seems kind of silly for a legend to do this, but here's a link, butkus is going to coach a hs football team and have it aired on a reality show
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review...w/s_351604.html
ESPN, **** Butkus set to follow Montour High School Spartans for reality show
By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, July 9, 2005
The Montour High School football team will try to rebuild while the rest of the nation watches.
ESPN will follow the Montour Spartans for a reality show that includes NFL Hall of Famer **** Butkus as an assistant coach.
"It's a little bit like 'Extreme Makeover,' " said executive producer Ben Silverman of Reveille, which will produce the program. "Hopefully, it will feel like a Disney movie."
The new show, titled "Bound for Glory -- the Montour Spartans," is a prime-time reality program. There will be eight one-hour episodes at 10 p.m. each Tuesday on ESPN, beginning Sept. 20.
Montour, which was 1-8 last season and missed the playoffs for the sixth year in a row, opens the 2005 season at Chartiers Valley on Aug. 26.
"It's going to be nuts," first-year Montour coach Lou Cerro said, "but it's something the kids can remember for the rest of their lives."
Silverman said they considered nearly 500 high school programs from around the nation, before settling on 25 finalists from five football-crazed states, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Texas.
Eventually, they picked the 1,161-student school in Robinson Township.
"We fell in love with Montour," Silverman said. "We're looking at a town where the team isn't as strong as it once was. The people believe in the town and want to bring attention and energy. They have a great history, but they've had some hard times."
Butkus, the ferocious linebacker from the Chicago Bears. will work with the Montour staff, including Cerro, who aims to rebuild the Spartans after coaching the past 12 seasons at Seton-La Salle. Cerro led Seton-La Salle to a 13-1 record and the WPIAL Class AA championship last year.
Butkus most recently served as a director of football competition for the Chicago Enforcers of the now-defunct XFL.
"I've talked to him, and he was real down to earth," Cerro said. "He knows what this is all about."
Cerro said the school district solicitor needs to wrap up some details, such as getting permission from the Spartans' opponents to have ESPN camera crews at their games.
"We just have to sign the contract and make sure everything is legal," Cerro said.
Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker R.J. Cutler of Actual Reality Pictures ("The War Room" and "30 Days") and Clay Newbill ("The Bachelorette" and "The Mole") will serve as executive producers.
Silverman said the show will include footage from practices, pre- and post-game locker room sessions, game action and even PTA meetings. There will also be guest appearances from former NFL players and coaches.
"It's not a straight documentary," Silverman said. "We will be all over the field. Each episode will have a game. We will shoot the game and shoot the practices. We also will be chronicling the high school and the team and the town."
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review...w/s_351604.html
ESPN, **** Butkus set to follow Montour High School Spartans for reality show
By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, July 9, 2005
The Montour High School football team will try to rebuild while the rest of the nation watches.
ESPN will follow the Montour Spartans for a reality show that includes NFL Hall of Famer **** Butkus as an assistant coach.
"It's a little bit like 'Extreme Makeover,' " said executive producer Ben Silverman of Reveille, which will produce the program. "Hopefully, it will feel like a Disney movie."
The new show, titled "Bound for Glory -- the Montour Spartans," is a prime-time reality program. There will be eight one-hour episodes at 10 p.m. each Tuesday on ESPN, beginning Sept. 20.
Montour, which was 1-8 last season and missed the playoffs for the sixth year in a row, opens the 2005 season at Chartiers Valley on Aug. 26.
"It's going to be nuts," first-year Montour coach Lou Cerro said, "but it's something the kids can remember for the rest of their lives."
Silverman said they considered nearly 500 high school programs from around the nation, before settling on 25 finalists from five football-crazed states, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, Ohio and Texas.
Eventually, they picked the 1,161-student school in Robinson Township.
"We fell in love with Montour," Silverman said. "We're looking at a town where the team isn't as strong as it once was. The people believe in the town and want to bring attention and energy. They have a great history, but they've had some hard times."
Butkus, the ferocious linebacker from the Chicago Bears. will work with the Montour staff, including Cerro, who aims to rebuild the Spartans after coaching the past 12 seasons at Seton-La Salle. Cerro led Seton-La Salle to a 13-1 record and the WPIAL Class AA championship last year.
Butkus most recently served as a director of football competition for the Chicago Enforcers of the now-defunct XFL.
"I've talked to him, and he was real down to earth," Cerro said. "He knows what this is all about."
Cerro said the school district solicitor needs to wrap up some details, such as getting permission from the Spartans' opponents to have ESPN camera crews at their games.
"We just have to sign the contract and make sure everything is legal," Cerro said.
Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker R.J. Cutler of Actual Reality Pictures ("The War Room" and "30 Days") and Clay Newbill ("The Bachelorette" and "The Mole") will serve as executive producers.
Silverman said the show will include footage from practices, pre- and post-game locker room sessions, game action and even PTA meetings. There will also be guest appearances from former NFL players and coaches.
"It's not a straight documentary," Silverman said. "We will be all over the field. Each episode will have a game. We will shoot the game and shoot the practices. We also will be chronicling the high school and the team and the town."
