Get Inspired To Finish Out The Year With These 3 Sports Movies

By Christy Flom on April 13, 2015

It’s almost time for finals and as the papers, exams, and group projects begin to pile up, students tend to have less and less enthusiasm to keep studying.

With summer nearly in our grasps, we all need that extra little push to keep going during the semester and to remind us why we decided to go to college in the first place.

There’s really no better way to motivate someone than through sports and movies. Combined, it is next to impossible to not feel motivated and empowered after watching iconic sports movies.

So, here are three sports movies that will inspire not only your academic work but also pretty much every aspect of your life, too.

Movie #1: “Miracle On Ice”

In short, this movie highlights the struggles of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team as they defied the odds to beat the USSR during the 1980 Olympic games. The game, played during the Cold War, ended up being a sign for all nations that freedom can and will prevail.

One memorable scene is after the young team ties the Norwegian National team before the Olympic games began. Beyond disappointed, head coach Brooks makes them do sprints directly after the game as fans are still filing out of the arena.

The famous scene consists of Brooks saying “again” over and over while giving a speech about being a team rather than individuals and playing with everything you have rather than relying on mediocre skills.

How does this relate to college students? Every time you may be in the library, wishing you were in bed or eating chocolate or on summer break, just picture Herb Brooks yelling “again” and then buckle down and do your work.

Grades don’t rely on mere intelligence, you have to study and prepare for exams and class, just as the young hockey players had to power through this night to make them strong enough to win a gold medal.

Movie #2: “Remember the Titans”

This is the story about a school that desegregated their football team, leading to huge issues and ramifications in relation to football, social events and school conduct. At first the team was clearly separated by race but slowly began to mold into one team through the exercises and demands of the coaches.

During every day and every game this team was put to the test; if they failed, the whole system would fail and the black head coach of the team would have been fired, ending the desegregation of the school.

Aside from the obvious lessons this movie teaches us about respecting culture, skin color, and athletic ability, it has many parallels to the life of college students like endurance, and future implications of your actions today.

First, “Remember the Titans” can be a lot like saying Remember Your Homework. Just as this team made history proving that black and white men can play and win football together, overcoming all of the odds their generation set against them, we are the new people making history.

College students are the future of America. We can make a difference just as those players and Coach Boone did back in the ‘70s but it all starts with remembering our homework and working towards our future.

Next, “Remember the Titans” gives college students the motivation to stand up for what they believe in. Coach Bill Yoast refused to help throw a game despite being offered a place in the hall of fame as a major incentive.

We live in a very individualistic society these days with every college student competing for the best job possible. As students however, we are also a part of a larger community and need to remember that our actions reflect not only our schools but our generation as a whole.

There may be personal gains to cheating on that one exam or deceiving a colleague competing for the same internship, but that will get no one very far in life. Sure, Coach Yoast could have gone down in college football history, but he would have had to live with costing another man his job and countless players their chance at playing football and gaining an education.

I sincerely hope few college kids have the weight of multiple people’s lives on their shoulders but recognize that we all have hardships in our lives. Choosing the right path can make a bigger difference than it may seem at the time.

Movie #3: “Stick It”

To cap off the list, I decided to end on a movie with a bit of a lighter plot and tone. Based around the story of a struggling teenage gymnast dealing with the divorce of her parents and a streak of rebel behavior, the movie enlightens viewers on the power of friendship and taking a stand.

I think it would be great if we, as students, all took a stand against professors just as the gymnasts did against the judges to control our grades on exams; unfortunately, college is a tad different and I do not believe that would work.

However, taking a stand can be seen all throughout college campuses. From groups protesting for greater diversity on campus to clubs promoting safe havens for sexual assault victims, college students hold an immense amount of power in not only college administration policies but also nation and world policies and customs.

We need to realize that we have this power and work to succeed in whatever we participate in as students, from clubs and sports to academic achievements as well.

There are many more inspiring sports movies out there to help college students finish the year strong, a few being “Rocky,” “We Are Marshall,” and heck, even “Caddy Shack” if one needs a little comedy before aspiring to greatness.

Either way, these movies should be a sufficient way to procrastinate long enough to eventually gain that feeling of inspiration to get homework done before summer break!

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