'The Mighty Macs' Movie: Following Your Dreams @MightyMacsMovie

by Tina Case


As a mother to 3 daughters, movies and stories with a great message like "The Mighty Macs" are important to experience.  It's important for them to know the era I was part of to fully understand the path my generation carved for future generations.  It's important because otherwise they won't fully appreciate what they have and use it to the fullest.

'The Mighty Macs' movie based on a true story of Immaculata College and coach Cathy Rush

Flashback to 1971. Cathy Rush (played by Carla Gugino) is a woman ahead of her time.  As a budding feminist, she questions the status quo and sets out to make a name for herself.  She gets the job of her dreams as the women's coach at Pennsylvania's Immaculata College, a small, liberal arts university for women only.


In the midst of this setting, a new era is slowly emerging in the country and in collegiate athletics, where a national champion will be crowned for the first time in women's basketball.  Meanwhile, major universities across the country are preparing their game plans to win that first title.  Does the Immaculata stand a chance?.

From the start, Cathy's challenges are as daunting as the big-school teams Immaculata will face on the court. Cathy faces obstacles including the lack of a gymnasium on campus.  On top of these obstacles she also faces the lack of support from the school's Mother Superior (played by Ellen Burstyn who always give a stellar performance), and the school is in dire financial straits. Furthermore she may not have enough players to field a team.

While it appears the Macs don't have a prayer, the amazing faith and confidence that Cathy exudes casts a shiny miracle of hope and triumph. With the help of Sister Sunday (played by Marley Shelton)—a spunky assistant coach—and the support of a booster club of elderly nuns, Coach Rush creates a new game plan that just might bring the team—and the school—together.

Studio Notes:
THE MIGHTY MACS is based on the incredible true story of the 1971-72 Immaculata College team that started in obscurity but became the original Cinderella story in women's basketball. This team of pioneers went from barely making that inaugural tournament to the first dynasty in their game. And Cathy Rush, the woman that was ahead of her time, became immortalized when she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

THE MIGHTY MACS stars Carla Gugino as Cathy Rush; David Boreanaz as her husband, NBA referee Ed Rush; Marley Shelton as Sister Sunday; and Academy Award and Tony Award winner Ellen Burstyn as Mother St. John. The film was written, directed, and produced by Tim Chambers. The film's executive producers are Pat Croce, the former president of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, and Vince Curran, a successful businessman and former basketball star at Penn. Curran and Chambers are founders and partners of Quaker Media.

Get ready to cheer on a true Cinderella team when THE MIGHTY MACS opened in theaters on October 21.  Check your local movie listings for locations and showtimes.  It's a MUST SEE movie fit for the whole family.