Factual error: During the Marshall-Xavier game the announcer refers to Xavier as the "Pirates", but Xavier's nickname is and was "Musketeers".
Factual error: The movie takes place in 1970. When the funeral auto processions meet, there is a train crossing over the road in the background. One freight car is Conrail, which was formed in 1976, and another is CSX, formed in 1986.
Factual error: When Ruffin and his teammate come out of the movie theater upon hearing the news of the crash, the fire trucks are heading east on the street. The airport was west of Huntington.
Factual error: When the president is calling all of the coaches, there is a list of coach names and phone numbers. Until recently, three digit area codes always used a 1 or 0 in the middle. (ie. 305) On the list, which is supposed to be from the 1970s, the area codes are in the new format not using 1's or 0's in middle (i.e. 336). Area code 910 is also on the list, but it didn't exist then as a voice line, only for telex communications.
Factual error: In one of the game scenes a fumble is recovered and advanced by Marshall's competition. It wasn't until 1990 that the NCAA allowed a defense to advance a fumble recovery, until then it was a dead ball at point of recovery.
Factual error: The football field is the modern turf grass that is well manicured with the light and dark grass. In the early 70's the grass would have been one color and torn up more.
Answer: The original idea was to force Freshmen players to gradually adapt to both a tougher form of football and the tougher academic requirements of college.
BaconIsMyBFF