In this revised edition of "When the Game Stands Tall," author Neil Hayes, who had unrestricted access to the De La Salle team, writes from the inside about the games, the players, and their visionary coach, Bob Ladouceur, who managed to amass the highest winning percentage in football history (.995) through standing for something greater than winning. The book, which also features interviews with major sports figures like Bill Walsh and John Gruden, is a revealing portrait of the coach who believed above all in instilling basic life skills where winning is not the goal, but merely the byproduct of playing the game. The Streak had become a national story long before it ended in September 2004. In this revised paperback, Neil Hayes catches up on the lives of the main characters and takes readers through the final tumultuous year. What results is a timeless and inspirational story of struggle, tragedy, and triumph.

    Raised in Edinburgh shortly after the start of the Great War, it was perhaps the finest unit in Lord Kitchener's volunteer army - a brotherhood of sportsmen, bound together by their extraordinary colonel and their loyalty to a quaintly named Association Football club, the famous Gorgie 'Hearts'. McCrae's were blooded in the Battle of the Somme, losing three-quarters of their strength on the first day alone. The Colonel himself was invalided home. In time the battalion recovered. It came of age at Arras, endured the muddy horror of Passchendaele, and held the line unbroken in the face of furious German attacks on the Lys in 1918. For almost a century their story has remained untold. It was all but lost forever. Now, after 12 years of exacting historical detective work, Jack Alexander has reclaimed the 16th Royal Scots for posterity. In this stirring book he draws upon interviews with veterans and a unique archive of letters, diaries and photographs, assembled from the families of more than 1,000 of Sir George McCrae's men. Who was the Colonel? How did the players come to enlist? Where did they fight? Where did they die? What became of the survivors? Why were they forgotten? Who was the handsomest man in the world?

    Sportswriter Terry Pluto profiles the colorful players who made that season so memorable. He takes us through the entire 1964 season from training camp at Hiram College to the championship game in Municipal Stadium. Along the way he recreates an era and a team for which pride was not just a slogan.They were a team of men in the truest sense of the words, men who didn't expect to be coddled, men who didn't believe the world should genuflect at the mere mention of their names. They had the greatest running back in the history of football, and a coach who wore a hearing aid. Their quarterback had a Ph.D. in math. They had a defensive end who was a preacher, and a halfback who became a millionaire. Together, they won it all.Back before Free Agency, before shoe contracts and end zone dances, football was a tough game played by men who loved it. They had real jobs in the off season, as insurance salesmen or manufacturers' representatives, and they lived in the community where they played. They were grateful to the fans for their support and believed that nothing they accomplished was important unless the team won.

    From his discovery in the middle of a Minnesota field to his 1943 comeback season at Wrigley, from the University of Minnesota to the Hall of Fame, Bronko Nagurksi's life is a story of grit, hard work, passion, and, above all, an unstoppable drive to win.Monster of the Midway recounts Nagurski's unparalleled triumphs during the 1930s and '40s, when the Chicago Bears were the kings of professional football. From 1930, the Bronk's first year, through 1943, his last, the Bears won five NFL titles and played in four other NFL Championship Games. Focusing on Nagurski's 1943 comeback season, and how he miraculously led the Bears to their fourth NFL championship against the backdrop of World War II era Chicago, Jim Dent uncovers the riveting drama of Nagurski's playing days. His efforts were the stuff of legend, and his success in 1943 accomplished in spite of a battered frame, worn-out knees, multiple cracked ribs, and a broken bone in his lower back.While chronicling the drama of the '43 championship chase, Dent also tells of both the Bears' colorful early years and Bronko's improbable rise to fame from the backwoods of northern Minnesota. Woven into the narrative are the sights and smells and sounds of one of the most romantic, flavorful eras of the twentieth century. And laced through it all are stories of legend: Bronko rubbing shoulders with colorful characters like George Halas, Red Grange, Sid Luckman, and Sammy Baugh; Bronko running into (and breaking) the brick wall at Wrigley Field; Bronko winning All-American spots for two positions; Bronko knocking scores of opponents unconscious; and Bronko reaching the heights of football glory and, with rare grace, turning his back on the game after winning his last championship.Rich in unforgettable stories and scenes, this is Jim Dent's account of Bronko Nagurski-arguably the greatest football player who ever lived-and his teammates, the roughest, toughest, rowdiest group of players ever to don leather helmets, and the original Monsters of the Midway.

