[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 30 (Monday, February 27, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DOCUMENTARY FILM ``UNDEFEATED'' WINS OSCAR
(Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, this weekend many of us watched the Oscars,
and among the winners of an Oscar was a documentary film called
``Undefeated.''
``Undefeated'' was about a football team at Manassas High School in
Memphis, Tennessee, and a gentleman named Bill Courtney, who was a
volunteer coach there. He went to Manassas during their 2009 2010
season to try to help the kids, help them get through and have a better
life. It's in a tough part of the city--a lot of poverty and a lot of
one-parent households and a lot of things to overcome.
They had a football player named O.C. Brown, who was an outstanding
offensive tackle. He got a scholarship eventually, because of this, to
go to Southern Mississippi. He's a great ball player. Coach Courtney
worked with him and others to make sure that he got an opportunity to
advance.
It's a lot like ``The Blind Side,'' except that it was a story about
Coach Courtney and O.C. Brown of Manassas. It won an Oscar, and it
deserved it. It's about people not giving up and making a success of
things. In just under half a semester, O.C. Brown was able to achieve a
3.0 grade point average and get that scholarship at Southern
Mississippi.
Manassas High School is filled with talented young people. We wish
them good luck.
This hat belonged to Isaac Hayes, a proud alumnus of Manassas High
School.
____________________