There are so many great movies filmed in Austin, Texas! We have already introduced Bandslam, Miss Congeniality and Dazed and Confused. Now we come to the classic from 1999 University Blues!
The 1998 film is fictionally set in West Canaan, Texas, but was actually filmed in Coupland and Elgin, with two memorable scenes filmed in Austin itself.
The film stars James Van Der Beek, who played the lead role Dawson’s Creek at the time, Scott Caan, son of James Caan, Paul Walker in his first significant role (RIP), and Ron Lester, who apparently angered Beek’s agents by stealing the film (also RIP). In case you’re living under a rock and don’t know this movie, it centers around the world of Texas high school football. Enough said.
Let’s talk University Blues Filming locations.
The West Canaan High School scenes were actually filmed in the Elgin Independent School District (1002 West 2nd Street, Elgin). In this street view shot you can clearly see the water tower, which also appears in the film.
Downtown West Canaan, where Tweeder pulls up in a squad car full of naked sophomores, is downtown Elgin.
Coyote Stadium, which hosted football games, was a football field in Georgetown that has since been demolished. It was located at East Morrow Street and Stadium Drive in Georgetown.
The homes of Lance Harbor and Jonathan Moxon are in Coupland.
Mox’s home: 380 North Broad Street, Coupland
Lance’s home: 102 North Broad Street, Coupland
You can also drive over the bridge that the boys drive over on the way to school. It is located on County Road 456 in Coupland.
Jules works at Austin First class, top notch Drive-in, best known for his role in Dazed and confused. It is located at 7525 Burnet Road, Austin.
But the most memorable scene took place at Austin’s famous gentleman’s club, The Landing Strip. Although it looks a little different now and has a different name (Las Diosas Men’s Club), it is still there. Find it at 745 US 183, Austin.
Here are a few interesting facts we learned about the film during our filming University Blues Location research:
Chris Klein was up for the role of Mox. We didn’t think it was possible for anyone to have a worse accent than Van Der Beek’s “I Don’t Want Your Life” James, but after watching Chris Klein in the Netflix series Sweet magnoliasit is actually possible.
According to a VH1 interview with Lester, Van Der Beek’s arm wasn’t exactly fighting ready. Therefore, a quarterback from the University of Texas was hired as a replacement. No one is listed in the credits, but Major Applewhite was the Longhorns’ starter at the time.
When Lance knocks the can off his father’s head in a perfect spiral (and Mox breaks his nose), the can is, fittingly, an old can of Lonestar.
Blink and you’ll miss him, but the boy in this scene who calls Mox a chicken is young Jesse Plemons.
The guys who play announcers at Coyote games were real football announcers from the Central Texas area. In all of their scenes, they both wear Justin Boot Company hats.