    One of the game's great characters. A man who faced doen the demons. A top television pundit and columnist. This is the story of James Peter 'Jimmy' Greaves, one of the all-time greats of English football.Jimmy Greaves was born in east London in February 1940, and from humble beginnings began his rise to the top of the game. He scored on his Chelsea debut, aged seventeen, and became the first player to score 100 goals before the age of twenty-one. When Jimmy left Stanford Bridge for AC Milan in 1963, it outraged the Chelsea faithful, but after only four months Jimmy returned to London, to Tottenham Hotspur for £99,999. Scoring a hat-trick on his debut, Jimmy went on to help Spurs win the fA Cup and the European Cup-Winners' Cup. Throughout the 1960s Greavsie was the hero of White Hart Lane.But for all his success at both club and international level (44 goals in 57 games), there were dark struggles to overcome too. An injury picked up in the final group game of the 1966 World Cup meant that Jimmy cast a forlorn figure on the sidelines during England football's finest hour. And after a move to West Ham at the start of the 1970s, Jimmy career would be plagued by alcoholism. But however powerful his addiction, Jimmy was too strong a character to be pulled under. He came through and reinvented himself as a celebrated pundit on the beautiful game.'Greavsie' is a gripping and truthful autobiography, the story of a remarkable life laced with Jimmy's trademark wit. It is a fascinating account of the golden era of football, the characters who populated it, and the goalscoring machine at the centre of it all.

    But what has never been written before is the equally remarkable history of Arsenal's rebels, both on and off the pitch. Spanning almost 120 years, and set against a backdrop of turbulent social and political change, Rebels for the Cause assesses the legacy and impact of Arsenal's most controversial players, officials and matches. From hard men like '30s player Wilf Copping to the reformed wild ones of recent years such as Tony Adams, Jon Spurling highlights the infamous figures whose refusal to conform has made them terrace legends. Mavericks such as '80s star Charlie Nicholas and the 'King of Highbury' Charlie George are here, as are '70s lads Alan Hudson and Malcolm Macdonald. The book also focuses on the club's revolutionary founding fathers, David Danskin and Jack Humble, the terrifying '20s 'soccer Tsar' Sir Henry Norris and David Dein's controversial introduction of free-market economics to Highbury in the regressive '80s. Also investigated are the stories behind Arsenal's most infamous tabloid exposés. Featuring extensive interviews with 15 former players, Rebels for the Cause is an indispensable guide to the alternative history of Arsenal Football Club, shedding new light on the origins of the rivalry with Tottenham, on many of Highbury's cult heroes and on the struggle of several players to adapt to life outside the game.

    Of triumph and tragedy and a stirring, insiders account of the England team's finest years.

    From Fred Geary to Alex Young and Dixie Dean through to such modern icons as Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill, Everton: The School of Science takes in the stories of all the men who made the club great. Fully revised and updated to include all the action to the closing stages of the 2009/10 season, Everton: The School of Science is the definitive history of one of English football’s aristocrats; an engrossing and graphic account of the inside stories, glories and shattered dreams of ‘The People’s Club’. Written with the enthusiasm and stoicism of a committed fan, the wit of a fanzine and the authority of a historian, it is the ultimate guide to the team’s story.

    More than a decade after his reign, Bo is synonymous with Michigan and victory, having guided his team through one of the most successful eras in college football. During 21 years of coaching, Bo led the Michigan Wolverines to 13 Big Ten titles and never had a losing season. Dan Ewald explores the pugnacious will, vision and determination Bo applied to his team and life itself.

    The spirit of Buckeyes football is not captured by just one phrase, one season, or one particular game; instead, the student-athletes and coaches who made the magic happen over eight decades blend their experiences to capture the true essence of their beloved school. From Howard "Hopalong" Cassady and Chris Spielman to Cris Carter and the players who helped win the 2002 National Championship, Ohio State fans will relish the intimate stories told by the figures they have come to cherish.

    Explains the philosophy of the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle, building a well-organized offensive system with the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle, communication, practice, and the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle running game and passing game. Also includes 14 special tips for running the system. Features dozens of photographs and illustrations.

    This book explains the tactical concepts of pressing and offers many exercises to work on the pressing game in both the attacking and defensive zones.

    Jim Tressel's team finished the regular season with a perfect 13-0 record, the most regular season wins ever at Ohio State. Officially licensed by The Ohio State University, A Season to Remember follows the Buckeyes from April's Scarlet and Gray game through their Fiesta Bowl matchup against Miami. All stories and photos come from the files of the Columbus Dispatch. Also included are profiles on kicker Mike Nugent, receiver/cornerback Chris Gamble, linebacker Matt Wilhelm, safety Mike Doss, quarterback Craig Krenzel and running back Maurice Clarett.

    Flavored with wild (and often ribald) anecdotes, inside stories, interviews, and never-before-told material, Going Long brings the incredible story of the maverick American Football League to life through the words of those who lived it.

    Features an exclusive foreword by Gary Lineker and includes tributes from many of the game's most famous names, including: Ronaldo, Figo, Franz Beckenbauer, Rudd van Nistelroy, Alan Shearer, and Paul Gascoigne. An illustrated celebration of the life and times of Sir Bobby Robson, one of the most successful managers ever. Involved in football for almost sixty years as a player at First Division and international level, and as an international coach, he is much loved and respected throughout the world of football. As well as the triumphs, capturing the FA Cup and UEFA Cup with Ipswich, two exhilarating World Cup campaigns with England, and winning three cups and the respect of the fans at Barcelona, he has had his share of drama and despair. He was sacked from his first management position at Fulham and again later on in his career from both Sporting Lisbon and Newcastle United, and he was hounded by the press while England's coach. Bob Harris, a close acquaintance of Sir Bobby's, tells the football manager's own story, which is exclusively interlarded with stories and anecdotes from many of the most famous names in football. Sir Bobby is a living legend and this is a tribute to his amazing life.

