MovieChat Forums > All the Right Moves (1983) Discussion > USC scholarship plot hole!

USC scholarship plot hole!

posted 15 years ago by arazi25
13 replies | jump to latest

Ok, If Steph's friend Brian was good enough 'linebacker' to draw the interest of USC, (Running Back University by the way) why wouldnt he draw the attention of schools nearby... Pittsburgh? Ohio St? How about Penn St.? (linebacker U)
Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College? Only USC??? that was totally wrong.

The just had to have more schools than just one?

Wouldn't that have been more realistic to go to a school closer to home?
They acted as if USC was the only option. The dream of playing College ball had to end because of childbirth and marraige. If he was good enough they could have moved to California, stuck it out. She could have gotten a job, hired a babysitter, even gotten assistance from the school.

In two or 3 years Brian signs an NFL deal and life is good!

Instead this guy just gives up without even trying...."I'M GONNA HAVE A KID STEPH" he sounded like his life was over.

This was a huge unresolved plot hole.

[–] steve-brink 12 years ago

First of all, remember this movie is from 1983 and players were not allowed to leave college early and then go in the NFL.

Secondly, USC was a national power at that time (John Robinson was still coach when this movie was made) and very desirable for students all over the country. Also being from a gloomy town in Pennsylvania (before you knock that statement, my great grandfather was from Johnstown and survived the Great Flood of 1889, the kids wanted out and coming to sunny Southern California and playing in the Rose Bowl was a big draw from those in the Rust Belt.

By the plot, many of the kids were rather realistic and just want out of town. The NFL would be icing on the cake. Even Stef realized that he can get an education paid for with football, but he was still too small for the NFL.

As for his teammate who got his gf pregnant, bear in mind that he was basically forced into marriage (remember this is still 1983 and things were still different then) by the girl's family, which means the decision was not entirely up to him. Even Stef suggests to talk to USC and see what could be worked out. NCAA rules are strict about getting jobs and paying for babysitters away from home was not practical and her family's situation just would not have made it a choice, most likely for religious reason.

It was not a huge plot hole, to me. Also Nickerson does get that job at Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo, not Pomona since CPPomona had dropped their football program after the 1982 season and Roman Gabriel was their last coach), which is in the Central Coast of California.

Hope this puts it in a different perspective.

[–] HalSnarr (1) 4 months ago

It could have been the case that, upon realizing he was going to be a dad, decided it was what he wanted in life. Also, we don't know what happened to any of the characters after Steph was offered a scholarship by Coach Nickerson.

Playing for USC in the Rosebowl was supposed to conjure images of a blue sky, green lawns, a blue ocean, picturesque snowcapped mountains, and bright colorful flowers, which stands in contrast to the greys, rust, and economic depression of the fictional blue collar mining town of Ampipe PA.

Arazi25's speculation regarding playing football for Pitt or Penn State could have been how Brian's life played out--something we'd only know only if the movie was longer. Or, Brian could have escaped Ampipe by enlisting in the Navy or Army. That is how I and every kid from rural America I served with got out. Many of us used that experience to go to college on the GI Bill.

[–] jefgg 11 years ago

If Brian had a scholarship offer from USC I assume he had offers from many other schools. Elite football programs like USC recruit all over the country.

Brian would not have been the first college football player to have a child. But I don't think most of them get married.

A lot of people thought Stef was too small for college football, but that was addressed. He had one scholarship offer and it was from Cal Poly, a small school. There was no way Brian had the size to play linebacker at USC even in the '80s. But it was a movie, not a documentary.

[–] Huskie_Jon 11 years ago

If he was good enough to end up in the NFL some day, he would have drawn attention no matter where he played. He would have made his school a contender, even if they weren't before.

The NFL Hall of Fame is full of players who were passed over by the big schools.

They were both Steeler fans. Stef should have asked Brian where Jack Lambert went to school (Kent State).

_______________
A dope trailer is no place for a kitty.

[–] bam2360 11 years ago

Great point!! Chris Penn's character was definitely undersized to play middle linebacker for USC. Even for the early 80's. To play middle linebacker in the early part of the decade you probably looking at 235lbs. He wasn't even close to that. Also, he didn't have the height to see over the line of scrimmage. D3 is more like it! Just my .02

[–] Hoffman31 10 years ago

You can't let truth interfere with storyline....Chris Penn himself was obviously not big enough to be a major DI LB....However, the storyline is that Brian Riley was a blue chipper who did have the necessary size. Therefore, he likely had his pick of schools, both local and out-of-state.

As far as why he simply did not take one of the other offers, perhaps it is like someone else said. He lives in an economically depressed town where his family might barely be getting by without the addition of a grandchild. Therefore, the only way to feet and shelter his kid is to join the work force and make whatever him and his wife can as a two-income family.

I am sure he could have worked out a deal with whatever school he wanted to attend to live in a married housing complex. But alas, maybe the blue collar mentality in which he was raised made him feel it was more important to provide for ones'self, rather than rely on the good graces and generosity of the athletic department at said college/university.

[–] jporter-6 9 years ago

In two or 3 years Brian signs an NFL deal and life is good!

Brian was never going to play pro ball. I have a friend who played pro ball. By the time he was in high school, he was already huge. And my friend had a solid 'B' grade point average.

Brian was up against one of the same problems Stef had. Stef told the college representative who came to him home that he was too small to play in the NFL. Also, Brian carried, by his own admission, a 2.0 GPA. He was never going to get into USC.

[–] Arancini 8 years ago

High school (varsity) football players receive letters of invitation from many schools. Yes, "full ride" would imply that he was Blue Chip material, but he may have been selected as a project player, red shirt, expected to develop into a starter.
I've assumed that his captaincy of a potential Pennsylvania State Championship team, may have had more to do with what type of offers he would receive than his lack of bulk.
5'10 was the height of the late actor, Chris Penn.
If that is Riley's height? coupled with his obvious ability and play calling, special teams linebacker or like someone said, defensive safety.

[–] Arancini 8 years ago

I think Tollner was at the USC helm when this film was made.

[–] Arancini 8 years ago

There another thing I noticed about "size" in this film, and now that I've been curious enough to research the late Chris Penn's actual height; I'm going to submit this:
In several scenes with Tom Cruise, there were actors of smaller stature positioned near him, I've assumed, to make him appear to be the 5'10 character in the storyline. Some really short guys in there like one of the key characters; "Mouse"
So, I've deduced that Riley was of, at least height, to be recruited by USC, and many others, because in the screenplay he was several inches taller than "Stef"s 5'10

The confusion can be attributed to SCALE and the diminutive Tom Cruise

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Yeah those scenes of this supporting character thinking over his other offers were really missed.

[–] QOK (1504) 6 years ago

Why can't people just enjoy movies without over analyzing everything?

[–] Juschill (816) 4 years ago

This is not a plot hole.

People have no idea what a plot hole is.

Maybe Riley was too stupid to get into these schools and USC had fixers like they did for Lori Laughlin’s daughter. He doesn’t know what a verb is from the opening of the movie. Also Stef does his homework for him.

This is 1983, schools had higher standards than they do today.

Linebacker U probably didn’t need another linebacker.

Read up on plot holes. This was not one.