30 for 30: Brian and The Boz

If there would be one word to describe Brian Bosworth it would have to be intense. In the mid 1980's College Football was at it's peak and one of the powerhouse school's was the University of Oklahoma. In 1984 head football coach Barry Switzer recruited one of the nation's highly touted linebackers named Brian Bosworth. The relationship between the two was a natural success. But a few bumps in the road along the way made the two separate towards the end of their relationship. 

In late 2014 as a part of their 30 for 30 sports documentary series ESPN came out with the episode called Brian and The Boz. Which follows Brian Bosworth's career at Oklahoma and his short lived career in the NFL. All the problems and struggles that he went though throughout his career and the demons that he had to face when busted for PED's. Not to mention his alter ego kicked in called "The Boz." http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11734535

This documentary was such a great piece put on by ESPN. In the first part of the documentary it takes a look at a young Bosworth growing up in Texas and turns out to be a stand out linebacker in High School. His relationship with his father though was not the best in the world. Throughout the documentary it shows Brian and his teenage son Max at an Austin, Texas storage unit looking at old football memories of the Boz. Brian had recruiting offers from almost every college in the nation such as Texas, SMU, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, etc. He ended up signing with the Oklahoma Sooners after head coach Barry Switzer came into his high school lunch room and talked to him one day durning his Senior year of school. 

Brian really didnt gain national prominence until his Sophmore year of 1985 where he helped Oklahoma win its first National Championship in 10 years thanks to his speed and agression he played with at linebacker.But by the time his Sophmore year ended he became more cocky, flamboyent, and out spoken. Brian started shaving the sides of his head, wrting messeages on his gear, and telling reporters just how he felt of opposing teams. The media loved his alter ego that he had created called "The Boz" Fans and the media loved this side of Brian, while his teammates, officials, and opposing players did not. One part of the documentary shows a game between Oklahoma and Colorado. Throughout the game fans started throwing trash at Boz on the field for his ego and ruff style of play. Boz had enough and threw up the middle finger at the Colorado fans. Fans reacted back by throwing more trash, one such trash being a beer bottle that struck a cheerleader in the head and injuring her. That's the type of person he had become. Someone you loved to hate and hated to love him. 

Brian's antics had finally caught up to him when he was busted for steroids right before the 1987 Orange Bowl against Arkansas. Brian was banned from football because of it, but that didnt stop him from making an appearance on the sidelines. During the game Brian was shown wearing a shirt that read "National Communists Against Athletes". Which was his reference to the NCAA. Coach Switzer had notified Brian the he would now be declaring himself for the NFL draft because of that mishap. His NFL Career was short lived after dealing injuries and personal problems The Boz retired after the 1990 playoffs

I absolutely loved this documentary that ESPN put together about one of the greatest college football players of all time in Brian Bosworth. The way that they showed footage through out of Brian and his Son Max bonding and teaching his son the lessons that he learned was a great side of the Boz that many people never see. I was not alive yet to watch him play but the footage that ESPN put in this film of his career makes me say that he was a person that you wanted to watch each week because of the unpredictability about him. I have to give this film a 5 out of 5 stars rating. Very well done. 30 for 30: Brian and The Boz (Full Length Movie)