Against the Grain is an American dramatic television series

Television program

A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...

 that aired on NBC

NBC

The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

 from October to December 1993. There were 8 hour-long episodes, starring John Terry

John Terry (actor)

John Terry is an American film, television, and stage actor.-Early life:Terry was born in Florida, where he attended Vero Beach High School. He was also educated at the prestigious Loomis Chaffee prep school in Windsor, Connecticut, and began a career building original custom log homes in North...

, Donna Bullock, Robyn Lively

Robyn Lively

Robyn Elaine Lively is an American actress. Lively is best known for her role in the film Teen Witch, as well as for her roles in the TV shows Doogie Howser, M.D., Twin Peaks, and Saving Grace.-Early life:...

, Ben Affleck

Ben Affleck

Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...

, and Vanessa Lee Evigan

Vanessa Lee Evigan

Vanessa Lee Evigan is an American actress. She is the daughter of actor Greg Evigan and model–actress Pamela C. Serpe.-Biography:...

. The show was inspired by Buzz Bissinger's

H. G. Bissinger

Harry Gerard Bissinger III, also known as H. G. Bissinger and Buzz Bissinger , is an American journalist and author, best known for his non-fiction book Friday Night Lights.-Early life and education:...

 book Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream

Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream

Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream is a 1990 non-fiction book written by H. G. Bissinger. The book follows the story of the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team from Odessa, Texas as they made a run towards the Texas state championship...

.

Synopsis

Ed Clemons was an insurance company salesman and former high school football star who became coach of his former team the Stumper Mustangs, located in Stumper, Texas.