The Longest Yard

Sports Illustrated's Rick Telander wrote in the Oct. 17, 1988 issue: After the cast and crew of "The Longest Yard" departed from Georgia State Prison, the inmates played Georgia State Troopers using the equipment left behind by the film crew. The game quickly got out of hand, with inmates pummeling the out-of-shape troopers for their alleged arrogance. The game was called at the half, with the inmates ahead 66-0. End of prison football in Georgia.

Producer Albert S. Ruddy says that his inspiration for the film came from a friend of his who was a promising football player. After a career-ending injury, his life took a downward spiral. He was working a minimum-wage job at a sandwich shop and was being mistreated by his snobbish girlfriend. Ruddy took the scenario from there.

Some of the actors had previously played professional football. Burt Reynolds played for Florida State University, and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts. Mike Henry played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams. Joe Kapp played quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. Ray Nitschke was a middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. Pervis Atkins played for the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, and Oakland Raiders.

Georgia State Penitentiary prisoner Harold Morris, who had been wrongly convicted of murder and was later given a full pardon, had a part in the film as an extra. In his book "Twice Pardoned", he recalled some moments with Burt Reynolds: Although prison officials strongly discouraged it, Reynolds often sat with the prisoners during meal breaks and socialized with them.A photographer on the set offered to take souvenir photographs of the prisoners individually posing with Reynolds. Many of the prisoners had no money, but Reynolds told the photographer to take all the pictures they prisoners wanted and he (Reynolds) would pay for them.One of the prisoners asked Reynolds where he lived. Reynolds told him he had homes in Florida and California. The prisoner then asked for his address and when Reynolds asked why, the prisoner explained a) he was a career criminal about to finally get out of prison, and b) after a life spent stealing from people who didn't have money, he wanted to finally burglarize someone who had money.Reynolds and Morris struck up a friendship during the filming, and at the end Reynolds sent personalized, autograph photos to several of Morris' relatives. He also gave Morris a Book of the Month club membership.

Burt Reynolds' brother is the player wearing black jersey #65 seen running beside Reynolds in the final play of the game. (Source: Burt Reynolds/DVD commentary)