Those are fairly standard story lines in a football movie, so that leaves the assorted relationship subplots, which frankly, are worse.

Most of the focus is on Sheffer, whose character is too enigmatic, while Epps , Berry and Swanson gamely try to pull for extra dramatic yardage but can't do much with their underwritten roles.

The Program is a routine Joe College movie, with the added twist that Joe College is Joe Kane (Craig Sheffer), a prime contender for the Heisman Trophy.

While The Program has its light-hearted moments, it mostly crunches along as a problem-oriented sports soap opera. And Ward has a difficult time pulling together all his disparate elements of his story...