Summary Of Remember The Titans: Interpersonal Relations

Nickesha Douglas

Jacqueline A. Byrnes

Introduction to Interpersonal Communication

October 24, 2015

Remember the Titans: Interpersonal Relations

In 1971, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that ended all state enforced

segregation in public schools. During this same year T. C. Williams High

School, located in Alexandria, Virginia was integrated. This is the inspiration for the movie

Remember the Titans, starring Denzel Washington who portrays Herman Boone, the head

Coach of the football team, the Titans. Even during the difficult time of integration people can put aside their differences and work together as a team.

List of main characters

Herman Boone Head Coach

Bill Yoast Assistant Head Coach

Julius Campbell Black Team Captain

Gerry Bertier White Team Captain
Louie Lastik Team members
Ronnie Bass Team members
Jerry Harris Team Members
Herman Boone, an African American, is brought in as an assistant Coach to join the all-white coaching staff.

He was later appointed head Coach over a winning white coach; he is reluctant to accept the position because a similar situation happened to him when a white Coach had been appointed over him in South Carolina. He finally accepts the head coach position with Support from the black residents who see him as a symbol of pride and admiration that is absent in their community.

The film starts with an uprising after a white storeowner kills a black teenager. This incident Highlights Prejudices. The teenager was labeled a thief because of the color of his skin and the unjustifiable murder causes racial tensions that exist as a result of the integration of the high schools.

Boone has a very tough exterior, had a difficult childhood, and is a seasoned

Civil rights activist. His upbringing and early struggles influence his behavior and his

leadership style. When Boone first meets the Titan coaching staff, he knows that he is not

wanted. He is pushed, but he does not push back. Managing Anger. He remains polite, respectful, and diplomatic. He makes clear that his agenda was winning football

games.
When Boone becomes head coach, he immediately reinforces his authority and control to set the tone for the staff and the team. During summer camp, he sent a Verbal Message making it clear, “This is a dictatorship. I am the law.” He relies deeply on his position of power to achieve his main goal of providing structure and order.
Bill Yoast is a respected member of the community, a winning coach who cares about
his players. However, his background and position in the community give him a different
attitude and leadership style. Regardless of having numerous head coach offers from other high schools in northern Virginia, his calm Acceptance of the assistant Coach position under Boone to prove his support of his players. In the beginning, he tries to control the situation as an assistant Coach, but Boone immediately emphasizes his power and makes it clear who is the head coach. He becomes Coach Boone’s conscience and repeatedly warns him not to push the athletes too far. When he was given the opportunity get his team back, he gives up his personal goal of making it to the Hall of Fame
for the sake of the team. He does it without looking for appreciation or credit. He is even able
to complement Coach Boone at the end of summer camp for his fine work.
Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell are the unofficial leaders of the white and black teams
respectively. They have being place into this position because of their athleticism, personal
convictions, and need to protect their “brothers.” Bertier initially becomes team
leader by learning to set aside his prejudice and focus on the team, regardless of color.
Turning Point of the story is the relationship that develops between Bertier and Campbell that leads the way for most of the team to come together.
The leaders are forced to face many issues that could tear the team apart: a black Coach appointed over a qualified white Coach, contradictory leadership styles between Boone and
Yoast, conspiracies of the school officials and other governing bodies, racism in the South, a divided team due to skin color being forced to play together, and a separated couching staff and Coach Boone suspicious of Yoast possibly sabotaging his efforts.

The two men have to work as one put aside their pride to accept help from each other implementing Conflict Management/Strategies to set an example for the players under their charge.

Coach Yoast’ realizes that his team is being set up to fail by the Betrayal of the governing body which plots with the officials of the game to take points away from the Titans to prevent them from winning the game which would reflect badly on Coach Boone so that he will lose his job. Coach Yoast does not go along with their plot which costs him his Hall of Fame designation.

Coach Yoast established an understanding of the dynamics of teamwork and issues of

race. Throughout training camp when the athletes were forced to run and re-run drills, he

allows Bertier and another teammate to work through their differences rather than

getting involved himself. This allowed Bertier, a white player, the chance to show Social Support for his black teammates and improve trust on the

field.
The film focuses on the issue of race and the way students' perceptions gradually changes
from one of fear to one of understanding. One specific interest is the relationship
between Campbell and Bertier, an African American defensive player and
the white team captain. As the movie progresses, the animosity between the two slowly
disappears and is replaced by Trust and mutual friendship as they work at becoming better football players. Towards the end of the movie, this friendship is expressed as Bertier, hospitalized from a car accident and left paralyzed, he asks Campbell to visit him at his bedside. When the nurse states that only family is allowed in, Gerry turns to her saying, “Alice can’t you see the family resemblance?” The principles and values held by many of the characters in the film change over the course of the film as a result of Coach Boone’s and Coach Yoast’s influence. It is demonstrated in their belief racial equality and love for football helps the team, and ultimately the town, begin to come to
terms with the issue of race in America’s schools.
The movie portrays how one group has the power and ability to change the notions of an entire town and society. The Titans are able to eliminate the racial tension and division in Alexandria and create a more equal and unified community. Race and socialization are seen throughout the movie and play a big role in the Titan’s journey. Exploring this topic and viewing this movie provides an inspiration to many people. It inspires everyone who has to deal with racism. It reinforces the concept that anything is possible, and all one needs is determination and courage.