When the Game Stands Tall: Proud to be Terrance Kelly

Landrin Kelly, the father of slain former De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) standout Terrance Kelly, received a call from 21-year-old actor Stephan James recently.

James plays Terrance — also known as TK — in the upcoming production of "When the Game Stands Tall," which opens in theaters nationwide Aug. 22.

In an uplifting, inspiring film, Terrance's murder in the summer of 2004, two nights before he was to escape the dangerous streets of Richmond for the University of Oregon to play college football, was not only the film's emotional valley, but the storied program's lowest point.



James' performance was spot-on, according to Landrin.

"He told me it was an honor to play Terrance," Landrin said. "I truly appreciated that. He did a really fine job. He did Terrance proud."

Landrin, his wife Mary and daughter Trameka Godfrey-Kelly saw a private screening of the movie last month in Walnut Creek, California. The trio and "only about five others" were in the theater.

The family hesitated to watch the movie. They knew Terrance's senseless murder would be reenacted and the ensuing funeral. The entire movie experience for the family was gut-wrenching, Landrin said, but necessary.

He and his family wept openly many times, he said. The 10-year anniversary of Terrance's passing was Tuesday.

"To see your boy and his life and death up on a big screen is rather surreal," Landrin said. "If they didn't show it and the funeral it would have just been another football movie. They did a good job with it. The spirit of Terrance and the De La Salle program were displayed very well.



"But sure, my wife and daughter were crying and there was a time where I couldn't take it. I told myself ‘I got to get out of here,' and had to walk out for a minute.

"But this is another time for Terrance to be in the bright lights. It's bitter, bittersweet, but we need to soak it in."

Partly to show Terrance's bright life — the 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker, running back and tight end was one of the nation's top recruits and "Just a cool dude. … Very playful. … He loved to play practical jokes," his father said — and partly because Landrin started the Terrance Kelly Youth Foundation shortly after his death.

The outreach program for youths ages 5 to 17 offers many educational tools, especially to kids navigating through the inner city.

A special premiere of the "When the Game Stands Tall" is Sunday at the Century Blackhawk Plaza in Danville, California, and proceeds go to the Terrance Kelly '04 Endowed Memorial Fund for Financial Aid.

The current De La Salle team and coaching staff are expected to attend one of the showings. The film will be shown on all seven screens at the theater with start times of 1 p.m., 1:20 and 1:40. It will be followed by a reception.



For more information, visit the Sony Pictures "When The Game Stands Tall" website

Longtime defensive coordinator Terry Eidson – portrayed brilliantly in the film by Michael Chiklis — said Terrance's legacy at De La Salle football is immeasurable.

"He's still a huge part of our program," Eidson said. "Beyond being a great, great football player, he was a great kid. The day he died was the saddest day in our program. A huge tragedy in every sense. But thanks in part to Landrin and the TK Foundation, Terrance lives on."

The movie, no doubt, will help keep his memory alive as well.

It has certainly kept Landrin busy. He had three television interviews this week and calls from "it seemed like a billion reporters" the last few.

"That's OK," Landrin said. "I hope a billion more come calling, because it's important to keep going, keep moving, keep giving back."

Landrin stopped moving shortly after his son's death. His marriage broke up and he fell into a deep depression.



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"I basically had nothing to live for after Terrance was killed," he told the San Francisco Chronicle in 2006. "I was a senior in high school when he was born; raising him was like my full-time job. I always worked at jobs that allowed me to be free to help coach his teams. He's my only child, and it was my job -- my mission -- to take care of him until he went off to college.

"Then, two days before he goes to college, my boy is killed. It's like: What did I live for? It's all gone."

It was tougher still because Landrin's mother Bevelyn, who helped raise Terrance, had a heart attack the day of his murder. She passed away two months after Terrance.

Ultimately, Landrin found his strength in what his son had told him years before.

"He told me that after he goes to Oregon and the NFL to keep working with kids in Richmond," Landrin said. "He told me that I taught him to survive and that I should teach other kids the same thing. That's what I'm trying to do."