    . . the SEC . . . the Final Four . . . sometimes it seems that American higher education is more about sports than studies. Not so, says this well-researched, evenhanded study of athletics in university life. Sports--particularly football--play a key role in defining institutions that might otherwise be indistinguishable and are an indispensable tool in building a sense of community on campus, as well as an important factor in mustering alumni and political support. While abuses exist, the "football school" is not only a legitimate member of the academic community but an inevitable one as well--and football provides much-needed identity at every level from the local to the national scale. Pointing out that universities compete as much academically as athletically, J. Douglas Toma argues that fielding a winning sports team is a quick, effective way to win recognition and that doing so pays dividends across the board, by raising public awareness (thereby making a school more attractive to potential students and faculty) and by creating a wider constituency of "fans" whose loyalties pay off in increased contributions and appropriations that support academic programs as well. He notes that universities like Harvard and Yale, now eclipsed on the gridiron, were "football powers" in the era when America's westward expansion spawned new schools unable to challenge older institutions academically but able to win acclaim through sports. This fosters a campus and alumni culture based on "football Saturday"--a bonding experience that helped forge a larger community whose support, both personal and financial, has become integral to the life of the institution. Football U. brings welcome impartiality to a subject all too often riven by controversy, pitting football boosters against critics who complain that academic achievement takes second place to athletic success. But as a tool for creating "brand awareness" as well as local loyalty and widespread support, high-profile athletic programs meet a variety of institutional needs in ways no other aspect of university life can. This, Toma observes, is a two-edged sword, for even as it fosters collegiality, it discourages reform when the pendulum swings too far in the direction of athletic dominance. Nevertheless, Football U. is here to stay. J. Douglas Toma is Director and Senior Fellow, The Executive Doctorate and Penn Center for Higher Education Management, the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.

    He discusses the furore over his nationality, his glittering career with Arsenal, the world of television, his relationship with David Seaman, friendship with Jill Dando and Helen Rollason, and his daughter's illness and legacy.

    A collection of George Plimpton's finest pieces on the contemporary sports scene, selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the top sports books of 2003

    Every aspect of the 4-4-2 is covered, including the characteristics of the players, defensive tactics, attacking schemes, training exercises and adjustments to counter the opponent's system.

    In this definitive biography of the legendary Everton star, John Keith draws on his own previously unpublished taped interviews as well as interviews from BBC Radio Merseyside archives. He has also spoken to Dixie's two sons and his daughter, all of whom have co-operated fully. The book will be published to coincide with Everton FC's unveiling of a new statue of Dean at Goodison Park. This is a unique insight into the life of a footballing legend and features the Everton icon's own compelling account of his remarkable life and times.

     In this supercharged account of the first-ever national high-school championship game, acclaimed sports journalist -- and former Poly varsity football player -- Don Wallace goes out onto the field and straight into the heart of each team. One Great Game offers a rare look at the world of young-adult sportsmanship, featuring up-close and personal interviews with the team players and their families, coaches and cheerleaders, rabid fans and sworn enemies. The result is a powerful piece of sports literature in the tradition of the classic Friday Night Lights. More than a book about football, One Great Game is an engaging cultural history about twenty-first-century American life.

    The authors also examine formations, motions, shifts, and adjustments, the running game, pass-protection schemes (50-, 70-, 90-, and 300-series), and cover the three-step, dropback, bunch, sprint-and-dash, and screen passing games in full detail with easy-to-read diagrams and illustrations. Finally, Chriner and Sosnowski explore the two tight end package and the goal line and short-yardage heavy package.

    This book tackles the tough task of preparing for, executing, and analysing the match.

    In this book, author Brad Sham, the Voice of the Cowboys and a member of the team's radio broadcasts for 25 years, shares behind-the-scenes insights from his unique bird's eye view.

    Traditions refocus the coach and athlete. They give perspective, rekindle the spirit of the past, and remind the coach and player of what is important. Ultimately, traditions produce successful teams, great memories, lasting friendships, and help establish coaching legacies. This thoroughly enjoyable, idea-packed book by NAIA Champions of Character Special Presenter Bruce Brown offers over one hundred examples of positive athletic traditions, including: Traditions to welcome new team members, pre-season traditions, senior traditions, traditions for captains, pre-, post-, and last-game traditions. There are also traditions to involve the community and alumni, and traditions for equipment, facilities, and much more. A great resource for coaches and leaders of any sport or activity.