1010 WINS' Larry Mullins Exclusive Interview: Cast & Crew Of 'Carter High'

By Larry Mullins
1010 WINS

NEW YORK, N.Y. (Special to CBSNewYork) — They were in the prime of their young lives; local star football players, on arguably the best high school football team in the state of Texas. Former New York Giants football star (Jessie Armstead) was on that 1988-89 Championship team, at David W. Carter High, in Dallas.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the championship; Carter High was hit with ineligibility (3 times) after one of its star players was found to have grades which didn't meet state requirements. But even worse, after the championship game, several of the players went on an armed robbery spree, (some, bold enough to rob without a mask), and it landed them (and the school) in the biggest "player privilege" scandal in Texas history. It brought the entire football program and the community to its core.

Director Arthur Jordan-Muhammad was also on that team, and provides an EXCLUSIVE interview to 1010 WINS news anchor Larry Mullins. While he and Armstead (and several other players) took the high road and chose to stay away from "robbery-for-fun" sideplay, Jordan-Muhammad says his high-drama film (which releases in major run this weekend) has now evolved into a teaching tool for students and parents all over the country. In his interview with 1010WINS, along with Producer Tricia Woodgett, and actor Lynn Andrews, III, he now describes "Carter High" as an in-your-face film which amplifies how one bad ill-advised decision can change the life of a teen (or anyone) in a split second.

The film stars actor Charles Dutton (Roc), actress Vivica A. Fox (Empire, The Hive), Pooch Hall (The Game), David Banner et al, and a cast of young actors, who bring to life the real life stories of each of the players indicted and given long term sentences for their roles in the robberies.

Andrews plays the part of key bad boy Keith Campbell, and says "Campbell saw the previews of the film, and says I played the steely-eyed, cold-blooded kid from back in the day as if he were looking at himself".

Carter High cast and crew have been touring the U.S., doing special previews which have included schools (Here in New York, the film previewed  to rave reviews at Harry S. Truman High School in the Bronx), social groups, and even the NFL, which Woodgett says "The league and some school districts are considering the idea of making this film a part of recommended viewing as a teaching tool to kids with ambitions of becoming NFL players, as well as professional athletes in other areas". Jordan-Muhammad adds, "It's a film that makes you self-examine your own life regardless of whether you want to become an athlete or not".

Movie-goers be forewarned: Take some tissue with you to the movie this weekend, as there will not be a dry eye in the house, at its climax. What these kids did was very bad. But the general reviews are such that you hurt for their families, coaches and friends, who watched as these once positive young men who were destined for both educational and athletic prowess threw it all away.

Armstead appears at the end of the film (along with some of the convicted players, who served 7-20 years in prison), reminding teens and aspiring athletes how not to ruin their lives.

Carter High is Executive produced by former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis.