The true story of Jim White's 1987 TeamMcFarland, USA, is discussed in the DVD review.

Jim White started coaching cross country at the high school in 1980.He had been a teacher in the McFarland School District since 1964.McFarland was mostly white back then.He retired in 2003 after 23 years of coaching.His cross country team won the state championship in 1987, the first year that California had a state title, as a result of the movie.From left to right: Damacio, Victor, Johnny, Jose, Danny, and Coach Jim White.

No.The real Jim White started teaching in the school district straight out of college.Unlike the movie, he didn't come to McFarland on his last leg after being fired several times for losing his temper.He taught fifth grade science for nine years in the district.After teaching seventh and eighth grade woodshop and PE for 11 years at McFarland Middle School, he switched to just teaching PE and coaching the high school cross country team.The congressional record is V 146.There were 12.

Not quite.Jim White started the program again in 1980.The boys and girls cross country programs were rebuilt from the ground up.The congressional record is V 146.There were 12.

Jim White and his wife Cheryl have three daughters.Julie and Jami are shown in a movie.The girls were in college at the time of the first state title, but they are portrayed to be 15 and 10 years younger than they actually were.All three girls graduated from Lubbock Christian University with degrees in education.LCU.edu is a university.

Yes.The kids and their families gave Jim White a nickname that was inspired by his last name.The LA Times.

The Central Valley Correctional Facility is not across the street from the high school.Jim White probably wouldn't have had a clear view of it from his classroom window, as a street of homes separates the school's athletic fields from the prison grounds.

Yes.The LA Times article did not state that it was a girl's bicycle like in the movie.Jim White used the bike to follow the team during their workouts, just like in the film.The real Jim White and Kevin Costner were both in the movie.

Yes.David, Damacio and Danny were forbidden from competing by their mother at first, according to the true story.She concluded that it was good for them as long as they were still working.BakersfieldCalifornian.com

Yes.To make up for the time they couldn't work in the fields due to cross country practice, Jim White would sometimes give his time to them."I helped them work in the fields, but more importantly, I had practice at a different time," says the real Coach Jim White.I might practice at 6 or 7 o'clock with those boys if they couldn't make it at four.I would have two practices.In the movie, Coach White helped the kids pick the fields so that they would have more time to practice.

Not likely.John Harte, a local photographer, said that he witnessed opposing teams offer genuine handshakes of good luck.The Bakersfield High Drillers were included.Such scenes seem to have been exaggerated by the filmmakers.

Yes.It happened a little differently than in the movie.The real Coach Jim White took both the boys and girls cross country teams to the California central coast beach at Cayucos during the 1985 season.Many of the kids saw the ocean for the first time.John Harte is a person.

At times, the White family paid for new shoes and clothing for the team out of their own pockets.Mrs.Diaz made 200 dozen tamales to send the team to Asia.The orders were delivered by Coach White.KGET 17

Yes.After his parents got into a fight, Thomas went to an overpass above Highway 99.I was there.Thomas didn't want to go home.I wasn't sure if I was going to jump, but I thought about my life and why people jump.I saw the headlights and it was Mr. White.Thomas was called over by Coach White.He got into the truck and talked to White about his troubles at home.The real Thomas Valles and his onscreen counterpart, Carlos Pratts, were both in the movie.

No.Danny was the seventh runner on the team.His performance at the state meet helped McFarland win the title.ABC News

The McFarland, USA true story supports that the high school won nine California State Championships in cross country and went to the state championship meet for 24 years in a row.The streak ended when the small school was elevated to Division I status as a result of their success.They won state cross country titles in 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

No.Luis Partida was not included in the movie because he was replaced with David Diaz."Niki Caro wanted to show more family in the movie so they chose me," says the real David Diaz, who actually graduated during the school year before the first state title win.Two of David's brothers, Damacio and Danny, are in the movie.

Yes.Many of Jim White's runners went to college or into the military.All but one of the seven children went to college.Many of White's former runners credit him with inspiring them to achieve their personal and career goals.David Diaz became a teacher himself.He went on to become a prison guard.

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