Police connected 21 local armed robberies to 10 Carter neighborhood teenagers, six of whom were a part of the football team. Williams attributed his involvement in the robberies to a desire for attention. And so he stands by his story, warts and all, as it unfolds across theater screens beginning today. At the courthouse, it simply doesnt matter that you can run the football. He often refers to her as Vivica now, after actress Vivica Fox who plays her in the movie. Gary Edwards, one of the team's star players, is suing the filmmakers behind " Carter High " for more than $1 million. Advocates are pushing for legislation to help them. NEXT: The Fabelmans True Story: How Accurate It Is To Spielberg's Childhood. I just love it, he said. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Three Carter players from that team Le'Shai Maston, Jessie Armstead and Clifton Abraham played in the NFL. Carter High School is really an afterthought in Friday Night Lights -- the evil, thug-like team that stole a championship. Please enter valid email address to continue. Here's the list: 2010- Harrison Barnes - Starter for the Sacramento Kings - Starter for his whole career, incl. "I'm not afraid of life, man," he said. Jul 20, 2018. I move on." But after Penn State kicked Carter off the team for violation of team rules, he wound up at EMCC. A still from the 2015 movie 'Carter High' about the 1988 Dallas-area football team mired in controversy. Campbell said he hopes the film, which was shown to a crowded audience of young athletes, sends a strong message to them about the importance of making the right decisions. A lot of people already know the story of Friday Night Lights, in which a West Texas high school fights for the state football title. He has been a contributor to Dave Campbell's Texas Football since 1980, serving as high school editor from 1984 through 2000 and as Managing Editor from 1990 through 2004. After serving 12 years in federal prison on fraud and insider trading charges . Staff writer Brad Townsend conrtributed to this report. Thanks to a likable cast of characters, Wagners brilliance and a newsworthy season Stephens was ejected for getting into a shoving match with a linesman one game, while a full-team brawl in the final regular season contest resulted in the premature end of EMCCs season the show took off and was quickly renewed for a second season. "What makes you think you can get away with something?". Not the racial tensions of the time. They stopped calling me. Others reacted with joy because they believed young troublemakers had gotten what they deserved. In fact, Muhammad said, none of the 10 Carter players involved in the armed robberies returned to prison after they were released. Raven is a graduate of New York University and UNC Charlotte. This is a carousel. The Lions already have two players ranked in the 247Sports Composite, including defensive tackle Teair Tart-Spencer, the No. Back in '88, Edwards was one of the best on the field, but he was also. By Laura RiceDecember 22, 20159:45 amArts & Culture, Sports. The No. The film's director, Adam Hootnick, said he made the documentary because he felt the Carter story was never fully told. He was a wide receiver who served seven-and a-half years of a 25-year sentence for armed robbery. But there was trouble during that season's playoffs when questions arose about a Carter player's algebra grade. None of the students depicted in the movie are actual students that Ken Carter coached during his time at Richmond, other than his own son Damien, played by Robert Richard. When discussing playing Ken Carter (via MovieWeb), Jackson spoke about the similarities he saw between himself the real-life basketball coach, saying, "He believes in education and he believes people should be accountable for things they say they are going to do.". Urban and suburban schools had just begun to play each other, he said, which brought out racial tensions. In reality, they had freshman, junior varsity, and varsity teams, all of which Carter coached during his five years at Richmond High. A Florida State transfer, Johnson made headlines before leaving Tallahassee for all the wrong reasons after he was booted from the team after assaulting a woman at the bar. But it would be a surprise if East Mississippi C.C. Derric Evans, Gary Edwards, Keith Campbell, Patrick Williams and Carlos Allen were all sentenced to serve time in prison. Former state District Judge Joe Kendall in his sentencing of Carter High players. To Hootnick, some of the story's unsung heroes are the parents who fought to keep the team in the playoffs. Clifton Abraham was good. Attorney General Garland to testify before Senate on Justice Department activities. However, there is a happier ending unfolding away from the screen, where former Carter standout Derric Evans continues to craft a productive life free of the spotlight that made him a teenage celebrity, in ways both good and bad, two decades ago. But its really the kind of movie that lets people know that you can make it if you try. Eva-Marie Ayala/Staff Writer, Dallas-set football drama 'Carter High' hits Netflix Novemeber, 2016, Former Carter High star football player Jessie Armstead reflects on the past, Carter High tackles Dallas teams woes head-on, Over two decades later, a chance for public redemption, Scandal taints memories of 'best ever,' the 1988 Carter football team, Robbery spree was 'just for kicks' for 1988 Carter football team, Former players on 1988 Carter football team tried to move on, but shaking past wasn't easy. Players in Bold are currently in the league. In his final two seasons with the Bulldogs, Carter disrupted the interior of the defensive line behind six sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, four passes defensed and two forced fumbles over 27 games . Arguably the greatest high school football team in Texas state history, Carters story is also seemingly made for film or print. It started with an plan to rob a local Jack in the Box and led to a string of others. He wont be in Boca Raton by himself. While he states at one point that he wants to go to Georgia to be close to his mother, Carters strong finish to the year ends up with him heading back to Pennsylvania, this time with a scholarship to Pittsburgh. Ken Carter is still very much in the full stride of his career having continued his work as a motivational speaker and author since the mid-'00s. hide caption, The 1988 Carter High School football team won that year's Texas state championship. 