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... See full summary »

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 Dalton Thompson	...	Carver Purcell
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:

locker room | men's locker room | farm | bar | samoan | 

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Taglines:

This gang of loners, loonies and losers are about to become something they've never been before. A team

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Certificate:

PG-13

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)

Gross USA:

$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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Laikai Manumana (Peter Tuiasosopo) says his name in Samoan means 'runt of the litter.' Depending on the spelling, it could also mean 'seawater' or 'sandwich.'

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Goofs

At the conclusion of the game with Kansas, Number 93 of the Jayhawks runs into Lucy well after the field goal attempt. This would draw a roughing the kicker foul. Since this is on the last play of the game, and since on both the college and pros, no game can end on a defensive penalty, the offensive team have been given an extra down.The rule states that the down would occur even if there is no time left on the clock. The play would have resulted in a 15 yard penalty. The ball is on the 17 yard line. The penalty will be half the distance and placed at the 8 1/2 yard line. Also keep in mind when the Texas State kicker kicked the defensive player in the nuts, that could have been unsportsmanlike conduct penalty/15 yards and possible ejection.

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Quotes

Coach Gennaro: Dean Elias, for someone who hates football you sure spend alot of time watching the sport.
Dean Elias: Eternal vigilance is the price of integrity, Coach Gennaro.
Coach Rig: [quietly] What an asshole.

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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

Spoofed in The Comebacks (2007)

User Reviews

A fine football flick, with enough zany humor and romance to please both sexes

Paul (Scott Bakula) was a great high school quarterback in Texas, where he never lost a game. However, his father died after football season was over and Paul felt obligated to take over the family farm. Therefore, he turned down scholarships and never went to college. But, now Texas State wants him, wants him badly. The university has had a long history of NCAA violations and, consequently, is having trouble recruiting players. But, with a new, straight-arrow coach (Hector Elizondo), his assistant (Robert Loggia), and a dedicated college president, Texas State is trying to turn the tide. Paul, although he is now 34, agrees to join the team and the freshman class. Wouldn't you know it, though, he soon has a run-in with an attractive female professor (Harley Jane Kozak), who refuses to accept his growing interest in her. And, with a ragtag roster of only 17 players, playing both offense and defense, can they win any games? This is a fine football flick with some elements of romance thrown in, too, to please any viewer. The cast is very nice, with Bakula, Elizondo, Loggia, Sinbad, a tiny-bit- pretentious Kozak, a lovely Kathy Ireland, a very funny Rob Schneider, and a hilarious Larry Miller whooping it up all the way. The football scenes are quite fine as well, which should please any true gridiron fan. Yes, unfortunately, the film looks dated, with its out of fashion costumes and its mediocre camera work. The Texas setting, however, is rather welcome. All in all, if you love the game-with-a-pigskin, you must arrange to view this one. You will find it greatly entertaining. Fans of romcoms, too, who are running out of material, will be pleased with the efforts here as well.