Behind the Scenes: On the Set of We Are Marshall

He Knows Jack

McConaughey -- who is a huge football fan (go Longhorns!) -- talked with iVillage about what it was like portraying Coach Lengyl, who was called in to pick up the pieces after the disaster.

"So many people didn't want the job," McConaughey said. "It wasn't like Jack was the final straw, in a lot of ways he was the only straw. And he didn't come in with a winning record. He didn't have the great resume. But I think because he was an outsider and did things in an unorthodox way -- that's exactly why he was the right man for the job.

"I know that in life it's easier to talk to someone who isn't part of [a problematic] situation. You've got something going on, you talk to a stranger sometimes and it's fresh. Jack Lengyl wasn't there for the crash. He didn't [lose] family. He wasn't from Huntington. He comes in and comes to understand. And he has a huge heart in how he goes about things. He doesn't ever condescend anyone or pretend he understands how they feel."

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