42 overall junior college player in the 247Sports Composite. The defendants were hustled from the courtroom by sheriff's deputies and did not comment. Today I will be talking about Friday night tykes and where they are now. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. What's the best high school team in modern history? (Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer). Editor's note: Take a look back into The Dallas Morning News archives. The inspirational story inspired the movie Coach Carter six years later. The 1988 Dallas Carter High School football team stormed its way to a state championship -- only to be brought down by an armed robbery scandal which sent half a dozen players to prison.. The film featured Dallas' 1988 Carter High School football season. After "Kotter," Hegyes starred in "Cagney and Lacey," as well . Focused on East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, Miss., the show captured the win-at-all-costs coach Buddy Stephens, terrific academic counselor Brittany Wagner and a squad of players fighting up from the rungs of small town junior college football to try and earn a shot at the big time. He begins as arguably the teams biggest star, earning offers from Florida State and Auburn before producing the highlight of the season when he went airborne over a defender to score a touchdown against Mississippi Gulf Coast. Carters 1988 state title run was almost halted in district court as a battle raged between the Texas Education Agency and Carter over the eligibility of a player. '', Judge Kendall sentenced the teen-agers after they had pleaded guilty to holding up a total of 21 restaurants, including some in which they worked. The graduation rate for student-athletes in Richmond was low, and Carters basketball players all graduated during his time as coach from 1997 to 2002. Thats the reason executive producer Greg Ellis signed on. As an author he's released two books, 2005's Coach Carter: My Life and 2012's Yes Ma'am, No Sir: The 12 Essential Steps for Success in Life. Additionally, the audio story, as did a previous Web version, state that six Carter High School football players served time in prison. So at the end of the day I have something to prove to the world just to get back on top.. Filmmaker Adam Hootnick says, "For a lot of people, that's the top.". The second episode of the season focuses heavily on Johnsons situation, with Johnson acknowledging his mistake and his parents expressing their disappointment. A new film, written and directed by a former player for Carter High, details their triumphant road to the 1988State Championship and the controversy that surrounded the team after they won. I was just trying to play, Hall said. I was younger, he says. "We always thought that, 'Wow this would be a great movie, somebody needs to make a movie about this,'" Muhammad says. According to the real Ken Carter in an interview with The Chicago Sun-Times, most of the story from the movie is accurate (via MTV). But if he werent a really good football player, his ordeal wouldnt be making the front page of The Sporting News.. You stay pretty busy. He has long been devoted to his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha, overseeing the local chapter's economic development dealings. Though West said he and Kendall are friends today, he said he did not speak to Kendall for two years after that. Last season she set records of single-season steals (123), single-game steals (14) and she's now . Kendall declined to be interviewed for this story, other than to compliment the skills of defense attorneys West and Creuzot. It started as a nonfiction book, then it became a movie (with Billy Bob Thornton as the coach) and finally a TV series. Ukrainian drone crashes 60 miles from Moscow, prompting Putin military order, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses re-election bid, concedes defeat, Musician Ben Kweller announces death of 16-year-old son, Nordic stars bring sex, terrorism, murder to U.S. streaming, 36 killed, 85 injured in Greece train crash. Keith Campbell, 18, received a 25-year term for his involvement in four robberies. He went straight from high school to prison, and he left without work experience or marketable skills, so his first few years on the outside were difficult ones. 