Brian Subich's wife was an extra in the Tom Cruise/Lea Thompson high school football movie that was filmed here nearly 30 years ago. So maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that her husband, a Greater Johnstown High School assistant coach has made “All the Right Moves” in marking the film’s 30th anniversary.
More than a year ago, Subich’s wife, Theresa – who also was in the 1983 movie – suggested a rematch of the Ampipe-Walnut Heights game portrayed in the film. Brian Subich took the idea to Tony Penna Jr., Johnstown High’s head coach and athletic director, who loved the concept.
“This was Brian Subich’s mastermind,” Penna Jr. told our Justin Dennis in a video appearing at tribdem.com. “I’d have to say he approached me at least a year ahead of time with the proposal. And the proposal was impressive – like 20th Century Fox impressive.”
Everything surrounding the game, which will take place tonight at Johnstown’s Trojan Stadium at
7 p.m., seems to be impressive. The Trojans will don the black and gold worn by the fictional Ampipe squad, which featured characters played by Cruise and Chris Penn and was coached by Craig T. Nelson. Another fictional school, rival Walnut Heights, will be represented by the red and white-clad Westmont Hilltoppers tonight.
The idea seems to be a popular one in and around Johnstown, which portrayed the dying steel town known as Ampipe in the movie. On Wednesday night, Penna Jr. and Nick Subich, a senior lineman who is the son of Nick and Theresa Subich, re-enacted a famous scene from the movie. In it, Cruise’s character shouts to Nelson’s, “You’re not God, Nickerson – you’re just a typing teacher,” before running up Locust Street.
Penna said that the response has been phenomenal.
“All the people of the community that were part of it are so excited about it,” he said during filming of the scene. “We couldn’t ask for much more. I’m really pumped.”
We love the idea of tying Johnstown’s present to its past – even if it’s a fictional movie past in this case – but what makes the project even more impressive is that it’s being done for a worthwhile cause.
“We’re going to wear the Ampipe Bulldogs shirts and Westmont’s going to wear the Walnut Heights and we’re going to raise funds,” Penna said. “We’re going to give scholarships to a kid from each team and then we’re also going to give a big chunk of money to charity.”
Brian Subich reached out to representatives of Cruise and Nelson about attending tonight’s game. It doesn’t look like either will be able to make it, but that’s fine with the Johnstown assistant.
“To be honest, everything has been a high point, from participation of the students to the community and people getting behind us,” he said. “Everybody’s excited for it.”
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