... the life of the town. But Friday Night Lights also described the dark side of Permian football, the craziness that gripped Odessa citizens in pursuit of state championships. It showed racism, teenagers shattered when they didn't measure up to expectations, and academic achievement falling casualty to excellence on the field. Odessa (population 97,000) has a natural inferiority complex; its sister city, Midland ... 90.3 last year, its highest ever. The Odessa American, in an editorial last December, allowed that Mayes was "doing a great deal in the more esoteric areas such as encouraging...

• Word Count: 2172
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School