By Karen Kier, Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team
In 1974, The Longest Yard was released starring Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert, Ed Lauter, and Mike Conrad. The plot involves a former NFL football player who is arrested and sent to prison. Ultimately, a game is played with the prisoners against the prison guards. The prisoners win the game. While celebrating, Reynolds’s character appears to be walking off the field as though he might escape. The warden (Albert) is shouting for the guards to shoot him. Reynolds was retrieving the game ball and not escaping.
The picture was filmed at the Georgia State Prison in cooperation with the Office of the Governor. The Georgia governor was Jimmy Carter. The film won a Golden Globe for the Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy).
Burt Reynolds had some serious injuries from Florida State University football and a car accident. He took time off from football and took junior college courses where he was discovered and started acting. He attempted to go back to football at Florida State, but his injuries deterred him from continuing.
Overcoming adversity can be a struggle whether that be prison, injuries or long COVID. Over the last few months more information has been published on long COVID.
