Okay, last week's recap was too long. I just get carried away, kind of like Coach's efforts to save his Lions this week. He has the team pushing a big junky car down the main drag in East Dillon, asking for donations--to raise awareness and interest, not money. Vince seems to be behind Coach now, holding his guys together. And Tim, Coach's new helper, says he's out of money because people are keeping it, so Coach gives him more to run "downfield" and seed the crowd. Just your ho-hum team morale booster. 

Last week, Coach's morale builder was burning all the uniforms, which seemed dubious, although we learn they were 30 years old. Ewww. Good riddance. But the Underarmour guy needs payment on new ones, so Eric makes out a personal check for $3000. Sure enough, we hear Tami's voice ominously in our heads, then for real later. Eric's arguing with the East principal, who says he just may end the team if they don't at least finish a game, implying he never thought Eric would take the job to start with--that the joke was on him. But do not doubt the resolve of Coach Taylor!

Tim's in a better place than last week, happy to be back involved with football and, more importantly, with Coach, who's perhaps the only person besides Lyla who ever truly believed in him. He's working with Luke, who's a little starstruck in Riggs' presence. So it sinks in when Tim tells him to give the team a chance.

Another "Tim waking up and getting out of bed" scene, this time in his black briefs and a tank top. He's in his new mancave, the Airstream, and it's pretty sweet, really, except that it's bratty Becky who's woken him (albeit bearing TOAST!), for yet another ride to school. Really? Tired ploy, much? She totally undresses him with her eyes (as his long hair fluffs up in the breeze) and though we know all the girls in school wanted him, it's fun to watch him be the hunted prey, and really seem cornered by Becky's aggression. Tim has to use the house bathroom, so Becky snags him walking by, asking his opinion on a dress for a pageant--pink or red. He looks terrified. "I could try them on," she purrs, and he stammers, "Pink! Get the pink!" while hurrying out of the room, chewing on his toothbrush. In his truck, he asks her if she has a boyfriend. She lights up, suggesting it'd be real convenient if he were her boyfriend, which he deflects by saying that Luke showed interest in her, which he did. She agrees reluctantly to talk to Luke, hurt that her fledgling fem-wiles are failing with Tim.

Matt's surviving his "internship" with the savage artist, Richard Sherman, who's demanded that Matt drive him 200 miles to pick up some more junk. On this mini Kerouac trip, for some reason Matt is paying for everything, after saying that he works a crappy pizza delivery route because he has no money. Rich tells him that to be an artist, he needs to be selfish. It seems to sink in! Later, Matt stops by the studio, barking in a voice we've never heard - strong, non-stuttering. He's stopped in his boots by the end result of the hauling, shlepping, and cursing--a huge stunning sculpture. Thought bubble: "That's why I'm working for this douchebag!" Who is also telling Julie she's dragging Matt down, and he married someone like her 20 years ago. Oh, snap. Julie's suddenly questioning her religious faith. (She echoes Angela Collette from last season, calling their church's congregation "bitchy and judgmental.") But in the end Jules agrees to keep going to church after Tami snuggles up with her saying she'd miss her. Tami's stressed -- she's still getting flack at Dillon High for transferring Luke, and she's seriously PO'd at Eric for writing a bad check and not telling her. And she's also taking care of Gracie, who's kinda funny looking in a cute, alien way.

Football time! Coach moves Luke to defense temporarily, against his will, which is when Tim bucks him up and runs interference, telling Coach he should pay more attention to Luke. Tim knows what it's like to be ignored. At first Coach brushes this off, then he visits Luke at the ranch, telling him he needs him to lead the team. Landry's told to learn how to kick. Of course he inherits the sorry-assiest position there is, right? But benefits of his new friendship with Jess are useful tips on how to kick. The team's uniforms arrive in the nick of time, providing another sorely needed boost. Luke's great tackling puts the Lions in a position not to win, but at least get on the board. Vince misses a big block for Luke, who makes an interception, and Coach reams Vince out like we've never seen before. Landry is sent to make a field goal. The snap is muffed, but Landry picks it up and laterals to Vince, who runs it in for a TD. They finished a game, and they scored, even if they lost. Baby steps! Although racial tensions are brewing on the team now.

But it looks like things are generally on the upswing for the time being. You know the tide is turning when Buddy quits the Panthers Boosters in a big speech at evil Joe's McManse to side with Eric, whose key phrase this week is, "They may be new, but they're still work clothes. Let's go to work!"