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Actor and former Alabama DB Caleb Castille helps create the Crimson Tide football movie 'Nothing But A Winner'

Nothing But A Winner will be released in theaters nationwide July 31
Fathom Entertainment
Nothing But A Winner will be released in theaters nationwide July 31

The highly-anticipated football film Nothing But A Winner will be released in theaters nationwide July 31.

The movie is about the greatest college football program in the history of the sport – the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

The emotional documentary is directed by Jimmy Jenkins. One of the producers of Nothing But A Winner, actor and former Alabama defensive back Caleb Castille joined SportsJam with Doug Doyle to why this project is extremely personal to him.

Caleb Castille joins SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about Nothing But A Winner
Doug Doyle/Zoom
Caleb Castille joins SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about Nothing But A Winner

The film focuses on the winning tradition created by legendary coaches Paul "Bear" Bryant and Nick Saban.

Caleb Castille played for coach Saban before leaving the program to pursue and acting career. Caleb's father, Jeremiah Castille, played all four years under Coach Bryant. Caleb's brothers Simeon and Tim also played for the Crimson Tide.

Caleb says his dad started the family tradition in Birmingham, Alabama.

"All a credit to my father who decided to go and play for Coach Bryant at the tender age of 18 out of small city in Alabama called Phenix City. That's where it started for our family. He's now transitioned into being the team chaplain there. He's been the chaplain for going on 24 seasons. This is exciting. Being so close to the program, I even learned a lot as I did research and got into the history of Alabama. It's a blessing and I feel very privileged to help bring this film to the world."

Nothing But A Winner chronicles not just the rise of Alabama’s football program, but there's also much more behind the ruthless competition in the Southeastern Conference and Alabama’s staggering number of National Championships. "Bear" Bryant coached during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and led the charge to integrate the team in the deeply segregated South. That set a precedent that would ripple far beyond football.

Caleb Castille says his father Jeremiah came into the program when college football was still predominantly a sport where Blacks faced racism and disrepect.

"My dad is thankful for the adversity as a young man because it made him the man he is today. It contributed to the integrity, the character and the toughness he needed for his life. He's never talked negatively about that experience. As you see in the film, these guys tell these stories that are tough to bare, but their perspective of those situations and circumstances were just all positive. It's a very beautiful thing when you sit and listen to someone may experience such adversity and been able to take a positive outcome from it."

Jeremiah Castille Alabama trading card
2012 Upper Deck
Jeremiah Castille's Upper Deck trading card

In Coach Bryant’s final game, the 1982 Liberty Bowl, Jeremiah Castille was named MVP, grabbing three interceptions. He was selected as a member of Alabama’s All-Century Defensive Team. The star cornerback went on the play six years in the NFL and is connected with one of the most famous plays in history. In the 1987 AFC Championship game, Castille was the Denver Bronco player who stripped the ball from Cleveland Browns running back Ernest Byner and recovered the ball, preserving Denver's trip to the Super Bowl. The play has been forever known as "The Fumble."

Caleb Castile admits his coach Nick Saban was a no-nonsense guy at the University of Alabama.

"It was tough playing under Coach Saban. As you'll see in the film, Coach Saban was raised in a great family, grew up in a small town, a mining town in West Virgina. He's a tough as they come. I believe he's one of the last standing old school coaches. Coach Saban is one of kind. Being there those four years was extraordinary. When it comes to consistency, he's extreme. I've only seem him where the same thing to practice for every season I was there. A lot of that I took away from Alabama including the ability to be disciplined and put your head down and accomplish something and give it your all. I definitely have to attribute any success I've had thus far to the four years I was at Alabama."

The documentary would never have made it the big screen had it not been for the Castille and Humphrey families. Marlon Humphrey, an All-American defensive back under Coach Saban and four-time Pro Bowler currently
with the Baltimore Ravens, executive produced and financed the majority of the project, alongside his sister and co-producer Breona. Their father Bobby Humphrey, a former two-time First-Team All Pro in the NFL and All-American running back at Alabama, is an integral voice in the film.

Caleb Castille's acting break came in 2015 when he played running back Tony Nathan in the movie Woodlawn. In that film, acclaimed actor Jon Voight played Coach Bryant.

"It just so happened as my dad and I got to the parking lot on the set of Woodlawn, Jon Voight jumped out of his transportation van dressed fully as "Bear" Bryant and my dad just had this moment like he was 18 years old again. It was one of the coolest and special moments I've had. Jon did a tremendous job in that role."

Caleb Castille as running back Tony Nathan in the 2015 film Woodlawn
IMDb
Caleb Castille as running back Tony Nathan in the 2015 film Woodlawn

Caleb played his high school football at Birmingham's prestigious Briarwood Christian High School, where he distinguished himself as a wide receiver and defensive back.

Castille says producing the film with David Jacobson was a great experience and he hopes people will flock to the theaters on July 31.

You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Caleb Castille below.

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Doug Doyle has been News Director at WBGO since 1998 and has taken his department to new heights in coverage and recognition. Doug and his staff have received more than 250 awards from organizations like PRNDI (now PMJA), AP, New York Association of Black Journalists, Garden State Association of Black Journalists and the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists.