Remember the Titans
Character Analysis
Note: read case study document first

Character | Description | Significant Events | Boone | Head coach | * Marched with Martin Luther King * Had teammates mix up bus seating going to training camp, they also had to bunk with whoever they sat with on the bus * Had the boys jog to Gettysburg, talked about the battle and similarities to them today | Pete Jones | Team member | * Yoast put him in the game despite not being under his group after Boone took him out | Louis Lastick | Team member – neutral, just wanted to fit in | * Talked about his roommate * Joined in on “yo mama” jokes * Lacked self-worth * Always neutral between blacks and whites, saw no differences | Gerry Bertier | Team Captain – became best friends with his roommate Julius | * Started a fight with his roommate * Made a connection with Julius during a heart to heart talk * Embraced his new team and awareness for discrimination * Stood up to Emma * Fired Ray from the team * Car accident | Julius | Team member – best friends with Gerry | * Made Gerry realize he wasn’t as much as a fair leader as he thought | Yoast | Coach | * Went against Coach Boone * Found out about the plan to fired Boone but did not support it * Made nice with Boone at the last of it | Cheryl | Coach Yoast’s daughter | * Told her Dad he had nothing to be proud of at the last game. Making him realize he needed to change his attitude towards Boone | Nicky | Coach Boone’s daughter | * Had nothing in common with Cheryl * At the last game they were both jumping and happy and almost hugged | Ray | Team member – never accepted the racial integration | * Never had his teammates back * Was with Emma when she told Gerry he had his priorities wrong * Gerry fired him from the team | Dr. Day | The Head of the Negro School Board | * Recruited Coach Boone * Told Boone that he would be fired if he lost one game | Ronnie Bass | Team member – New quarterback | * Kissed Gerry, not sure what that was about | Emma | Gerry’s girlfriend | * Didn’t want to meet Julius, refused to shake his hand * Told Gerry he did not have his priorities straight * Realized she was wrong, apologized to Gerry and introduced herself to Julius – and shook his hand | OtherBlue Stanton | Team member | * Tried to connect with Gerry with “yo mama” jokes * Called a team meeting after winning a few games to remind the others that they were falling back into the rules of discrimination and that they needed to reconnect |

Remember the Titans

1. Gerry, the team captain, and Julius, his black roommate, got off to a rough start. In the beginning, each disliked the other intensely

a. Briefly describe why they disliked each other so much. (2 marks)

Gerry and Julius were both proud of their own race. I don’t think it was that they disliked each other as people as much as it was their race. It was predetermined by society that both men were to dislike each other and to have a mutual disrespect and distrust.

b. In the movie, the two young men had a “heart-to-heart” talk where each angrily told the other how he really felt. Briefly describe the episode and why it was so important. (2 marks)

Their heart to heart talk came after an intense practice. The added workouts by Boone were getting to Gerry and decided to talk to Julius about the team issues. At first, I thought everything Gerry had said was right and that Julius was being tough and stubborn with a bad attitude. But Julius response showed Gerry that he was not being the true leader (team captain) that he thought he was. Once Julius pointed out that Gerry’s “white buddies” were not blocking for Rev and light came on in Gerry and he realized that he wasn’t being a good team captain and has been treating the teammates unequally. 2. It is easy to believe that one person cannot make a difference. Other than Gerry and Julius and the two coaches, identify and describe two other individuals who made a difference and significantly contributed to the success of the Titans. You must explain who contributed to the team’s success in regards to coming together as a team, growing and evolving as human beings, overcoming stereotypes and racial tension. Who truly helped transform and impact the group, and did not simply help them win football games? (6 marks)

Louis Lastick was a major player in the success of the Titans. He had a care-free spirit and had a positive attitude towards his black team members. He showed up at the first team meeting as the only white guy and never paid no notice to that fact. At the meal hall during training camp Boone asked him to come up in front of everyone and asked him questions about one of his teammates. He knew everything there was to know about his roommate Blue. He also went to sit with the black table without thinking twice. Julius asked him why was he not eating with his people and he responded “Man, I don't have any people. I'm with everybody, Julius” This showed that color didn’t matter to Louis and that everyone was equal. He wasn’t a strong player in the game but he was a strong player in bringing the team together and unite as one. He showed what a true friend was and that it was possible for blacks and whites to communicate and build positive relationships.

Blue Stanton also made an impact on the success of the Titans. The first time I noticed him offering acceptance was when they were all in the change room at the training camp and he started on Gerry with “yo mama” jokes. It seemed some little that it would have very well went unnoticeable. Blue was showing acceptance to Gerry, however, Gerry’s immediate reaction was anger. This was due to the cultural barrier between the two. Once Julius and others joined in Gerry then had a slow realization what the intention was.

