Michael Oher has taken some ribbing from other Ravens about "The Blind Side," the film starring Sandra Bullock as his adoptive mother. The 23-year-old rookie isn't sure when he'll see it. (Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron / November 8, 2009)
To paraphrase one of the trailer's promoting the film, the chances of someone making it to the National Football League is 1-million to 1. But his odds were even greater.
On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts travel to play the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL's Week 11. Beginning Friday (11/20) the Ravens top draft pick of 2009, Michael Oher, is the subject of the new Warner Brother's Picture, "The Blind Side".
Michael Oher was born on May 28, 1986, in the projects of Memphis, Tennessee, to a crack-addicted mother. Never quite sure of exactly how many siblings he even had, Michael was neglected throughout his childhood and school years. He repeated both the first and second grades and attended eleven different schools before completing his first nine years as a student.
Oher later applied to Briarcrest Christian School after tagging along with a friend who was also hoping to attend the private school. Administrators reluctantly allowed Michael to qualify for admission through a home-study program.
By chance, Michael was spotted walking along the side of the road by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy who would give him a place to stay that evening. Eventually, the Tuohy family took in Michael full time, got him a private tutor and encouraged his participation on the school's football team.
On the field, Michael Oher was a natural. Big, fast, strong and light on his feet, he became an instant sensation and garnished attention from major college football programs all around the country. He would chose Ole Miss, where he'd become one of the top lineman in the nation.
In the 2009 NFL Draft, Michael Oher was selected as the top pick for the Baltimore Ravens.
The film is based on the book called "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game" by best-selling author, Michael Lewis ("MoneyBall: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game", "Liar's Poker"). The book, which was released in 2006, details the life of Michael Oher while also intertwining a history of the emerging importance of the left tackle position in professional football. Lewis details how the left tackle (or, the "Blind Side" for most, right-handed, quarterbacks) became one of the most crucial on the football field beginning with an infamous leg injury to Joe Theismann.
Theismann's injury happened in a 1985 nationally televised Monday Night Football game and it occurred during a sack made by Lawrence Taylor. That play, which also ended the playing career of Joe Theismann, signified a growing need for large, athletic lineman to play at left tackle to protect franchise quarterbacks. As free agency blossomed and quarterback salaries escalated, so too did the importance and pay for the left tackle position.
"The Blind Side" opens nationally on November 20th and stars Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw as Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy. Also featured is Kathy Bates (Miss Sue) and Quinton Aaron (Michael Oher). College football coaches, Nick Saban, formerly of LSU and now at Alabama; Tommy Tuberville, formerly of Auburn; Houston Nutt, formerly of Arkansas and now at Ole Miss; Phil Fulmer, formerly of Tennessee; Ed Orgeron, formerly of Ole Miss and now an assistant head coach at Tennessee; and the legendary Lou Holtz, formerly of South Carolina, all make cameo appearances in the film.
On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts travel to play the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL's Week 11. Beginning Friday (11/20) the Ravens top draft pick of 2009, Michael Oher, is the subject of the new Warner Brother's Picture, "The Blind Side".
Michael Oher was born on May 28, 1986, in the projects of Memphis, Tennessee, to a crack-addicted mother. Never quite sure of exactly how many siblings he even had, Michael was neglected throughout his childhood and school years. He repeated both the first and second grades and attended eleven different schools before completing his first nine years as a student.
Oher later applied to Briarcrest Christian School after tagging along with a friend who was also hoping to attend the private school. Administrators reluctantly allowed Michael to qualify for admission through a home-study program.
By chance, Michael was spotted walking along the side of the road by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy who would give him a place to stay that evening. Eventually, the Tuohy family took in Michael full time, got him a private tutor and encouraged his participation on the school's football team.
On the field, Michael Oher was a natural. Big, fast, strong and light on his feet, he became an instant sensation and garnished attention from major college football programs all around the country. He would chose Ole Miss, where he'd become one of the top lineman in the nation.
In the 2009 NFL Draft, Michael Oher was selected as the top pick for the Baltimore Ravens.
The film is based on the book called "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game" by best-selling author, Michael Lewis ("MoneyBall: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game", "Liar's Poker"). The book, which was released in 2006, details the life of Michael Oher while also intertwining a history of the emerging importance of the left tackle position in professional football. Lewis details how the left tackle (or, the "Blind Side" for most, right-handed, quarterbacks) became one of the most crucial on the football field beginning with an infamous leg injury to Joe Theismann.
Theismann's injury happened in a 1985 nationally televised Monday Night Football game and it occurred during a sack made by Lawrence Taylor. That play, which also ended the playing career of Joe Theismann, signified a growing need for large, athletic lineman to play at left tackle to protect franchise quarterbacks. As free agency blossomed and quarterback salaries escalated, so too did the importance and pay for the left tackle position.
"The Blind Side" opens nationally on November 20th and stars Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw as Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy. Also featured is Kathy Bates (Miss Sue) and Quinton Aaron (Michael Oher). College football coaches, Nick Saban, formerly of LSU and now at Alabama; Tommy Tuberville, formerly of Auburn; Houston Nutt, formerly of Arkansas and now at Ole Miss; Phil Fulmer, formerly of Tennessee; Ed Orgeron, formerly of Ole Miss and now an assistant head coach at Tennessee; and the legendary Lou Holtz, formerly of South Carolina, all make cameo appearances in the film.
