Lee expresses his passion for football, filmmaking
HARTINGTON — Spencer Lee has two real passions in life — football and filmmaking.
He used those passions to help find yet a third one — the story of Darrel “Mouse” Davis.
Lee, a 2005 Wynot High school graduate, will debut his new documentary “The Mouse that Roared” this Sunday at Wynot High School.
The Chili and Cinnamon Roll Fundraiser will begin at 4:30 p.m., with the film set to begin at 6 p.m. Lee is hoping the event helps him raise the needed funds to complete his five-year project on Davis.
Davis is much more than just a long-time football coach. He’s an offensive genius.
A long overlooked offensive genius, Lee said.
“He completely changed football,” said Lee, who was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Wynot Blue Devils
The diminutive Davis, who stood just 5-6”, was a phenomenal athlete, but his size forced him to take up coaching sports, rather than playing them.
Lee first heard of Davis when he was working as a video journalist in southern California five years ago.
It didn’t take him long to figure out that the story of Mouse Davis — the father of the Run and Shoot — was a story that had to be told.
Davis had already been coaching football for about 15 years in Portland, Ore. when he discovered a book about offensive football. That book quickly became his Bible.
He first spread the Gospel on his “Run and Shoot” offense at Portland State University, turning a fifth-string quarterback into a superstar.
Davis’ system helped Neil Lomax set or break 90 different NCAA records in what turned out to be a storied collegiate career. Lomax then went on to play nine years in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl twice.
Davis then moved to the pros where he first helped Jim Kelly succeed in the USFL and later helped Steve Bartkoski, Warren Moon and Rodney Peete become Pro Bowlers in the NFL.
Davis brought a lot more than just the Run and Shoot to football. He brought a unique style of coaching.
“His system is not the story. The man is the story here,” Lee said. “His style of coaching provides athletes with a way of life.”
Davis, 86, retired from coaching in 2010, but still puts on clinics from time to time.
To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition https://etypeservices.com/Northeast%20Nebraska%20News%20CompanyID379/