All American: Jordan Shows Signs Of The Man He Will Become

Jordan Baker faces the question of what it means to fill the void Billy left behind in his grief-centric episode, “Make Me Proud.”

Jordan’s biggest problem is figuring out how to step up in his father’s absence. Of course, he wants to step up and be there for Olivia and Laura. However, with his father gone, Jordan thinks of himself as the man of the house and feels the need to prove that everything his father did could still be handled and his mother and sister would not need to worry about it.

Except, things are not that easy. Jordan can not fix the broken stuff on Billy’s to-do list and worries he is failing at helping his loved ones. But Laura does not let her son get down on himself once she realizes what he wants to do. Instead, Laura tells him about how Billy had never been able to fix anything in the past either and that Laura would eventually call a professional to fix what was broken, which also allows Jordan to feel some of the pressure lift.

But, household chores are not the only concern Jordan has. He also has to worry about the GAU football program and how he is being used as a sympathy vote to put as much distance between the university and Coach Garrett as possible.

Should Jordan allow his family’s grief to be used as a weapon to help the football program? Should he stand up against it? Jordan’s choice does far more than go up against Barnes. It also gives a massive hint into the type of man that Jordan may grow up to be.

Instead of going along with Barnes’ scheme, he gathers the football team together to discuss the importance of re-building their legacy as a team, without the controversy following Coach Garrett or the implication of Billy’s presence as the new head coach may have done for the team.

Jordan even confronts Barnes, allowing him to know of the team’s decision and their choice of their next head coach, Coach Kenny, who has been a constant presence for the players.

Otherwise, All American is slowly reaching Spencer’s breaking point, as his desperation to run from feeling his grief is starting to result in the regressing of his personality. Meanwhile, “Make Me Proud” also shows the dangerous implications of Patience’s relationship with her number one fan, Miko, who may be a far bigger problem than Layla anticipated.

“Make Me Proud” also shows Laura and Olivia starting to face a different angle of grief as they try to find a healthy path in what it means to move forward.