Saturday's Hero

"Saturday's Hero" is a film about the experience of one college football player as well as the ugliness of the college football business.

Steve Novak (John Derek) is a star high school football player. Not surprisingly, he's recruited by many top universities and he chooses Jackson University. Once there, he's a serious student and star athlete but he also seems to be constantly refusing a variety of illegal payoffs...ways 'benefactors' of colleges make sure the athletes are paid for their services. It soon becomes obvious that college football is a business...one that cares little about the student athletes...especially when they no longer are profitable.

This is a most unusual football film for 1951, as instead of the usual film glorifying the sport and making college seem like a game, it shows some of the darker sides of the sport. It also is very somber in tone and, sadly, mostly true of college football today. Overall, well made and surprisingly frank...and John Derek did a surprisingly good job in the lead.