'Remember the Titans' coaches to tackle racism, diversity in lecture
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Herman Boone and Bill Yoast, the coaches portrayed in "Remember the Titans," a film about a racially torn state championship football team, will speak this month at Purdue University.Boone and Yoast's lecture, "Remember the Titans: Conflict Resolution and Unity," will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. It will include the lessons of diversity, inclusion, combating racism, building teams and their experiences as coaches and the adversity they have faced. Admission is free, and the lecture is open to the public.
Their story dates back to 1971, when three schools in Alexandria, Va., were integrated to form T.C. Williams High School and racial tensions ran high. Boone was the former assistant coach for the black T.C. Williams High School; Yoast was the local favorite and successful coach of the previously white Hammond High. When Boone was named head coach of the school's Titan football team, the two coaches were able to put aside their differences and unite the team and community as well. The Titans compiled a 13-0 record and went on to win the state championship.
The coaches' inspirational experiences were later made into a film, "Remember the Titans," starring Denzel Washington and Will Patton. Boone and Yoast are now retired and live in different parts of the country. Boone continues to motivate people through speaking engagements, and Yoast wrote an autobiography titled "Remember This Titan."
The lecture is sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students Student Activities and Organizations area in cooperation with the Office of the Provost, University Residences, Purdue Athletics, Purdue Student Government, Purdue Student Union Board, Purdue Alumni Association, Diversity Resource Office and the Department of African-American Studies.
Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu
Sources: Jason Casares, assistant dean of students, (765) 494-1231, jcasares@purdue.edu
Erin Ansfield, graduate administrative professional, (765) 494-1231, ansfield@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Herman Boone and Bill Yoast will be available to speak with the media from 6-6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in Stewart Center, Room 218A. Photographers also are welcome to take photos during the first 15 minutes of the presentation.
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