At least not if you saw "Remember the Titans" like I did. In fact, I've seen that movie about five times now, if you count all the repeats on TNT.

Herman Boone's charm, though, didn't come through in the movie. Nor did his passion and love for those kids on his football team in Alexandria, VA during 1971. He told the audience, in fact, this was one part of the movie he didn't like.

"I'm a tough old bird that might saw you up one side and down the other, but I never cursed a child," Boone said in a soft Virginia drawl. "But after going up one side and down the other on you, for your own good, you didn't leave without a hug."

Apparently, Denzel chose to ignore that part of Boone's personality. And Boone's sense of humor. In fact, it was that sense of humor that motivated the Titans more than discipline, he said.

He told the Titans that "I really don't care if you like one another, hell, I don't like half of you. But you will respect each other. And out of that respect will come trust, and out of that trust will be an emotional glue that will hold you together."

You get the impression that after 37 years of teaching, Boone is really a softy. He urged the group to pay attention to gangs and realize that they are great recruiters of angry kids. He urged the directors and teaches to try and understand the teenagers. Their weird clothes, loud music and to not give up on them.

He then ended the evening by singing along to a Frank Sinatra song (I think) that spoke of wishing the best for all. Who knew? I'll have some of his comments up on audio on this post tomorrow.