Friday Night Lights: Book Summary

Odessa isn't known to be a place on big dream, but the Panthers help keep the hopes and dream of this dusty town going. Socially and racially divided, its fragile economy follows the treacherous boom-bust path of the oil business. IN bad times, the unemployment rate barrels out of control; in good times, its murder rate skyrockets. But every Friday night form September to December, when the Permian High School Panthers play football, this West Texas town becomes a place where dreams can come true.
With frankness and compassion, H. G. Bissinger chronicles a season in the life of Odessa and shows how single-minded devotion to the team shapes the community and inspires- and sometimes shatters-the teenagers who wear the Panther's uniforms.

Friday Night Lights: the movie

The movie follows the book quite accurately in many scenes, but some areas for example the championship game in the movie. Permian did NOT make it to the championship, they only made it to the semi-finals, nut otherwise it was very accurate. The thing that our whole grouped loved about the movie was that they was absolutely NO history what so ever. Some of the people in the book who are portrayed in the movie are a bit different. Their personalities in the book are different in the movie. Although the movie may be a little bit different, we think it summed the book up nicely. It got the massage across and it was an awesome movie. We all loved it.

Thinking Question For YOU!!!

If you were so close to State and you could literally touch and smell it but you lost how would you feel?? Please explain in a detail answer.

Thinking Questions

~How would you feel if you put a lot of effort into your sports season, but in a year everyone would forget about you and replace you with other athletes? - I would be in a blue funk. (state of nervous depression). Also we would be saddened by the thought of everyone forgetting about all the hard work and goals we accomplished during our season.
~If Permian would have beat Dallas Carter, do you think they would have won state? - Yes, they have the willpower and determination to win it and they had a community that would've helped them along.
~How would you feel if your team was one of the final 4 left in the entire state? - I would feel proud and well accomplished. It would be an honor to be there.
~Why do you think after Permian lost to Carter that everyone didn't know what to do? - They probably felt this way because football was everything to them and know that they didn't have that until next season they kind of faded away, not knowing what to do with themselves.

Meeting 4 Notes

Vocab

~ reprieve-temporary relief from any evil or trouble

~recalcitrant-resisting authority or control; disobedient

~constituency-the voters in a district

~guttural-formed in the throat; harsh

~effusion-unrestrained expression of feeling in talking or writing

Passage

1. Dale McDougal ran to find her son. They both started sobbing and walked off the field clutching each other. ~This shows how important this game was to the MoJo players.

2. But when asked if he regretted his decision to quit, he became remorse and silent. ~This showed how much Boobie loved the game of football.

3. The season had ended, but another on had begun. People everywhere, young and old, were already dreaming of heroes. ~This shows how big of a tradition MoJo was. How every year was a big deal.

Summary 5

Permian beat Amarillo Tascosa in the first round easily, but also they took a pounding form the coach because they thought they could do better. Their next opponent would be Nimitz Vikings. The Vikings were also a christian school who was going to do everything they could to stop Permian. They went onto beat the Vikings 21-7. It also talks about the sacrifices Permian kids went through to play ball. They made it to the final four and every thing goes south, they lose. Boobie Miles goes to Jr. College and drops out.

Thinking Question For YOU!!!

What town would you rather live in? Midland- a town with great career opportunity, rich stuck up people, not much of a party town, didn't have as good of athletic teams and a community who didn't support their teams as much. Where as Permian- a party town, full of great potential but goes up and down, a football program that is successful, a community that lived for football, and where being a football player meant you were King. You could be in both towns, but which one would stronger for you and why? Please explain in detail.

Thinking Questions

~Do you think that Boobie made the right choice in coming back that season to try and get a scholarship after his injury?
-We all thought that he didn't because he ended up not playing very much and no college recruiters wanted him anymore. They had moved on.
~Do you think that the Permian Panther boys have a good chance at winning State?
-Yes, because they are determined and won't quit until they win and make their fans proud.
~How would you feel if you had a starting spot on a team and you lose it because of an injury?
-We would hate it because we lost our chance for a good future. Also we would feel frustrated because we didn't do anything wrong and yet we wouldn't get our spot back.
~Do you think that the players and fans still think that Boobie is a good player?
-Some do and some don't. The ones that still think he is good, felt sorry for him and understood what he was going through. The ones that thought he wasn't good felt that way because he pouted all the time when he didn't get to play; and plus they had Comer who they thought was better than him anyways.
~Why wasn't Boobie the #1 star when he came back?
-Because of Comer's success. Also Comer was better than Boobie ever was.
~Why did Midland and Odessa hate each other so much?
-They have had rivalries between them since they began.
~According to the describings in the book, which town would you rather live in?
-Answers vary.
~Why does Gary Gaines have so much pressure with winning every game of football?
-If he doesn't he will be fired.
~Do you think Permian should have won the coin toss?
-Yes, because they are a very determined team and they deserve it.

