Gerry Bertier was the Titans leader and captain who was frustrated with the integration of his team. He tells Coach Boone "We don't need any of your people on defense". He tries to avoid his new black teammates and sticks with his fellow white teammates.
Gerry gains a new perspective on the situation after Coach Boone's speech at the trails in Gettysburg, learning that, as the leader of the team, he needs to establish mutual respect between the white and black athletes on the team in order to be successful, and if they continue to dispute they too will be destoryed just as the soldiers in Gettysburg.
Gerry develops a friendship with Julius, the fellow leader of the team, and starts to become less prejudice agaisnt his black teammates, uniting the team together causing them to finally starting to treat everyone another fairly.
Gerry's legs were paralyzed after a truck crashed into his car, but he demonstrated his true leadership by cheering his team through the T.V in the hospital.
Gerry watched from the hospital as his team won the state title, learning a lesson about perspective and how adjusting his views on the team's integration and treating the black athletes with respect united the team together and caused them to play better.