ESPN Films 30 for 30: The U [Blu-ray]

Best of The 30 For 30 Films
This comprehensive film featuring archival footage, interviews with players and coaches tells the story of how a tiny private school from the laid back town of Coral Gables Florida became a college football powerhouse.

"The U" as the University of Miami students refer to it was the school that defined swagger. Not to be lost is the fact that they hwon 5 national championships in 18 years and set the standard for recruiting and on field performance. The Hurricanes also set records for consecutive home wins, consecutive years with a first round selection on the NFL draft, and showboating penalties.

If you are a fan of college football, and especially football with an attitude, you won't be dissapointed by this DVD. "It's all about The U!"

Fantastic HD profile of The U
Although the packaging does not say, this ESPN 30 on 30 episode of "The U" is in 16:9 (HD) widescreen format. It's a fantastic profile of the Miami Hurricane football program.

This is a special two-disc edition which contains deleted scenes (on disc-1) and on disc-2 (standard 4:3 full screen) contains four condensed games including the first "wide right" game against Florida State. No self respecting U alum can go without this disc. Highly entertaining and highly recommended!

Fascinating but flawed
If you grew up watching University of Miami dominate college football (as I did) this is a fascinating review of how the program was built up from nothing and then sustained itself across multiple head coaches into the 1990's. But where the film fails is in its unapologetic look at the behavior of some of the players. Robert Bailey's obvious glee at purposely knocking out another player is one example. Randall Hill refusing to take responsibility for imbecilic post-TD idiocy at the Cotton Bowl is another. While I applaud the work done by guys who came out of troubled neighborhoods, I also know basic sportsmanship and right and wrong. To justify that behavior behind quasi-rascist screen of "cultural differences" is an insult to the audience.

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