Go Tigers!

Watch Go Tigers!

"Massillon Ohio: Where they live, breathe and eat football."
  • R
  • 2001
  • 1 hr 44 min
  • 7.2  (835)
  • 69

Being a high school football player is a dream come true for many young men in small towns across America. For those who grow up in the Rust Belt, football is more than a game; it is a way of life. Filmed during the 1999 season, the documentary Go Tigers! chronicles the lives of four young players on the Massillon Tigers football team as they navigate the ups and downs of high school, adolescence, and Friday night lights.

Directed by Ken Carlson, the film is equal parts coming-of-age story and sports documentary. It opens with footage of the Massillon Tigers marching band, resplendent in their red and black uniforms, practicing on the field. The camera then follows four players: Dave Irwin, a tough-talking linebacker who dreams of playing for Ohio State; Ellery Moore, a running back with a magnetic smile and a genetic heart condition; Danny Studer, a quiet tight end with a complicated family life; and Joe Paterno, a backup quarterback with big dreams.

Over the course of the season, the Tigers experience both triumphs and setbacks. They win some games and lose others, but they always put up a fight. Off the field, they deal with everything from academic pressure to relationship drama to family strife. Their relationships with their coaches and parents are especially poignant; many of these adults are former Tiger players themselves, and they have a deep sense of pride in the team's legacy.

The heart of Go Tigers! lies in its portrayal of small-town life in America. The town of Massillon, Ohio is a classic Rust Belt community, struggling to hang on in the face of economic decline. Football is a source of pride and hope for many residents; as one man puts it, "It's the one thing we've got left." The film captures the feverish excitement of game day, as fans pack the stands and cheer their lungs out for the Tigers. It also touches on the darker side of small-town football culture, including the pressures coaches face to win at all costs, and the sometimes toxic attitudes of fans and boosters.

One of the film's strengths is its intimacy. Carlson and his crew spent an entire season embedded with the team, and the resulting footage feels raw and unvarnished. We see the players' highs and lows, their moments of joy and despair. We also see the toll that football takes on their bodies and minds; one standout scene shows Ellery undergoing open-heart surgery, a stark reminder of the risks these young men take every time they step onto the field.

Despite its narrow focus on one team and one season, Go Tigers! feels universal in its themes. Anyone who has ever played a team sport or grown up in a small town will find something to relate to in this film. The camaraderie and brotherhood of the team, the pressures of adolescence and expectations of parents, the struggles and triumphs of playing a physically and emotionally demanding sport—all are depicted with honesty and empathy.

One of the film's few flaws is its pacing. At nearly two hours long, it occasionally drags in its middle section. Some scenes feel repetitive or unnecessary, and the film could have benefited from tighter editing. That being said, the emotional payoff in the final act is worth the wait. The Tigers' final game of the season is a nail-biter, with the team's future hanging in the balance. The climactic moments on the field are filled with tension and drama, and the final shot of a tearful Ellery hugging his mother is genuinely moving.

Go Tigers! is a love letter to Rust Belt America and the sport that means so much to its residents. It captures both the joys and pains of growing up in a small town, and the fierce pride that comes with being part of a close-knit community. Despite its flaws, it is a powerful and compelling documentary that will resonate with anyone who has ever cheered for an underdog team, or fought to overcome adversity on and off the field.

Go Tigers! is a 2001 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 69.

Go Tigers!
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Where to Watch Go Tigers!
Go Tigers! is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at Apple TV and Amazon. Some platforms allow you to rent Go Tigers! for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    2001
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    1 hr 44 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.2  (835)
  • Metascore
    69
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