#MCM Showdown: Texas Forever Edition

Happy Monday all and guess what? Only 45 more days until the NFL returns, not that I’m counting or anything but in honor of that I’m dedicated this week’s #MCM showdown to the boys from Dillon, Texas.

First up we have QB 1, Matt Saracen. After Jason Street’s C7 accident leaving him paralyzed, Saracen’s forced to step up as QB 1 of the Dillon Panthers. Socially awkward at first and essentially a loner with the exception of best friend Landry Clarke, Saracen was basically invisible until the night he stepped under those Friday night lights (see what I did there?). Matt won over the heart of his leading lady, Julie Taylor (coincidentally Coach Taylor’s daughter) after their first date when he has to rush home to take care of his grandmother Lorraine.

Saracen really does have the whole package. He goes up and beyond the call of duty for his grandma after his mom abandons him and his dad is overseas in the army. On top of that he works at the local fast food joint, keeps up in school, helps win his football team the state championship and is the best boyfriend possible to Julie.

Matt however does have his downfalls. He’s an awesome guy but with a huge insecurity that everyone is out to leave him. You can’t really blame the guy though but what’s so great is that we get to see him learn from his mistakes and grow up. After delaying college for a year because Julie’s afraid of losing him for good, he realizes everything he let himself miss. So he leaves, without a word, only to be seen again months later. He may not have gone by it in the best way possible but for once in his life, Matt let go and did something for himself. In the end he got the life he wanted and the girl (despite having proposed outside of the Alamo Freeze…).

Near and dear to my heart is Brian “Smash” Williams. Smash is the cockiest of the bunch on the team, that’s for sure but deep down we find out how big of a softie he really is. Scandal and Smash seem to go well together because during his time on the show he gets himself into quite a few altercations. With his focus on the future and being drafted into the NFL, Smash gets caught up using steroids after a scout informs him that his size would be his only downfall as a player. His mom catches up quickly and turns him in to Coach Taylor who then suspends him from the team.

During his senior year Brian is overwhelmed with the amount of interest colleges have been giving him and the current girlfriend he has isn’t helping the situation either as she basically pimps him out to recruiters. Meanwhile his mother watches from the sidelines as Brian furthers himself more and more from his family and his academics. In the end, Brian gets his act together and comes home with flowers for his mother saying he’s committed to TMU like he’s always dreamed and like Corinna wanted for him. Despite his hot head, his mother always seems to keep him grounded and I think that’s what audiences love so much about him.

Smash is a family man at heart, protecting his sister from a verbal assault in a movie theater, resulting in Smash’s fist meeting the idiot’s face. It’s this particular incident that caused Smash to lose everything. His scholarship to TMU and essentially his attraction to any other university but thanks to Coach Taylor, Smash gets recruited to Whitmore, a smaller college, but a great opportunity for Brian to shine. As if everything else wasn’t already hard enough for his, #20 suffers a knee injury resulting in the loss of his full ride to Whitmore. When we see him next, Brian’s working as a manager at the Alamo Freeze while him and Coach work on gaining his speed and skills back. It’s Smash’s never ending perseverance and determination to give his mom and sisters a better life that eventually lands him a spot on the Texas A&M team. As Smash would say, give it up for the Smash ya’ll!

Last but not least and in my opinion the whole damn heart of Dillon, Texas…Tim Riggins. He’s got that puppy dog look and his charm on and off the field tends to get him into trouble. Playing fullback and running back, Tim is made for the NFL but his love for booze and avoiding any sort of homework (thanks rally girls) holds him back. Best friend to Jason Street, Riggins tends to get caught up in drama that seems to follow him everywhere he goes. From dating on and off again girlfriend Tyra Collette, to going behind 7’s back and hooking up with Lyla Garrity, he’s definitely the furthest thing from innocent.

Lyla however seems to at least do something to Riggins, helping him get his act together to graduate from Dillon High and get accepted into college on a football scholarship. However the stress of school gets to him quickly and he drops out returning to Dillon where him and his brother Billy open up an auto shop. Billy quickly turns the auto shop into a chop shop and when they get busted by the cops Tim steps up to take full blame to protect Billy who just became a father, Uncle Tim to the rescue.

In my opinion Tim’s just misunderstood. He didn’t have great family support, with the exception of Billy nobody else wanted him and he knew that. The odds were against him and despite his many downfalls he still came back up twice as strong as the last time. He’s got heart and that’s something that can’t be bought. He stands up for the people he loves and morally does what’s right (even if it takes a few tries), he’s got heart and there’s no denying that. Texas forever.

So I know who I’m voting here, but what about you guys? Tweet us your choice #MCM and vote below!

Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.

 

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