When Jimmy Jenkins started on working as director on the upcoming football documentary, Nothing But A Winner he wasn't a fan of Alabama football.
After three years working on the film that will be released nationwide on July 31, that all changed.
"I'm a huge Alabama fan. Like my dad would tell you, I don't miss a game now."
Jenkins will always cheer for the University of Maryland first, but now Alabama football is important to him after learning how their programs, especially under legendary coaches Paul "Bear" Bryant and Nick Saban, became so successful.
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.
Jimmy Jenkins joined SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about the new documentary from Fathom Entertainment. Jenkins made it clear that he wanted to take a different angle into the football program and focus on how Black players under Coach Bryant paved the way to success in future years.
"It's very important for me to have a through-line because Alabama has more than 100 years of history. It's very difficult to try and tell one story, the whole story in an hour and 40 minutes. You just couldn't fit everything in, you had to take a specific angle. I've seen a lot of Alabama docs, but I've never seen one told from the perspective from the players that integrated it. I think their story is important."
Jenkins is no stranger to sports films. He directed Comeback Kids: A Middle School Basketball Story in 2023. That film chronicles the journey of the Thomas G. Pullen middle school basketball team during the 2018 season. The heartwarming film tells the story of the student-athletes, their head coach, and their shared pursuit of a county championship.
In 2020, Jimmy co-directed and produced his documentary debut documentary film Basketball County - In The Water on Showtime, executive produced by NBA Superstar Kevin Durant and 35 Ventures. The film focused on the exceptional NBA talent that was born and raised in Prince George's County, MD. That's Jenkins hometown.
That experience helped him work on the new sports documentary.
"I'm used to working with Kevin Durant and all those NBA and NFL stars. What helps me is that I'm an athlete too but maybe I didn't play at that level. Athletes all have a connection. It was like I'm talking to my friend. I think that's what made the interviews special because they opened up."
Jimmy started his directing and producing career in 2013 at Black Entertainment Network (BET) and Tyler Perry Studios. He is one of the founders and co-owners of Gold Street Productions, LLC with his older brother Joshua Jenkins. Jimmy gives credit to Joshua for all his success.
"When you see Nothing But A Winner, the credits start off with the Jenkins brothers. My brother is the reason I decided to tell stories and played football. My brother is the reason I believed in myself. He's always had my back when he didn't have. He's always been my support."
During the filming, Jenkins admits he was nervous when he sat down with iconic coach Nick Saban.
"For me being in presence, that was the only one where I got nervous when he walked in. I can just imagine what is was like to be one of his players. He walked in the room and everything changed. People were scared to move. When greatness walks in the room, you feel it."
You can SEE the entire SportsJam interview with Jimmy Jenkins below.
