grandmother says “Matthew, you need to get a new friend”.
Jason is dropping his girlfriend Lyla off at home and then she starts to make fun of the questions he was asked during the interview. Jason kisses her good night and she teases him some more. “Is it true that you have superhuman powers and can demolish buildings and hurl fireballs?” Lyla asks him if he loves her and then she asks more then football and Jason says…I love you almost more then anything in the world.
The coach is staring at game film while his wife Tami Taylor is rattling off details of a house that she saw in the newspaper. The coach is not listening and is completely into the game film. His daughter is then comparing the town to the book Moby Dick and the coach is still paying attention to the game film. Tami is in the kitchen still raving about the house with his & her closets.

TUESDAY
The scouting coach is meeting with Coach Taylor. The scouting coach was checking out their opponent for Friday. He comes back telling Taylor that they are running fast counter plays. He then reminds Taylor that they better win this game; he has no excuses with all the expectations being the way they are. He told Taylor that the only place to go is down with all the expectations placed on the team. Coach Taylor says “it ain’t that serious, it’s only football”. He says that jokingly because it’s not just football in this town.
Night time at the car dealership, the Mayor is there for the opening of the dealership. Coach Taylor and the coaching staff are introduced to the stage. The Coach makes a little speech. He says that he’s honored and fully prepared to represent the community this Friday and every Friday until they win a State Championship. A pep rally starts with “Smash” Williams saying a few words to the crowd. Everyone is cheering and excited.
Tami Taylor is talking to the local females with an exaggerated smile and Southern accent. Julie has a huge exaggerated smile on her face.
Coach Eric Taylor is then stopped by Pete (Pete is played by Mack Brown the Football Coach for the University of Texas 2005 National Championship Team) and a couple of other gentlemen that want to talk.
Jason is cornered by a woman that tries to give him advice on the game. She says that if he gets to call any plays on his own to air the ball out. Jason is completely polite and continues to answer her back “yes, ma’am” but then she gets serious and says they need to carpet bomb the opponents. Then she asks him if he listens to some old Black Sabbath because it will make him mean. Tim Riggins is getting hit on by an older woman. Tyra is now hitting on Jason. Lyla was not at the Car Dealership but then she shows up as people are taking pictures of Lyla and Jason together. Jason apologizes to Lyla. Tyra then starts flirting with “Smash”. Tim comes by to talk to Tyra and then he starts insulting “Smash”.
Pete (Mack Brown) then gets serious on Coach Taylor…”Are you going to be able to answer the bell and bring championships; we want to win championships”

WEDNESDAY
The High School Team is visiting a team of Pee Wee football players. The cheerleaders are with them. All the younger kids are excited that the team is there. Jason is then showing them plays on the chalkboard. A couple of the Pee Wee players ask Jason Street if he will play professional football and that he could be better then Peyton Manning. Then one of the kids ask him “Mr. Street…do you think God loves football?” Jason says he thinks that everyone loves football. Then they all hold hands and say the Lord’s Prayer.

THURSDAY
Coach Taylor is looking at a new house. He tells the Real Estate agent that he’ll see how he does on Friday night before he makes a deal. Coach Taylor is on his way back home and he’s listening to the radio. He’s listening to criticism of his coaching while he’s driving.
Tim is hanging out with Jason and Lyla. Tim is drinking and talking about what should happen when Jason goes to play professional football. Tim just wants one percent of his paycheck. Tyra comes over and kisses Tim. Tim makes a toast to God, Football and 10 years from now being good friends living large in Texas. “Texas Forever”.

FRIDAY
The camera pans around town and businesses are closed for Friday Night High School Football. The lights in the stadium are warming up and will be fully illuminated soon. The camera pans to the Panther’s locker room. The visiting team arrives on their buses. The cheerleaders and fans are filing into the stadium. The camera pans into the Panther’s locker room and you can see the players getting dressed and ready to go.
Everyone is dressed in their Football Uniforms and kneeling down in the locker room listening to Coach Taylor. Coach speaks about “expectations”. He has no trouble seeing the team win tonight. He wants the team to not take the opponent lightly. “Clear Eyes Full Hearts, Can’t Lose!!” “CAN’T LOSE!!!”
The coach has a few words for Jason, “You earned this….the right to win.”

First Half.
The game starts with a good return by the Panthers. Star Quarterback Jason Street starts the season calling a running play for “Smash” Williams. “Smash” makes a good gain. Next play goes to Tim Riggins and he runs up the middle for a First Down. The next play Jason throws a touchdown pass to Eugene Williams. Everyone is cheering for the first touchdown of the season.
Westerby gets the kickoff and makes a good return. The first play from scrimmage is an end-around (reverse) and it scores for a touchdown. The counter play works.
Panthers have the ball and there is a handoff to “Smash” Williams. Tim Riggins makes a great block. Jason throws a touchdown pass to a wide receiver and the Panthers are up 14 to 7. On Westerby’s next possession they run a play action fake end around and then the Quarterback throws a touchdown to the wide receiver to make the score 14 to 14.

