As a Cuban immigrant, 10-year-old Carlos Alvarez felt the sting of discrimination, but soon found a way to combat it: football. Excelling at a sport few Latinos played, “the Cuban Comet” became a record-smashing receiver at the University of Florida and an inspiration to others struggling to adapt to life in a new country, all while speaking out for athletes’ rights, civil rights, and against the war in Vietnam — no matter the cost. One of only three Latin-born players in the College Football Hall of Fame, Carlos Alvarez proved All-American isn’t a title you earn just on the playing field.
Broadcast nationally in 2020 as part of ESPN’s SEC Storied doc series
2021 Silver Telly Award for General Documentary
2021 Silver Telly Award for General Sports
2021 NY Festivals TV & Film Awards Gold Medal for Sports Doc
2021 NY Festivals TV & Film Awards Silver Medal for Biography
Network ESPN / SEC Network
Air Date October 27, 2020
Producers Gaspar González | Castor Fernandez
Director Gaspar González
Executive Producers Gaspar González | Castor Fernandez
ESPN Executive Producer John Dahl
ESPN Series Producers Spencer Barry | Scott Siebers
Cinematographers Richard Patterson | Ed Talavera
Additional Photography Jorge González Graupera | Sunny Lee | Josiah Morgan
Location Sound Thomas J. Doolittle | Joel C. Hernandez
Supervising Editor Jorge Rubiera
Editor Adrian Orozco
Additional Editing Curtis McConnell
Post Sound Kevin Sems
Colorist Josh Kanuck
Running Time 52:00