ESPN Announces Spring '30 for 30' Docs 'Survive and Advance' and 'Elway to Marino'

ESPN has announced two new films for round two of its sports documentary series "30 for 30," both to air this spring -- "Survive and Advance," from director Jonathan Hock ("Unguarded," "The Lost Son of Havana"), looks at Jim Valvano and the North Carolina State Wolfpack's 1982-1983 season, and "Elway to Marino," from NFL Films and director Ken Rodgers ("Hard Knocks"), examines the 1983 NFL Draft and its six first-round quarterbacks, including John Elway and Dan Marino.

The next full slate of "30 for 30 Vol. II" films is scheduled to premiere in October. Here are the full descriptions for the spring pair, courtesy of ESPN:

Survive and Advance
Directed by Jonathan Hock
Airdate: Sunday, March 17, at 9pm ET on ESPN

When the 1982-83 college basketball season began, Jim Valvano and his North Carolina State Wolfpack faced high expectations with equally high aspirations. But with ten losses for the season, the Wolfpack's only hope of making the NCAA Tournament was to win the ACC Tournament and earn the conference's automatic berth. Nine straight improbable tournament wins later over the likes of Sampson, Jordan, Olajuwon and Drexler, N.C. State had "survived and advanced" its way to a national championship. Director Jonathan Hock takes a poignant look through the eyes of senior captain Dereck Whittenburg at a dream fulfilled and explores what at times has been a tragic and heartbreaking aftermath in the 30 years since.

Elway to Marino
Directed by Ken Rodgers/NFL Films
Airdate: Tuesday, April 23, 9pm ET on ESPN

In the spring of 1983, the NFL may have been at its weakest point. The previous season had been marred by a players strike, the upstart USFL was poaching star players and Al Davis was successfully suing the league. But the momentum began to change on April 26, 1983 - the day of the NFL Draft - when a new generation of superstars was poised to enter the league. Six quarterbacks were selected in the first round of that draft - still the most ever. Elway to Marino explores this landmark draft through the eyes of the players, head coaches, general managers, team owners and agents who participated - including Marvin Demoff, who represented both John Elway and Dan Marino, and kept a diary in the months leading up to the most dramatic draft day in NFL history. We'll learn the inside story of the draft picks, the back room deals, and the tension between future Hall of Famers and the teams that selected them.