Viewers watching the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday night will be treated to a unique cinematic event. The David and Goliath matchup between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Georgia Bulldogs has all the makings of a Hollywood movie, especially if the Horned Frogs are able to complete their improbable Cinderella run and win the game. So it’s normal that ESPN turned to Hollywood’s most beloved composer to provide the music.
Variety reported that five-time Oscar winner John Williams composed a new three-and-a-half minute theme song for the game, titled “Of Grit and Glory,” which will be played during the ESPN broadcast. The song was recorded by a 96-piece orchestra under Williams’ direction on December 21.
“Intercollegiate football has been the heart and soul of the life of our country for so long that the opportunity to musically salute this great tradition was a particularly meaningful joy for me,” Williams said. “I was thrilled and excited when ESPN suggested I write a theme for the championship game on January 9th. The games themselves always spark collective spirit, and ultimately competition brings us all closer to a place where the concept of winners and losers dissolves into mutual respect and admiration. The invitation to write this music constitutes a great honor for me and I feel particularly privileged to make a small contribution to one of our country’s most treasured traditions.
Williams’ decision to work with ESPN is consistent with his previous comments about wanting to focus on shorter compositions that don’t require the time required for a feature film. While next year’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Doom” is expected to be his final film project (unless James Bond producers call it), Williams said he plans to devote himself to writing orchestral music for the concert hall.
“Right now I’m working on ‘Indiana Jones 5,’ which Harrison Ford – who’s a little younger than me – has announced, I think, will be his last film.” Williams said last summer, adding that scoring a major film takes six months, which “at this point in my life represents a long commitment for me.”
