ESPN Films' SEC Storied series will launch its third season this fall with The Book of Manning, premiering Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The film will explore the personal and professional life of former NFL and Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning and how the sudden loss of his father impacted his life and the way he and his wife Olivia raised their three sons.
A father-and-son story written into the pages of football folklore, it can be argued that no family has had more influence on a sport than the Mannings. Archie - the patriarch - a star quarterback at the University of Mississippi and then with the New Orleans Saints, followed by oldest son Cooper, whose football dreams were cut short by a spinal condition, then sons Peyton and Eli - both of them quarterbacks, All-SEC, number one draft picks, back-to-back
Super Bowl champions and MVPs.
Narrated by actor John Goodman, The Book of Manning features revealing interviews with Archie, Olivia, Cooper, Peyton and Eli Manning along with other family members, friends, former teammates and coaches as well as never-before-seen photos and home movie footage of Archie and his sons. Through it all, director Rory Karpf explores how a tragedy shaped the course of not only Archie's life, but his family's as well.
"This film offers the kind of personal and poignant look at Archie Manning and his family that hasn't been seen before," said
ESPN Films executive producer John Dahl. "Through intimate details and insights to previously unseen material, viewers will gain a powerful understanding of how this has arguably become one of the most influential families ever in any sport."
"I feel honored and a privileged that Archie Manning has entrusted me to tell his story," said The Book of Manning director Rory Karpf. "We expected to make a film about football's most famous family, but instead made a film simply about family. Making The Book of Manning has been one of the most educational and enriching experiences in my career."
Quotes from The Book of Manning:
Robert Khayat (former Ole Miss Chancellor) on Archie as a star QB at Ole Miss: "Archie... he put on a show. He just did. He ran everywhere, he threw everywhere. When a fella starts out to the right and gets boxed and turns back to the left and then throws it back to the right, that gets your attention."
Archie Manning on his remarkable junior season at Ole Miss following the sudden loss of his father that August: "You know I thought about him a lot. How much he would have enjoyed that. We had some huge wins, some exciting games, and probably the best year I ever had in football - the fall of 1969. You know I wish he could have seen that... missing my dad, that was pretty tough."
Archie Manning on the football success of sons Peyton and Eli: "I mean for them to be number one picks in the draft? Win Super Bowls, MVP? Yeah we pinch ourselves. We [Olivia and Archie] just tried to raise kids. We tried to raise good kids and have a good family. I don't like the
Perception that it was a plan. You know that I was an NFL quarterback for a while and then I've got these boys and I'm going to mold them into being NFL quarterbacks. Not so. You might can do that and they might can be an NFL quarterback I'm not sure you're going to have a great father-son relationship. That's what I wanted."
Eli Manning on growing up a Manning: "We [Eli, Peyton and Cooper] loved sports; that's what we loved to do. We loved being outside, we loved running around. So whatever sport was in season, I wanted to play it. All my flag football games growing up, he [Archie] always had a video camera. You know, whatever we chose, he wanted us to go all-out."
Peyton Manning on not following his father and older brother Cooper to Ole Miss: (If Cooper didn't have to quit football due to a spinal condition) "I probably would have gone to Ole Miss, just to have the opportunity to play with him again, especially at my parents' alma mater... Had my dad told me to go to Ole Miss, I would have gone to Ole Miss. I'm thankful that my dad let me make my own decision."
ESPN Films launched the Storied documentary series in September 2011, presenting fans the opportunity to explore the rich athletic history of the Southeastern Conference. From extraordinary athletes and coaches to defining games and moments, the Storied series features films that focus on the SEC's recent and more distant past.
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