On the evening of Saturday, 14 November 1970, a jet carrying the Marshall University football team, coaches and fans, crashes in the Appalachian Mountains. Now, university president Dedmon (David Strathairn--Good Night, And Good Luck.) plans to end the school's football program for the season--perhaps indefinitely. Assistant coach Red Dawson (Matthew Fox--"Lost"), who narrowly missed the ill-fated flight, can't face going back onto the field . . . But in this small town, football is a way of life. And with the strength and leadership of young, outsider coach Jack Lengyel (Matthew McConaughey--Frailty), the town and the university rally to rebuild a football team and to heal a community.