Meeting 4 Notes

Vocab

~dubious-hesitantly, doubting

~intolerable- unbearable

~tie-breaker-something that breaks a tie

~grim-dirt/filth

~omen- occurrence or object regarding as portraying good or evil

Passages

1. "He wants to have that magic wand and have it be just like it was before he's knee got hurt."

~ That is the important because that is what said about Boobie, but LV knew it wasn't possible.

2. "It was like and atomic bomb in a town." ~ This is important because they described something that happened in a different way, so that you can visualize what happened.

3. "You can't really discuss how high you can be or how low you can be. I think that's a truism in coaching, but that's especially true here." ~This is important because it talks about what that coaches think about coaching and Permian High School.

Summary 4

In the beginning of the chapter on pg. 261, it starts out with Boobie Miles' harrowing journey back from a knee injury. Boobie feels frustrated and helpless because nobody is calling out his name and looking up at him in awe because of his talent like they use to. Most of the coaches think that he will never return to his former glory. In the next section, it talks about the rivalry between Midland Lee Rebels and Odessa, not only on the football field but in their towns industriousness. During the oil industry boom, Midland benefited greatly from it and was one of the richest towns in Texas; but after awhile, everything started to go downhill. The First National Bank declared bankruptcy and the oil prices drastically fell. All the fancy oil riggers the Midlanders had made their land look like a cemetery because no one wanted to buy them. In the end, it talks about the Permian Panther's losing to the Midland Lee Rebels, their victory over the San Angelo Bobcats, and the coin-toss that decided which two teams went to state. Gary Gaines knew he had to win the coin-toss, otherwise he had a very likely chance of getting fired. The chapter ends with the Permian Panthers moving on to the playoffs.

Thinking Question For YOU!

Is it right to conform (or change your ways) to be popular?? Please explain your answer.

Thinking Questions

Thinking Questions

~Do you think that when Permian players go off to college they are in big shock? -As a group we think it depends on the player and what kind of mind frame they have.

~Why is school not as important to the students of Permian High School? Because it wasn't cool to be smart and football was way more important.

~ Is it wrong or right if your school didn't care as much about their academics and cared more about athletics? Explain your answer. -As a group we said it was wrong, because where are sports going to get you in life??? No where, you carry your education with you till the day you die. Sports only last as long as you are young which isn't very long.

~How successful do you think Permian would be without the support of Odessa? They would not be as nearly as good, team support is what makes a team. Without it how can you keep going if no one cared?

~ Why is it so important to be popular rather than intelligent? If you were intelligent, everyone made fun of you. Also, if you were intelligent, you weren't popular . Some girls, who were intelligent, acted dumb so they would fit in.

~ Why was losing to the west so intolerable? If Permian would have lost they would have been humiliated. After losing to a good team the game before and they lost this one too, they would never bounce back. Odessa High hadn't in a long time.

Meeting 3 Notes

Vocab

~ conceptual-pertaining to concepts or to the forming of concepts

~ metonymy-a figure of speech that consists of the use of the name of the object or concept for that of another to which it's related, or of which it is a part

~ cajoled-to persuade by flattery or promise, wheedle; coax

~ euphoric-feeling of happiness, confidence, or well-being sometimes exaggerated in pathological states of mania

~ abject- utterly hopeless, miserable, humiliating, or wretched

Passages

1. "It use to be the other way around. I use to be surprised whenever they didn't know it. Now I'm amazed when they do know it. " ~This comment shows that education was not a priority for really anyone at Permian High School.

2. "It's not appropriate for a girl to be intelligent. It's not popular to be bright." ~ This just puts more emphasis on why education wasn't important. It wasn't cool to be smart.

3. "If we prepared our kids academically as we prepared them for wining the state championship, there is no telling where we would be now." ~ Thus shows that education sucks and football is more important.

Summary 3

The chapter starts out mostly talking about the football playoffs, the Pepette's and who was going out with who. Also it talked about how they did in school. Next was the East vs. West game. Permain clearly took out Odessa High 35-7. The next game Permain had won against Midland who was a big team, adn the lines to get the tickets were unbeilevable. Many had to camp out to get tickets. Permain hands down took that game by a substancial amount 42-0. Later on George Bush came adn visited Odessa because he use to live in Odessa. When he spoke to the people he was speaking to people he was shoulder to shoulder with back in the 50's were football was still #1 even then.

A Thinking Question For You

Do you think you have some of your parent's traits? If so, expain.........

Thinking Questions

Thinking Questions

1. Do you think kids inherit alot of their parent's traits? ~Yes, we can see in ourselves that we have some of our parents traits.

2. Why did Odessa not want to desegregate their schools? ~They didn't want to mess with their football programs.

3. Do you think Boobie will bounce back from his injury? ~Yes, because he has alot of skill, but also no because he feels forgotten.

4. How has Mike Winchell's fathers death affected his attitude and personality towards life? ~ He doesn't smile anymore and has to worry about more than himself too. And he never really opens up and tells people what he feels.

