Valley Christian head football coach and faculty member Jeff Rutledge is going to be portrayed in a movie titled, “Woodlawn”, that’s being released in the fall of 2015. Rutledge will be portrayed by actor Richard Kohnke, who most recently appeared in “When the Game Stands Tall” and “Pitch Perfect”. Actor Jon Voight will portray Paul “Bear” Bryant.
The movie focuses on the spiritual revival in Birmingham in 1973 and 1974 and the week leading up to the big Banks High vs. Woodlawn High football game in 1974. The game, which was one of the most anticipated games in Alabama sports history, was played in front of more than 42,000 fans at historic Legion Field. Rutledge led his Banks High team to an 18-7 victory.
From AL.com:
In 1973, a spiritual awakening captured the heart of nearly every player of the Woodlawn High School football team, including its coach Tandy Gerelds. Their dedication to love and unity in a school filled with racism and hate leads to the largest high school football game ever played in the torn city of Birmingham, Alabama, and the rise of its first African American superstar, Tony Nathan.
Jeff Rutledge, Banks quarterback. Like Nathan, Rutledge was a Parade All-American and he and Nathan became teammates at Alabama. After leading the Crimson Tide to the 1978 AP national title, Rutledge played 14 seasons in the NFL, and he was a member of Super Bowl-winning teams with the New York Giants and Washington Redskins.
Rutledge won two state championships as quarterback at Banks High and in 2013, his 1973 team was voted as the best high school football team in the state’s history. After finishing a college career at Alabama that included a national championship, Rutledge played 14 seasons in the NFL. He has coached at every level, including as the Arizona Cardinals’ quarterbacks coach during their Super Bowl season. Rutledge was hired as the Valley Christian head football coach in 2013.
We’ll have more information on the movie and events surrounding the release when the release date gets closer.