In 1937, Our Gang, then working for Hal Roach, made a short called "The Pigskin Palooka" which used a similar Alfalfa-as-Footbal-Star theme. But the differences between that film and this, an MGM production, are night and day. This film makes Alfalfa a genuine star, using a broken romance to bring him to his senses and win the day and the girl. The earlier film had Alfalfa as the braggart who has never played being forced into the "big game" with a rival team. That film is more in keeping with the Alfalfa personality we all know, and is frankly much funnier. This one could have starred Jack Okie and Ann Southern and been the same picture.