The book Friday Night Lights, is a true story of the .
1988 Permian High School football team in Odessa, Texas. This novel .
covers a year in the life of the team, from the last game of the 1987 season through the end of the 1988 season. Not only does this novel give the story of the players on the team but it also takes a look into the town, and how big a part this team plays in it. Many things other than just football are portrayed in this book important issues such as race relations, and parent-child relations. It also gives us a look in how these players react to all of these other issues. In the year of 1988, a reporter who goes by the name of H.G. Bissinger went to Odessa, West Texas and interviewed for the job as the head coach of the Permian High School football team, or the Permian Panthers. During the time that Bissinge spent in Odessa, the town was in a state of economic depression, because of the low price of oil. Odessa was also ranked as one of the worst cities to live in the United States of America. Despite these reasons, the Permian Panthers played on Friday nights in front of crowds that grew up to 20,000 fans. Odessa is also a well know city because it was once home to George Bush and his family for a time when he worked in the oil industry. Friday Night Lights was written on the account of the teams success during Panthers 1988 football season, and their successful attempt to qualify for a place in the play-offs for the state championship. However there season was cut short, on a rainy night, they were finally beaten in a semi-final game by the Carter Cowboys.
