Continuity mistake: In the game against Xavier, on the final play in which Reggie Oliver throws the dramatic, game-winning TD pass, the defensive lineman hits him just as he releases the ball. In the shot when he releases it, the pass is wobbling badly out of his hand, in fact, it appears to be end-over-end. When it's flying through the air, it's a perfect spiral.
Continuity mistake: Anne's hand is shaking pretty hard when she reaches out to give Paul the engagement ring back (the shot is from Paul's point of view). The camera cuts to a view from behind Anne and her hand is suddenly very still for the duration of that shot. The shot changes back 10 seconds later to be from Paul's view and Anne's hand is shaking again.
Continuity mistake: The chalk marks on the football disappear between shots when the coaches are discussing how they need to simplify the offense. The coach wipes the chalk board off with his hands, the grabs the football. The chalk marks are there for a while, but then he throws the ball to the assistant coach and the chalk marks are suddenly gone.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Jack is making call after call to the other coaches he is seen wearing just a shirt. During one call you can see the sleeve of a jacket, however, in the next full shot of Jack it is gone.
Continuity mistake: On the chalkboard listing all the recruits, Jake Gibbs is the first name on the list of quarterbacks, with (PA) after his name. (PA) is in line with the name in the first scene. When they cross his name out in a later scene, it is angled up and raised, like a superscript. The third time we see the board, after the NCAA approves the exception, (PA) is back in line with the name.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Coach Dawson strides off the practice field after knocking Nate Ruffin down, Coach Leyngel helps Ruffin up. In the very next shot, he is helping him up again.
Answer: The did not mention it in the film, but here is a short explanation of what happened. The plane was on final approach, less than 6000 feet from the runway, and the weather was rainy and foggy. The tower communicated to the pilots that landing would be more difficult due to the weather and poor visibilty, but not impossible. The pilots couldn't see very well, and the plane collided with the tops of trees on a hillside located on the west side of the runway. The plane "inverted" and crashed almost upside down into the ground, creating a huge ball of fire and intense heat. The exact cause of the crash was never fully determined by the National Transportation Safety Board, although it was believed that the cause was due to "adverse operating conditions" and descent below "minimum descent altitude." (For more info, you can research "Southern Airways Flight 932")
Jazetopher