12/07/2015

By Katerina Biancardi

Angelo Pizzo had never heard of Freddie Steinmark.

The director and screenwriter, known for his work on “Rudy” and “Hoosiers”, said coming from Indiana, the inspirational story of the undersized 5 foot-10, 166 pounds Texas safety was never on his radar.

Freddie Steinmark played football at the University of Texas under Coach Darrell Royal from 1967 through 1969. As the starting safety, Steinmark led Texas in the “Game of the Century,” where the Longhorns defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks, and clenched the 1969 championship title.

Pizzo found once he read the biographical book on Steinmark by Bower Yousee and Thomas Cryan, he learned Steinmark’s story does not end at the 1969 victory, but rather it begins.

Nevertheless, Pizzo’s life was impacted by Steinmark’s story.

“When I read the book, I started crying,” Pizzo said. “I never cry reading books.”

Angelo Pizzo now knew of Freddie Steinmark.

Pizzo said he found his next project. He was going to bring Steinmark’s story to the big screen.

Three years later, Steinmark’s story came to life in the film titled “My All-American.” The cast and crew gathered at Paramount Theatre for a sold out, special screening on Nov. 11. “My All-American” was nationally released Nov. 13.

Finn Wittrock, who portrayed Freddie Steinmark in the film, said he learned at the start, the value of taking part in telling Steinmark’s story.

“When you first understand the significance of the story like coming down here, seeing the picture of Freddie behind in the stadium,” Wittrock said. “You realize something really quickly it’s something bigger than you.”

Before the University of Texas football team runs onto the field for a game, they remember their fellow Longhorn.

Mack Brown started the tradition in 1998. As the team heads onto the field, each member touches a picture of Freddie Steinmark to remind them to practice courage on and off the field.

Wittrock said he humbly understood by portraying Steinmark, he was in service to something so significant.

“You’re sort of helping portray a spirit that is very much alive in this day and age,” Steinmark said. “50 years later.”

And 50 years later, the University of Texas football program still honors Steinmark’s legacy. At the home game against Kansas on Nov. 7, Texas gave tribute to Steinmark.

Before the game started, sophomore running back D’onta Foreman said the coaches sent the team into the locker room to get fully geared up for the game. The team found they would be sporting head-to-toe replica apparel of the 1969 Texas championship team.

Foreman said at first the guys were not excited about sporting the tall socks.

“I never wear my socks that high.” Foreman said. “But for this game, for him, I really just want to do it how they did it.”

Furthermore, to honor Steinmark’s legacy, the scoreboard was rededicated as part of the year’s celebration of his life and the film coming to theaters later in the week.

After the first quarter, the Steinmark family and members of the 1969 championship team were recognized on the field to highlight Freddie’s legacy and the celebration of 100 years of college football.

The Longhorns defeated the Jayhawks 59-20.

Senior running back Jonathan Gray said the celebration of Steinmark motivated the team to unite for the win.

“To see the old school jerseys, to understand what they represented, and who we were playing for what amazing,” said Gray. “We were playing for a championship team back in the day and Freddie Steinmark.”

The players watched the film as a team, according to Foreman.

“It really touched me,” said Foreman.

Foreman was one of the many influenced by “My All-American.”

After watching the film at the special screening, Barbra Lightheart, from Austin, Texas said she too found “My All-American” inspiring.

“The never quit attitude. Never do less than 1000 percent of your best, and infect everyone around you with that enthusiasm,” Lightheart said. “I would love to have that effect on people.”

Jenna McEachern, a Texas Ex from Austin, Texas, also came to watch the special screening. She said she personally knew Coach Royal and some of the teammates of Freddie. McEacern said, although she did not know Freddie, after watching the film, she knew the story was told right.

“The thing I loved most was the director and producer tried to be absolutely true to the real story,” McEachern said.

Paul Schiff, producer of the film said what made “My All-American” unique was the film’s shared mission, to ensure Steinmark’s story was going to be told true.

“There was an extra order of commitment and sense of mission that I found incredibly rewarding as a producer,” Schiff said. “People felt an obligation to get it right, a duty to tell the story well, and do their best possible work.”

Rett Terrell, who portrayed Bobby Mitchell, best friend of Steinmark, said the cast and crew had access to Steinmark’s family members and teammates, and those connections contributed to telling the story truthfully.

“To have them watch back some of the scenes, see us on set, give a little head nod or a little wink to be like ‘you got em, you did it’,” Terrell said. “That’s everything.”

Terrell said after watching the film fully completed for the first time, he knew the film would make an uplifting statement.

“Especially in this day and age to have a story like this come out, as genuine it as, because that was what Freddie was, he was 100 percent genuine,” Terrell said. “To see that is so refreshing.”

Pizzo, the director and screenwriter, said “My All-American” would have something to offer everyone.

“I knew there was something very inspiration that would transcend Texas, transcend Austin [Texas], and would ultimately reach and touch everybody,” Pizzo said. “That what I really think the best movies are, the combination of the unique and universal.”