My regular readers have probably gathered by now that I’m a huge sports fan. And, football (particularly college) is a big one in our house. My husband always checks the NCAA football schedule before making plans on Fall Saturday nights…consequently, we can often be found staying in and watching games (usually with some oysters roasting out back). The 2015-2016 NCAA season starts next week, so…we, of course, need some books to commemorate the occasion!
Boys Will Be Boys by Jeff Pearlman
Inside the antics of the early 1990’s Dallas Cowboys (starring Jimmy Johnson, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, and Emmitt Smith). Teaser: the book opens with an outrageous locker room story involving Michael Irvin stabbing a rookie in the neck with scissors that my husband swears had previously gone unreported by the media.
Cane Mutiny by Bruce Feldman
Basically the college version of Boys Will Be Boys starring the University of Miami Hurricanes.
Dixieland Delight by Clay Travis
A look at the insane atmosphere of SEC (Southeastern Conference) football games through the eyes of a sports journalist who spent one season taking a “fan tour” of every SEC stadium.
Meat Market by Bruce Feldman
A behind-the-scenes look at NCAA recruiting, focusing on Ole Miss recruiting legend Ed Orgeron and the lead-up to 2007 Signing Day.
Muckers by Sandra Neil Wallace
Based on a true story, quarterback Red O’Sullivan and his underdog Hatley High School football team attempt to bring hope to their failing mining town by winning the 1950 Arizona state championships. This one is very Friday Night Lights’ East Dillon Lions!
Striking Gridiron by Greg Nichols
The story of a Pennsylvania steel town’s (Braddock) high school football team’s amazing 1959 season during the longest labor strike in U.S. history.
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
The book that inspired the movie starring Sandra Bullock.
The Junction Boys by Jim Dent
The story of Bear Bryant’s first team (Texas A&M – 1954) to endure the 10 day “hell week” in Junction, Texas that later became legendary.
Note: If you’re wondering why H.G. Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights is not on this list given how obsessed I am with the TV series that was based on it, it’s because I actually didn’t like the book very much!
Yes!!! Football is finally about to start again. My husband is so happy. We are pretty focused on our favorite teams, but life does revolve around games. And if we happen to be recording a game, woe be to the person who reveals the score early! This being Texas, we are always Cowboys fans – have been for really all our lives – still miss Tom Landry. And we support the Texas Longhorns, but don’t go to the games. The tickets have gotten crazy expensive. You don’t even want to know what season tickets costs. As to the first book you mentioned, I haven’t read it, but don’t even get me started on Jimmy Johnson. I don’t like Jerry Jones either.
I bet those Texas tickets are pricey! You definitely need to read both Boys Will Be Boys and Cane Mutiny since you’re a Cowboys fan!
OH! The Junction Boys…such a great book and story; of course, I am biased as a native Texan – ha! I also enjoyed The Blind Side, but I read it AFTER watching the movie, which is not usual for me. I really want to read Striking Gridiron; I remember your review and thinking I need to read it, sometime. There are so many great choices here, Sarah!! Can’t wait for football!!
Haha – reading the book after the movie is definitely unusual for us! I think I read it first…and the movie barely covered the whole blind side tackle phenomenon! So – do you still root for your Texas teams or have you become a Razorbacks fan?
Oh, YES, Sarah! I am barely a Razorbacks fan, although they do have a really great track and field program which I follow closely. It drives my husband crazy, because he is a native Arkansan and always roots for the “Hogs,” as they are affectionately known around here. I am a closet Texan during football season…it doesn’t go over so well – ha! 🙂
As a HUGE football fan I love this! I hope you don’t mind if i “borrow” this idea…with full credit of course. Thanks for suggesting some reads I never heard of.
Of course!! Ill keep an eye out for your post and glad to run across another book blogging football fan!
Oh yeah! I am also a weekly attendee at the Church of the NFL (and NCAA). Have you read Against Football? Interesting stuff. I read it a while back and just haven’t run the review yet. Tried to counter it with Why Football Matters but found that to be not great. Great titles above, some of which I haven’t read, thanks!
Haha!! I haven’t read Against Football, but am definitely interested in reading your review! Glad to find another book blogging football fan!
Big football fan here, although more NFL than college. That may change next year when my daughter heads to college, I’m sure I’ll be more involved in her college’s games then. We are heading to the Carolina/Patriots pre-season game this Friday night, I can’t wait! Thanks for a great selection of books to check out.
Enjoy the Carolina/Patriots game – that will be fun! Where is your daughter going to college?
I didn’t even know these books existed! I’ve been under that proverbial rock, I guess. haha I love football, but I’m not sure I would read about it, BUT I will certainly pass this list on to my son because I really think he would enjoy these and pick them up. 🙂
Ah, football season. While I enjoy the game, I probably won’t actually read about the sport, but I have a few people I’m sending this post to!
Enjoy Football Season! I’m looking forward to it this year.
So my love for football extends just as far as Friday Night Lights… if you’ve got books on hockey, however, I’m your gal! Enjoy the start of the season. It sounds like you and your husband have some great traditions going. 🙂
Haha – now hockey is a sport I know next to nothing about! All of our traditions seem to revolve around football, don’t they?!