Another scene for Blue was when he, Gerry, Julius, and Louis called a team meeting after they had won a few games. Blue gave an eye opening speech brought everyone back to that unified team from training camp. He reminded everyone that although they had survived camp they camp back to reality and the pressures of society. Also that they may be winning games they were still losing as the racial tension still remained strong.

3. Provide three examples which illustrate how a friend or outsider was able to help another to see blind spots. For each example, identify who had the blind spot, what the blind spot was, who helped them to see their blind spot, and explain the significance of overcoming it (Johari’s Window). (6 marks)

Louis Lastick had lack self-confidence immensely. He saw himself as white trash and unintelligent and had no hopes for college because he believed he would never get the grades he needed for college. With Boone and Rev believing in Louis when he didn’t believe in himself he overcame what he thought was impossible. Their support and inspiration contributed to Louis getting the grades he needed to get accepted into college. This changed his life. He went onto college and became a successful business man.

Coach Yoast was quietly fighting a battle of his own. Despite being supportive and uncritical towards the players of the team he did not work well with Coach Boone. Yoast had planned on leaving when Boone got promoted to head coach because he didn’t want to work with him. They were uncooperative with each other through out the movie. It wasn’t until the final game, Cheryl (his young daughter) approached him and gave him some insight on his relationship with the team. Yoast then realized that he needs to work together with Boone and not against him. He and Boone became great friends after this and continued to coach together.

Emma, Gerry’s girlfriend, had a bad attitude toward the white/black merger. Gerry because accepting of his new teammates and left racial tension in the past but Emma had stayed in the same position. She refused to shake Julius’s hand and she told Gerry his priorities were messed up. She was firm on her opinions. Eventually she came around and acknowledged to Gerry that she was in the wrong but it would still take some time for her to get to the same place he was at. After Gerry’s accident Emma approached Julius during the last game and extended her hand for handshake and officially introduced herself to him. Emma’s change in perception helped her become more accepting and understanding as a person.

4. Identify two conflict styles – one used by Gerry and one used by Julius. You cannot choose the same conflict style for both players (they must be different). (6 marks)
In your own words:
Define each conflict style you chose and provide specific examples from the movie which support your choices and thus accurately illustrate the terms.

Force (Win-Lose): when a person uses power tactics like authority or insults to intimidate the other person in order to get what they want. This is Gerry’s style.

When Gerry and Julius became roommates Gerry did not like Julius “black power” poster he had on his side of the room. Gerry stood up to Julius in a threatening manner and tried to force Julius to take the poster down. Julius declined his intimidation and a fight broke out. Another time Gerry used this conflict style on Julius was after extra practice he started demanding Julius give him the information he needed to Boone giving extra practices. Julius was fine doing the extra practice and Gerry was sick of doing them so he demanded that Julius provide him with the information he needed. He was being stubborn. A third time was on the field during a practice when Gerry attacked Julius because he didn’t believe he was playing good enough. He used to authority as captain to order Julius to do what he wanted

Avoidance (Lose-Lose) – when a person will avoid conflict by removing themselves from situations physically or conversationally.

Julius was a very stubborn person. He had no time for conflict. When Louis sat at Julius “blacks” table during training camp he questioned why Louis was there and tried to send to another table to avoid racial tension. Julius also would physically avoid Gerry, despite rooming together, just to not have a conversation with him. A third time was when Ronnie took Blue and Pete to the bar and were denied service do to their racial status. They told Julius what had happened but he walked away with his black teammates avoiding the situation. 1. Describe three things that Coach Boone did to transform the racial hostility into a unified team effort, and explain the significance of each of the three examples. (6 marks)

The first thing Coach Boone did to transform the racial hostility was to mix up the busses going to training camp. When he got on the bus he realized all the blacks sat on one but and all the whites sat on another. Coach Boone made everyone get off the bus and get back on according to position. This made each bus consist of both black and white players and whoever one person sat with that what was who their roommate would be. This moment was significant because it initiated the unity of the team.

During mealtime in the hall, Coach Boone noticed that team was still segregated and after the fight between Garry and Julius he decided that everyone must get to know their roommate on a personal level. He added practices as punishments if they didn’t put the extra effort in to get to know one another. This did trigger friendships later on. They learned that they both had much in common and at the end of the day they were the same.

The third thing Coach Boone did to transform the racial hostility was probably the “ah-ha” moment for the team. He woke everyone up at 3am made them go for a jog. At the end of the run they stopped in a field. The battle of Gettysburg and the story that leads it is what united the blacks and whites as one team. Boone told them that 50,000 men died fighting over racial tension and here they were still fighting. After this pivotal moment, friendships where built.

Once training camp was over and they went back to reality the team unity fell apart. However Gerry, Julius, Blue and Louis stuck together and reminded the team of their bond that the Coach had created and they continued to unite both on and off the field.