WARNING: SPOILERS for American Sports Story episode 3.
American Sports Story Episode 3, “Pray the Gay Away,” explores Aaron Hernandez's introduction to Christianity through teammate Tim Tebow. Directed by Josh Rivera American Sports Story pour as Aaron Hernandez, former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end Convicted of the 2015 murder of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. The first two episodes. American Sports Story Get a basic understanding of Aaron Hernandez's complicated upbringing, tumultuous family life and accelerated path to becoming a Florida Gator before joining the NFL's New England Patriots in 2010. American Sports Story It features several NFL players and coaches, including Hernandez.
American Sports Story Episode 3 highlights Hernandez's celebrity status at the University of Florida before declaring for the 2010 NFL Draft. The Florida Gators won two BCS National Championships under head coach Urban Meyer, who was instrumental in clearing Hernandez's act after he was questioned by police about the shooting, though Hernandez was only part of the 2008 season. Pray the Gay Away focuses much of its focus on Hernandez's sexuality and inner struggle. With concepts of God, identity and gayness. It also continues to bring up the head injuries that led to Hernandez's 2017 diagnosis of stage 3 CTE.
American Sports Story
Episodes 1-3 are now streaming on Hulu.
Aaron Hernandez never fought Jordan Reed during practice in Florida.
The scene is meant to portray Hernandez's violent impulsivity
During an early scene American Sports Story episode 3, Hernandez was disciplined by head coach Urban Meyer for using too much cannabis to train and not following the playbook. Even though Hernandez was competing for the prestigious John Mackey Award, which goes annually to the nation's best collegiate tight end at the time, Meyer felt Hernandez needed to understand that he couldn't get away with anything just because of his talent. He benched Hernandez in practice and tapped rising star Jordan Reed to run his game.. Unable to control his impulse, Hernandez tackles Reed despite not being on the field.
In reality, This feud between Hernandez and Reed never happened. Reed was a tight end for the Florida Gators from 2009-2012 after initially being recruited as a quarterback. Reed was selected as the 85th overall pick by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Reed spent seven seasons with the Redskins, who rebranded as the Chiefs in 2020, before signing with the 49ers in 2020. Reed suffered a series of concussions that affected his career and resulted in his retirement in 2021. He was often compared to Hernandez due to his similar height and playing style on the football field. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2016.
Tim Tebow's interception in the 2009 SEC Championship wasn't the final game.
The blowout loss that ended the college careers of Tebow and Hernandez was the final straw.
American Sports Story Relives one specific play from the 2009 SEC Championship Game, where Tebow was targeting Hernandez in the end zone, but ended up being intercepted by cornerback Javier Arenas. While this play did indeed take place in a real-life game, with Tebow unbuttoning his chinstrap and all, it wasn't the last play of the game, though it could have been the last sign of a potential comeback by the Gators. . The series mentions that the game has about 12 minutes left to play, but does not include any additional context. The score was 32-13, Alabama.
The rest of the 2009 SEC Championship Game, though, was mostly uneventful American Sports Story missed a great opportunity to capture the unforgettable image of Tebow on his knees sobbing as his college football career ended. After the interception, one of Tebow's five on the season, Florida got the ball back with less than 10 minutes left. After another scoreless offensive drive, Alabama would have the ball with about 7 minutes and 30 seconds remaining and would hang on for the rest of the game. Alabama would go on to win the 2010 NBC National Championship Game against Texas. Hernandez had eight receptions for 85 yards and no touchdowns.
Urban Meyer went home after the 2009 SEC Championship Game before being hospitalized
American Sports Story describes Meyer collapsing immediately after the game ended
Urban Meyer was hospitalized after the 2009 SEC Championship Game, but it wasn't what he was described as. American Sports Story. The series describes it He fell to the ground clutching his chest moments after the Gators lost to Alabama. In fact, “A 911 call from Urban Meyer's home at 4:30 a.m. Dec. 6 after Florida lost the SEC championship shows the Gators' coach being rushed to the hospital after complaining of chest pains and tingling. sensation on his part” (via ESPN).
“Meyer's wife, Shelley, who called 911, said her husband woke up briefly that morning and tried to get out of bed, only to fall to the floor..” Meyer was reportedly breathing but did not wake up after taking the sleep medication Ambien. American Sports Story. In real life, Meyer announced his resignation following a medical incident, but later changed his mind and coached the Sugar Bowl team in January 2010.
Source: ESPN