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Producer wants to take Centre's legendary football win to the big screen
RELEASED: Oct. 17, 2002
DANVILLE, KY—Move over "Rudy" and "Remember the Titans"; here comes Bo McMillin and the 1921 Centre College football team.
Matt Battaglia, an actor-producer who is a former college and professional football player, is intent on making a motion picture about the story of Centre's upset of No. 1-ranked Harvard in 1921. A script has already been completed, Battaglia said.
The "Praying Colonels" victory on Oct. 29, 1921, was called the biggest upset in college football history at the time by the Associated Press.
Centre College is not providing financial help for the movie, but is supportive of the project. Mike Norris, Centre's director of communications, said the story of C6-H0 has all the elements for a great movie.
"Bo McMillin (Centre's standout quarterback) was a fascinating character—a gambler and pool hustler who shot craps. Some would say even a con man," Norris said. "But he also had a keen sense of honor. He never swore or drank. He wouldn't tolerate profanity from his teammates.
"Centre entered the contest as a major underdog. The upset was national news and set off a celebration of mythic proportions in Kentucky."
News of a possible movie has been noted in the Louisville Courier-Journal, Danville Advocate-Messenger, Lexington Herald-Leader and the Associated Press. Local television and radio stations have also reported the story.
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Danville, KY 40422
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