Based on actual events that took place in Virginia in 1971, a white southern high school is integrated with black students from a nearby school.

Both schools are recognised for their football programmes which are now unified.

In what was a potentially volatile situation with far reaching consequences, black coach, Herman Boone (Washington), is brought up from South Carolina and hired as head coach of the T.C. Williams High Titans.

This leaves the previous white head coach, Bill Yoast (Patton), with feelings of animosity at having to be an assistant under a black man.

The question is whether they can get along well enough to mould the young black and white players into a winning team...