"Friday Night Lights": Two Different Halftime Speeches

Updated 04/12/07 1:24 PM · Posted 04/12/07 12:27 PM by BuzzSugar · 3 comments

Coach Taylor's halftime speech was one of the most heart-wrenching parts of the "Friday Night Lights" finale. With his Dillon Panthers down 26-0, Coach reminded his team that when quarterback Jason Street was paralyzed in the first game of the season, everyone wrote them off — but they'd come back to make it to the state championship. Now, down 26-0, even more people had written them off, Coach said, but there were a few who would never give up. As footage of the players' families flashed on the screen, Coach told his team to keep those people in mind when they went back on the field; the game was far from over.

But that speech wasn't the one originally planned for Coach Taylor. The version of the show sent to TV critics before the finale aired had a different speech that was more about the team than the town. The original focuses on the players' need to rely on each other, and it echoes the team's "clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose" motto. Given that Coach had just told the team that he'd be leaving for another coaching job, I think the original speech might have been more appropriate — but if I didn't know that version existed, I would have thought the speech that aired was perfect.

Chicago Tribune TV critic Maureen Ryan has posted a video of the original speech over at her site. Check it out, and then to watch the version that aired, read more

"Friday Night Lights": Two Different Halftime Speeches originally posted on Friday Night Fans

3 Comments - Post a Comment

katiejam - 5 years ago Report Comment

HAVE YOU HEARD: They have ordered six more episodes for the beginning of next season. "A day before the freshman series' season finale, the network on Tuesday ordered six additional scripts of the critically praised but low-rated series." http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/11/television.lights.reut/index.html

Linda McP - 5 years ago Report Comment

Both speeches are wonderful, but given the uncertainty about a second season renewal, I think the one that was aired was perfect. Football--especially the State Championship game--is what unites Dillon and infuses the entire community with Panther Pride. When the camera panned over the faces of the players' families as Coach Taylor told his team to keep those people in mind when they went back on the field, I was reminded of all the people--Grandma, Smash's mom, Tami, Julie, Tyra--as well as of those players and coaches in the locker room whose lives make the show so important. I miss them already.