5. Are blacks treated better in the time of Odessa or today? ~They are treated better today, because in Odessa had the railroad, and today we really don't have that.

6. Why do you think the Permian Panthers can never handle the pressure? ~They could never believe in Winchell because he was never outspoken and always shook in the huddles. But now that he is a senior they bare gaining more trust in him.

Meeting 2

Passages

"That's what I'm afraid of," ~Boobie might not be able to go to college because of is injury and that is scaring him becasue that is all he can do, play football.

"He never wants me to come in," ~Winchell's girlfriend said this because he was embaressed of where he lives. This shows that this is what some of the kids have to go through and how limited money is.

"Never let up, swarm the ball every play," ~This shows how they played football and how they lived for the game. Football was everyhting to them and they did anything to win.

Key Words

~nigger- a black person

~frenzy- tense, emotional excitement; intense activity

~desegregation- abandon the act of segregation (spilt-up)

~detrimental- harmful, dangerous, injurous

~prominence- state or quality of being prominent (distingushed)

Summary 2 By: Octavio INCOMPLETE

A Thinking Question for You

Background: Odessa is a place where football is why you keep on living and if you are wondering where everyone is on a Friday night, you just have to walk down to the Permian football field and you'll find the whole town there cheering on their team.

Do you think we are as supportive and as proud of our school (SSC) as Odessa is?

Thinking Questions

~How would you deal with and injury like Boobies?
-We would probable react just like him but not as intense and as graphic and wordy. But we understand why he reacted this way, because that was his whole life
~Why does the quarterback, Winchell show no emotion?
- He gets scared and the pressure gets to him and nothing really makes him happy anyways. Plus, his dad past away when he was younger and ever since then his has been smile less.
~ What is the significance or what is so important about Friday nights for all the people of Odessa and the football players?
-They live for football. It keeps them going. If they wouldn't have any football, their would be no community because they don't get along without football. They all come together as one on Friday nights to cheer on their boys. And for the players, this is their time to shine and play the sport they love.

Meeting 1 Notes

Passages

1. In the absence of a shimmering skyline, the Odessa's of the country had all found something similar in which to place their faith....... In Ohio and Pennsylvania and Alabama and Georgia and Texas and dozens of other states, it was the weekly event simply know as Friday Night.

~It's important because the people from Odessa didn't get along very well but when there was a game in Friday Night they would all come together as on to cheer on their team. This is what they lived for.

2. They listed off names as if they were talking about the star-studded cast of a movie spectacular, and they frankly didn't see how Permian could miss a trip to state this season.

~ They is referred to the people of Odessa. This passage shows that everyone from Odessa has a huge amount of faith in their boys and it shows how much they believe in their talents that they can win and go to State. Also, it shows how proud they are of them.

3. "I won;t be able to play college football, man," said Boobie..... "It's real important. It's all I ever wanted to do. I want to make it in the pros. All i wanted to do," he repeated again. "Make it into the pros. " He said right after he got injured.

~Boobie feels cheated because this is his ticket to have a good life and play the sport he loves so much in college. His dream is to play for the pros and now that dream is fading and he can't do anything about it.

Words of the Day

~catharsis- a purification that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension

~congregate- to come together

~anatomical- action or process

~egocentric buffoon- self-centered

~enduring- last in durable

Summary 1

Boobie Miles, a has-been super-star for the Permian Panthers, tore some ligaments in his knee and has been a benchie ever since. His whole life was based on football and now that he can't play as well he is slowly losing his high self-esteem. The quarterback, Mike Winchell has to go through a lot of pressure. He never smiles which makes him unique in a special way. On Friday's all the members of the football team find their own way to unwind and waste time before the football game. Every one's in the locker room, puking, blasting music and staring nothing. Mo-Jo lost their game in 1987 that ended that season, but the next season was coming. When coach Gaines goes home after every loss there's always dozens for sale signs in his front yard, but that's the price you pay for being the head coach in a town that's all about football. The 2nd chapter of this explains in great detail about Qdessa's history. Odessa thrives on football, but it is also know as the worst place to live due to it's death and gangs standards. Odessa is an oil town. It goes in spurts and has a very unbalanced economy, but the people that stay, stay for the football. Signaling the start of the football season in the famous Watermelon Feed. Everyone in Odessa attends this and wears black as they say every individuals name on the team that year. Being apart of the Permian football team was every little boys dream and it was the way they were brought up to be. Boobie Miles was the major star at Permian in 1988, everything was kinda based around him. But that scrimmage changed everything. On the way to L.V.'s old town he remembered all his childhood memories and is sort of living them through Boobie. Boobie was adopted by L.V. when he was 7 years old. Boobie and L.V. thrived off each other and while Boobie was an outstanding football player; he had the mind of a 12 year old. Basically, if Boobie had no football talent he would be "a dumb old nigger."