Necessary Roughness (1991)

Due to NCAA sanctions, the Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos must form a football team from their actual student body, with no scholarships to help, to play their football schedule.

Director:

Stan Dragoti

Writers:

Rick Natkin, David Fuller

Stars:

Scott Bakula, Hector Elizondo, Robert Loggia

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Scott Bakula	...	Paul Blake
Hector Elizondo	...	Coach Ed Gennero
Robert Loggia	...	Coach Wally Rig
Harley Jane Kozak	...	Dr. Suzanne Carter
Larry Miller	...	Dean Phillip Elias
Sinbad	...	Andre Krimm
Fred Thompson	...	Carver Purcell (as Fred Dalton Thompson)
Rob Schneider	...	Chuck Neiderman
Jason Bateman	...	Jarvis Edison
Andrew Bryniarski	...	Wyatt Beaudry
Duane Davis	...	Featherstone
Michael Dolan	...	Eric 'Samorai' Hansen
Marcus Giamatti	...	Sargie 'Fumblina' Wilkinson
Kathy Ireland	...	Lucy Draper
Andrew Lauer	...	Charlie Banks

Storyline

Due to NCAA sanctions, the Texas State University Fightin' Armadillos must form a football team from their actual student body, with no scholarships to help, to play their football schedule. With fewer players than most teams, the makeshift team must overcome obstacles that the best teams in the country couldn't deal with. Using a thirty-four-year-old quarterback, a female placekicker, and a gang of misfits, Ed "Straight Arrow" Genero must take his team to play the number one Texas Colts.

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Plot Keywords:

texas | football team | american football | locker room | men's locker room | 

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Taglines:

They just might be the biggest bunch of losers that ever became winners.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

(At ten minutes and five seconds) When Coach Ed Gennero (Hector Elizondo) approaches Paul Blake (Scott Bakula), the sign on the fence reads, "Neckover Trailers PO Box 455, Troup, Texas 214-842-3107. The area code has since then changed to 903, so the phone number is now 903-842-3107 which is still in business, as of December 2015.

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Goofs

On the opening kickoff against Texas, the PA announcer says the ball was caught on the 6 yard line. It is then returned for a TD and the PA announcer says it was a 96 yard return. The ball would have to have been caught on the 4 yard line or it would have been a 94 yard return.

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Quotes

Sargie: [yelling at two students who quit at the tryout] YOU CALL YOURSELF ARMADILLOS! THEN MOVE IT, YOU SORRY-ASS BUNCHES OF QUIVERING CIVILIAN SLIME!
[students leave as he addresses Coach Gennero]
Sargie: Sir, we haven't had this many deserters in the Republican Guard.
Coach Gennero: Son, are you all that you can be?
Sargie: [yelling] SIR, YES SIR!
Coach Gennero: A little too much.
Sargie: [softly] Sir, Yes Sir.
Coach Gennero: Move It!
Sargie: Sir, Yes Sir!

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Alternate Versions

The UK cinema version was cut by 7 seconds to cut two of the film's three uses of strong language for a '12' rating. Video versions are uncut, and upgraded to a '15' rating.

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Connections

Features SportsCenter (1979)

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Soundtracks

Liza Jane
by Vince Gill & Reed Nielsen
Performed by Vince Gill
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

Not Bad.

In the pantheon of football movies it's not the best, but not the worst by far. It's a decent comedy for the generation when it came out. The ensemble cast worked well together and anything with Kathy Ireland in it can't be all that bad. Sinbad also looked like someone who may have played football before going to teaching. 6/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Necessary Roughness

Filming Locations:

Azle, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,513,130, 29 September 1991

Gross USA:

$26,255,594

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,255,594

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1