UNDER THE STADIUM LIGHTS

UNDER THE STADIUM LIGHTS is based on the story of the 2009 Abilene High School football team as they overcome hardships on and off the field through their faith and family. UNDER THE STADIUM LIGHTS is an inspirational story offering redemption while highlighting the importance of hope in the Abilene community. The movie contains very strong Christian, biblical principles promoting generosity, family, faith, hope, prayer, and redemption. However, the movie also contains some violence, references to gangs and drugs, and a few obscenities.

The movie starts as the Team Chaplain, Chad Mitchell, leads the team in a discussion where they can share their inner emotions and feelings with one another. Chad wants to create a safe space for the players as many of them have difficult home lives. Chad encourages the players to be their “Brother’s Keeper” and to understand that they are a family. The chaplain asks the players to open up about their struggles. The first player to volunteer is Ronnell.

Ronnell lives with one of his teammates because his mother works full time and has many younger siblings at home. Ronnell’s family struggles financially, because his father deals with substance abuse issues and doesn’t provide for the family. Throughout the story, Ronnell continues to contact his father and beg him to attend one of his football games. Ronnell is left heartbroken and disappointed when his father never shows up for him. Although Ronnell feels disconnected from his father, he finds love and support through the football team.

The next player who shares about his life is Herschel. Herschel lives with his grandmother, because his mother is in jail. Herschel feels resentful toward his mother for being absent from the family and abandoning him to care for himself. Despite his resentment, Herschel still loves her and hopes that one day they can be a family again. Like Ronnell, Herschel finds comfort in the fact he can turn to his teammates and the chaplain for support.

The third player that shares about his life is Boo, who lives with his mother and brother, Zay. Boo is torn up over the death of his grandfather and rarely sees his mother as she works 14-hour shifts a day to support the family. While Boo tries to keep a healthy lifestyle, his brother Zay begins dealing cocaine to make money for the family. Zay creates many problems for the family. He hangs around with dangerous people and almost goes to prison. Boo encourages Zay to find friends that “push him forward” instead of dragging him down into the gutter. Will Zay change to become more like Boo and find a family like the football team?

The last character the movie focuses on is Chaplain Chad Mitchell. Chad is involved with the football team, the church and his job as a police officer. Chad’s goal is to help the community become safer and have faith. Chad works with a man named Albert, who wants to quit his life as a gang member and turn toward Christianity. Chad invites Albert to help with the team, but Albert is murdered by another gang member. At the scene of the crime, Albert’s Bible is shown on the street covered in blood. This encounter changes Chad forever, and he shares Albert’s life story to encourage others to turn toward faith and a life of spiritual and moral renewal.

In the present, the team is training for the state championship game. The coach gives a moving speech that the players must keep their thoughts in the windshield of life instead of dwelling on the past. Will the team win the championship game?

UNDER THE STADIUM LIGHTS is extremely engaging and offers a moving story about redemption and faith. Not only does the movie revolve around football, it also provides a captivating plot that reveals the backgrounds of the players and coaches. Milo Gibson does an amazing job playing Team Chaplain Chad Mitchell. At one point, Chad says, “When people come together, amazing things happen.” Laurence Fishburne provides viewers with some comical as Harold Christian, who’s dedicated to his barbeque business and cheers on the football team even in the hospital. Fans of sports and faith movies are sure to enjoy UNDER THE STADIUM LIGHT.

UNDER THE STADIUM LIGHTS has a very strong Christian, biblical worldview promoting generosity, friendship, family, friends, faith, hope, prayer, renewal, and forgiveness. For example, the players take care of each other as “their brother’s keeper” during hardship. Also, the team chaplain provides support and mentoring to the football players and gives a speech about the importance of hope. Also, Ronnell learns to forgive and accept his family situation, the team sings a song of Amen, the chaplain cites the Book of Proverbs, and prays with the team before dinner and games. Finally, a gang member turns to Christ before being murdered by another gang member. However, UNDER THE STADIUM LIGHTS contains some violent scenes, references to drugs and gangs, a comment about sodomy in prison, and a few obscenities. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children.