American Sports Story Episode 3 True Story: What the Show Changes

Warning: Spoilers ahead for American Sports Story Episode 3.

American Sports Story Episode 3 “Pray the Gay Away” explores Aaron Hernandez’s introduction to Christianity through his teammate Tim Tebow. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story Cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015. The first two episodes of American Sports Story Gain 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 Depicts several NFL players and coaches including Hernandez.

American Sports Story Episode 3 chronicles Hernandez’s celebrity status at the University of Florida before he finally declares for the 2010 NFL Draft. Under head coach Urban Meyer, who is depicted as having a major role in Hernandez cleaning up his act after being questioned by police about a shooting, the Florida Gators won two BCS National Championships, although Hernandez was only part of the 2008. “Pray the Gay Away” spends much of its focus on Hernandez’s sexuality and his internal struggles With concepts of God, identity and joy. It also continues to chronicle Hernandez’s head injuries that led to his stage 3 CTE diagnosis in 2017.

Aaron Hernandez never got into a fight with Jordan Reed during a Florida practice

This scene is meant to portray Hernandez’s violent impulsivity

During an early scene in American Sports Story Episode 3, Hernandez is depicted being disciplined by head coach Urban Meyer for showing up high on cannabis to practice and disobeying the playbook. Even though Hernandez was at the time in the running for the prestigious John Mackey award, which goes annually to the best collegiate tight end in the nation, Meyer felt that Hernandez needed to understand that he couldn’t get away with anything just because of his Talent. He blessed Hernandez in practice and tapped rising star Jordan Reed to lead his game. Unable to control his impulsivity, Hernandez tackles Reed even though he’s not supposed to be on the field.

actually, The fight between Hernandez and Reed never happened. Reed was a tight end for the Florida Gators between 2009 and 2012 after initially being recruited as a quarterback. Reed was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft as the 85th overall pick. Reed spent seven seasons with the Redskins, who rebranded as the Commanders in 2020, before signing with the 49ers in 2020. Reed suffered a number of concussions that impacted his career and resulted in his retirement in 2021. He is often compared to Hernandez for Having a similar stature and playing style on the football field. He was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2016.

Tim Tebow’s interception in the 2009 SEC Championship Game wasn’t the final play

That was the final straw in the blowout loss that ended Tebow and Hernandez’s college careers

American Sports Story Reenacts one specific play from the 2009 SEC Championship Game in which Tebow was targeting Hernandez in the endzone but ended up throwing an interception to cornerback Javier Arenas. Although the play actually happened in the real-life game, with Tebow flipping the buttons of his chinstrap off and all, it was not the final play of the game, although it could be the final sign of a potential comeback by the Gators. The series shows that there were approximately 12 minutes left to play in the game, but there is no additional context, such as The score at the time was 32-13, Alabama.

The rest of the 2009 SEC Championship Game was mostly uneventful, though American Sports Story missed a prime opportunity to depict the unforgettable image of Tebow kneeling and sobbing as his college football career came to an end. After the interception, one of Tebow’s five total on the season, Florida got the ball back with less than 10 minutes to go. After another scoreless offensive drive, Alabama would regain possession with about 7 minutes and 30 seconds left and would hang on to it 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 before being hospitalized after the 2009 SEC Championship Game

American Sports Story depicts Meyer falling to the ground right after the game ended

Urban Meyer was hospitalized after the 2009 SEC Championship Game but not as depicted in American Sports Story. The series portrays him Grabbing his chest and falling to the ground moments after the Gators lost to Alabama. In fact, “A 911 call made from Urban Meyer’s home at about 4:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 6, after Florida lost in the SEC championship game, reveals that the Gators coach was rushed to the hospital by ambulance after complaining of chest pains and a tingling sensation. Feeling on his side“(by ESPN).

“Meyer’s wife, Shelley, who placed the 911 call, said her husband woke up briefly that morning and tried to get out of bed, but fell to the floor..” Meyer was reportedly breathing but would not wake up after taking the sleeping pill Ambien, which is different from the scene depicted in American Sports Story. In real life, Meyer announced that he was resigning after the health incident, but later changed his mind and coached the Sugar Bowl in January 2010.

Source: ESPN