Half-Time
The Offensive Coach is screaming at everyone in the locker room. Tim Riggins has a cut on his neck. Jason is trying to explain what kind of defense he’s seeing out there. He’s having trouble seeing the rush on him and the receivers are getting jammed. The camera pans to the Band performing at half-time. The Offensive Coach is still screaming at the players and then he tells Coach Taylor that they are running stunts at them and that they need to communicate with each other. “We are going into a fist fight!!”

Second Half.
Panthers have the ball. There is a running play to “Smash” Williams for a 5 yard lose. Jason screams in the huddle “this is our field; they do not push us around”. Jason throws an incomplete pass. The Panthers offense is struggling. The Panthers continue to drop passes and make small gains running the ball. Coach Taylor makes a comment to the official and the official tells him to watch himself.
Westerby is still running their counters and they score a touchdown. Westerby is winning 24 to 14 now.
The Panthers have the ball. There is a flip pass to “Smash” Williams for a first down. Jason calls a play as the Panthers get desperate. 3rd and 5 on the Panther 38 yard line. Jason throws and interception. The defensive player is going to score a touchdown. The only player between him and a touchdown is Jason Street. Jason throws himself at the defensive player. There is a big collision between Jason and the defender and he fumbles the ball. The Panthers recover the fumble but Jason is lying still on the ground. Jason is hurt. The Coach calls for the trainers. Everyone is still and quiet as Jason lies on the ground. The camera pans on the crowd. Jason’s mother says “he’s not getting up”. Jason is seriously hurt. Lyla asks “why isn’t he getting up”. The doctor asks Jason can he hear him. Jason’s mother is on the field crying. An ambulance is on the field and a stretcher is on the field. They think it might be a spinal injury. Jason has a neck brace on and he’s being strapped to the stretcher. They lift him into the Ambulance. Everyone starts clapping…the crowd, the visiting team, everyone.
Matt Saracen the backup quarterback is going to have to play now. He’s mentally not ready to play. He has a bewildered look on his face on the sidelines. The coach tells him to start throwing the ball and warm up. The official asks for the Captains. The Coach says quarterback’s are captains. Saracen (quarterback) is a captain now and Coach Taylor has him go out to mid-field to conference with the officials. The official reminds them to play hard and fair and to hit only what you can see.
The Panthers have the ball. Jason is at the hospital in the Emergency room getting his uniform cut off. Matt Saracen is having trouble calling plays in the huddle. He is extremely nervous and unsure of himself. Back at the hospital they are removing the helmet off of Jason. Matt calls the opposite play and tries to hand the ball off on the wrong side and gets sacked. At the hospital they are sawing off Jason’s helmet and removing it. Matt calls a pass play and hits his own lineman in the head with a pass. At the hospital they are turning Jason over on his stomach. Coach Taylor tells Matt to breathe and slow down. At the hospital they are making an incision in the back of Jason’s neck. Coach Taylor speaks slowly and tries to talk to him in a basic way because Matt is so nervous. “look before you throw the ball…you see were our guys are and then you throw the ball to our guys”. At the hospital they are screwing a metal plate in the back of Jason’s neck. Matt calls another play and it’s for “Smash” Williams. A shovel pass for a first down. Matt is being cheered by his grandmother and Landry. The next play Matt pitches the ball the “Smash” Williams and he runs and dives into the end zone. The score is now 21 to 24. The Panthers are losing and they are forced to go for an on-side kick. The ball is kicked and recovered by Tim Riggins. The Panthers still have a chance. The next play is a statue of liberty play. Matt fakes a pass but leaves the ball out for the running back to get it behind him. “Smash” Williams takes the ball and runs out of bounds to stop the clock. There is only room for one more play. Matt is in the shotgun and they snap the ball before time runs out. Matt rolls back and is chased by two defenders, Matt slips but doesn’t fall. Matt takes a step forward and throws the ball up just before getting hit by a defender. He hits an open receiver at the 20 yard line and he runs it in for a touchdown. The Panthers win 27 to 24.
GAME OVER

Both teams are walking toward the 50 yard line (mid-field). Coach Taylor gives a stare to his wife in the stands. Everyone at the 50 yard line takes a knee. “Smash” Williams is saying a pray for Jason Street.
The Coach and some of the football players are at the hospital. Coach Taylor is headed for Jason’s room. Jason has a head and neck brace on. Lyla is outside the hospital room crying. Coach Taylor gives Jason’s father a hug. Julie gives Lyla a hug. “Smash” Williams and Tim give each other a handshake. Coach Taylor then goes into Jason’s room looks him in the eye and holds his hand.

SOURCE: TV.com

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