'Derrick got five years. The book "Friday Night Lights" is about a group of high school football players in Odessa, Texas, a town where football is king and Friday evenings are gospel. So the level of attention and adoration and intensity around that experience for a lot of people, that's the top. Carter did have some pushback from the parents, his players, and the community for his actions, but his focus on academics proved successful in real life, as well. One of the few holdovers from season one, Wright famously put himself on the kickoff team in the first episode of the series, scoring on a long return and helping to kick the Lions into gear. It set the whole city on fire," said defense attorney John Creuzot, who represented one of the players. Some in the community agreed with West that prison sentences seemed harsh for young men who had made mistakes. But that 1988 Permian Panthers team, if you remember, didnt actually become champions. I would appreciate it if you commented . The players were arrested, tried and convicted. I did my own thing and now thats what I gotta do, Wright said. Former Katy High football player Aundre Dean stars as a high school football player convicted of a series of Dallas robberies in the new film, "Carter High. The film airs on ESPN Thursday, August 24. I just love seeing those little kids coming across and they reach out and catch my hand and I help them across. In the end, per ESPN, 21 players off that Carter team were offered college scholarships. Ashley Steffeck. Looking back on their involvement while serving time, Edwards and Evans came to a similar conclusion to their mindset while being a part of the football team. "I dont let anything worry me.. It Was Money for Prom Night, Some of the youths had testified that they had committed at least one robbery each so they could have extra money for prom night. "KD" was by far one of Last Chance U 's all-time personalities, providing endless wise-cracking during a season where there wasn't much to laugh . 141 JUCO in 247Sports Composite West Georgia. It was a historic season that included a national football championship for the predominantly black school, but not without controversy. Six players from that team, a few of them stars, were sent to jail following a series of arrests for armed robbery. Carter prevailed in court and beat Converse Judson 31-14 for the Class 5A state title. The movie is based on the 1998-1999 season lockout, which made national news. Here's a look at the composite top high school basketball player each year during the 2010s and where they are right now. Think a Gen-Z Friday. He called me crying that night, Carter said. That highlight went viral and even made SportsCenter, with Stephens pointing out Wright at a practice and stating, Hes the one that I think is special.. The sentences were handed down before a courtroom packed with relatives of the 12 defendants, one of whom received a deferred sentence and one of whom was sent to a Texas Department of Corrections 'boot camp' for 75 days. He slumped in his chair after his sentence was announced. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. March 1 (UPI) -- FBI Director Christopher Wray told Fox News that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic likely started as a lab leak in Wuhan, China. As far as we know, Ken Carter, 61, remains to be a motivational speaker and author today. . Talented and bold, the Oak Cliff team ruled high school football in Texas. And so to fall from grace like that, that's a long way down.". 10 Texas Athletes Are Sentenced to Jail Terms for Robberies, https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/24/us/10-texas-athletes-are-sentenced-to-jail-terms-for-robberies.html. I never even knew that that stuff was going on until its like they were actually out and basically confessed to the crimes.. 'But he (Washington) got six months,' Creuzot said. Allen arrived at East Mississippi with arguably the most serious rap on his sheet, after he was indicted on a second-degree felony burglary of a habitation. Jackson went on to stress the importance to him of seeing a sports movie that emphasized the value of education for young high school athletes, as so few of them go on to have professional sports careers. Everything changed. The 1988 Carter High School football team seemed invincible. But. DALLAS -- Ten current and former high school students, including five members of Dallas Carter's Class 5A championship football team, were sentenced to prison terms Friday by a judge who told them, 'If stupidity were a crime, you would all deserve life without parole.'. Then after the championship win, the title and all of the accolades were stripped from the team when six of it's players were convicted and sentenced in a string of robberies throughout the Dallas area. I think Im losing them. But in April 2016, Carter was kicked off the team for a violation of team rules. Stephens returns after seeing himself in the first season and vowing to curse less and empathize more see how long that lasts while Wagner begins to worry about whether shell reach her potential in Scooba. You dont understand, brother. / CBS Texas. It was just the part about the football team and the adversity that we had to overcome, he says,that alone was a movie in and of itself.. "Derric didn't need to change. Kamonte Carter, defensive lineman, season two: Carter, known as "Kam," committed to Penn State out of high school. Evans and the other former Carter players have. Emily Ochsenschlager and Jessica Smith produced and edited this interview for broadcast, and Nicole Cohen adapted it for the Web. Nine of the teens were high school football players, three of whom played for Hillcrest but lived in the Carter neighborhood. It's the true story of the 1988 Dallas Carter football team, the manner in which it won - and lost - a state championship and the subsequent descent into crime by some of its most talented athletes. Like most movies based on true stories, certain characters were invented to serve the story. He was a tough disciplinarian who once reportedly dragged a student from a billiards hall back to school. The 1999 team did get locked out of the gym for poor academic performance during the 1998-1999 season. 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