“The Object of the Game“ is a love letter to Coach Chuck Kyle who led the Saint Ignatius Wildcats to victory for 40 years. Credit: Zodiac Features
Trying to avoid football this weekend? A local docuseries about one small high school’s rise to football fame might have you reconsider. Mostly set in Cleveland, “Object of the Game” follows long-time Saint Ignatius Football coach, Chuck Kyle, during his final season after 40 years. Directed by one of his former players, Matt Waldeck, the series premieres today, Feb. 4 on Prime.
For forty years, Kyle coached the Saint Ignatius High School Football team. He transformed the team from one that had never made the playoffs to one with 11 state titles and 4 national championships. Kyle announced his retirement in 2022, and the film captures his last year coaching the Wildcats.
The series features famous football personalities such as Bill Belichick, Sean McVay, Tony Romo, Mike Tomlin, Tony Dungy, Urban Meyer, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and more. Credit: Zodiac Features
Football has been under scrutiny for some time, especially as evidence piles up that the sport can lead to concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. As of quite recently, high school players are now allowed to cash in on name, likeness and image deals, further blurring the line between youth and professional sports. Last Thursday, the Ohio House introduced a bill that would ban these types of deals for middle and high school students.
These are just some of the challenges that Coach Kyle has navigated under his long tenure. Throughout his career, he’s helped send multiple players to the NFL and in 2024, he was inducted into the National High School Football Hall of Fame.
Although openly not much of a football fan (#relatable), Kim Sutton joined the project to offer an outside perspective.
“Even though I’m not a football person, the film is so much more about resilience and persistence,” Sutton, the film’s main video editor, said. It’s her first feature-length documentary, following previous work with local institutions such as Karamu House and Cleveland Orchestra.
It quickly became about more than just football.
“It’s a tribute to Coach Kyle and his philosophy of football. Not just playing a game on a field, but this ultimate classroom where you can learn life lessons about teamwork and faith in yourself and your teammates.”
The film starts during Kyle’s last playoff game in 2022, and without spoiling the plot, sets the stage for a massive comeback in the second half.
“There’s no gotcha, it’s a simple, heartfelt and deep story about [Coach Kyle’s] philosophy,” Sutton said.
After spending a few years working on the film surrounded by football, she finds herself quoting Kyle all the time. For example, Kyle is known for saying “no shortcuts” and “do it right,” phrases she has repeated to Waldeck throughout the editing process.
The film also includes an original music score commissioned by Waldeck, inspired by artists such as Explosions in the Sky, known for providing the soundtrack to the aforementioned Friday Night Lights.
Starting today, you can watch the film on Prime. Each episode is $2.99, or you can buy the whole series for $6.99.