Product Description
Want to know what everyone is cheering about? Learn to enjoy and understand the game with the football fanatic in your life. This book is the ultimate football guide for the novice fan. You will get answers to such complex questions as:. What is that yellow line on the field and why does it keep moving?. What down is it and why do I care?. What is a "T formation"?Laced with hilarious and insightful anecdotes from Mark Oristano's thirty-year career as a pro football sportscaster, [i]A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football[/i] will turn you into a football-watching pro, or at least, let you fake it.[i]Time Out:I was in the locker room before a game, and I saw an Oilers linebacker furiously drawing on his shoes with a permanent marker. This player, like many, had his ankle tape applied over the outside of his shoes instead of inside, which obviously covered the shoe logo. And he was drawing the logo of his shoe contract on the tape."Wouldn't it be easier," I asked him, "to get taped inside and not have to do the artwork?"Yeah, it would," he replied, "but then I'd actually have to wear their damn shoes, and I hate 'em. So I wear the brand I like and do it this way instead." [/i] ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Very basic
I was not really sure how many stars to give this book. It is not bad if you don't know anything about football. I stress that you must have zero understanding to get anything out of this book. If that is the case you will probably enjoy this and learn a lot.But I don't think the editorial reviews tell you how basic this book is. I was hoping to increase my understanding of things like Cover 3 and the Wildcat and instead got a book that was meant for people that don't know what to call the guy who throws the ball or what 1st and Ten means. Too sum up for me this book was a one star but for my wife it is probably worth 5 if I can ever get her to read it.

Six Stars!!
As a 50 something housewife who remembers the first superbowl and has watched friends and family play
competitive football for decades, I was surprised by how much I learned from and enjoyed this book!

Increased my enjoyment of football 1000%
Like most guys, I thought I knew about football - how could you watch most every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday and not think that?But A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football took the games from fun to fascinating.Mark Oristano includes the basics, player positions, etc, but then goes on to explain what it is they're doing, and why.The first chapter starts with a description of the winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLII, Giants vs Patriots.It's a play we've all seen a thousand times (yawn, pass the potato chips), but when Oristano analyzes who's really doing what, and what they had to do to get there, the play becomes a riveting lesson in sports strategy.

The whole book opens up knowledge about how to understand the game, but more importantly, as the title says, it teaches you how to WATCH the game.Why do most fans look at the wrong thing when the ball is snapped?How can you tell what play is going to be run just before it happens?What does it mean when your favorite quarterback gets "happy feet?"

In addition to enlightening us about the game, Oristano has a career full of hilarious "time outs," like "cool things to say during the game", and tales of what players do to live with this intense and sometimes crazy game.One of my favorites was the conversation with a nameless linebacker drawing a fake logo on his shoes, since he didn't like the ones he was being paid to endorse.

Along the way, there is also a multitude of behind the scenes stories that give you an immense respect for the grit, dedication, and yes, intelligence of the people who play the game.

There's another great benefit to this book - it's fun to read especially for the "sort of" fan (probably your spouse) who's watching the game just because you are.Give this book to her (or him), and all of a sudden - everyone's a fan.

Thanks Mark - waiting for volume two!

Recruiting the Latent Fan in Everyone
Mark Oristano has done us a great favor in laying out and explaining the basics of an already beautiful and accessible game so that we can make it more so.What's even better is that Oristano's easy going conversational style makes the book delightful and smooth to read.His stream of consciousness is not so tight as to remind one of reading technical journals; it is lubricated by parenthetical wise cracks, the occasional pun, and a self depreciating style.

To keep the main text on track without too many tangents, Oristano has intentionally placed a lot of his best material into sidebars.One class of sidebars is labeled "Cool Thing to Say During the Game".This may or may not be directly helpful depending upon how self-confident you are.(Remember, Mark Oristano is a professional actor as well; he's far more comfortable delivering lines when he doesn't have the slightest idea of what he's actually saying than you and I would be!)But indirectly, these canned comments will prove to be very helpful to the new fan.Trust me - someone nearby will say exactly what Oristano has written.When one of these old bromides, like "They put pointy ends on the football just so it will make those funny bounces!", is passed around and it will be as familiar and comfortable to you as it is to everyone else

My favorite sidebars are the one's labeled "Time Out". This is where Oristano's sportscaster heritage really shows through.Most of them are first person accounts of some funny or poignant encounter that he's had with professional football players or their coaches.My personal favorite is the speech given to rookies every summer by Gene Stallings, long time defensive secondary coach for Tom Landry's Cowboys.I dare not say more for fear of ruining it for you. The poignant "Time Outs" typically deal with the injuries and the players' responses to them and they serve to point out to the new fan just how fast, strong and tough the players in the NFL really are.

A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football is a quick, smooth read.It will prove to be a great way to introduce latent fans to the game.As such it should enjoy a very large, but specific audience.It will prove to be a disappointment to any who buy it for any other reason.This book gives good value to the reader who wants to make the game more accessible to someone they care about and with whom they wish to enjoy the Sunday, Monday or Thursday Night game. ... Read more

Product Description
So what if Gunner is rounder than most football players? He throws a stellar pass! When he becomes third-string quarterback on his Pee Wee Football team, he fears he won't ever get to take the field. But in the championship game his team's luck runs out, and it is up to Gunner to lead them to victory. Will his awesome arm save the game? James Ransome's illustrations add humor and life to this unusual story about sportsmanship. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A MUST HAVE!
As a 5th grade teacher I am always on the look out for new pictures books to help me with classroom instruction. Kids love to be read to, even in the 5th grade. I wanted a book that would catch the attention of my boys and still pique the interest of my girls. I found the perfect match here with James Ransome's new book "Gunner, Football Hero." On the surface it begins to read like a story we have heard before and as the book progresses you are almost sure it.But then subtly Ransome throws us a twist and he ends the book with a bang that even I did not see coming! This book was the match I needed when I taught my students to monitor their thoughts and make predictions. After reading each page they wrote their thoughts and predictions as to what they felt would happen next. They fell in love with Gunner, some likened themselves to the character. They cheered as the book progressed and mouths fell agape as I read the final page. Though I used this book for monitoring thought and predictions, a 3rd grade teacher borrowed it to use for character building. This book is versatile and a must have for any classroom or home library! ... Read more

Product Description
Rocky Fletcher is being stretched to his limit. Until recently, he'd only played wide receiver for the Pythons. Now his coaches want him to learn the safety position, too - a position that opened up when Bobby, Rocky's best friend, broke his leg. Even though he believes he is to blame for Bobby's injury, Rocky eagerly takes on the challenge of becoming a two-way player. After all, the only other player available is Jared, a sullen boy who switched from soccer to football this season. Yet as time goes on, it's Jared who excels at the position because, thanks to Bobby, Rocky keeps missing practices! What's going on between Rocky and Bobby-and why is Jared on the team when he clearly dislikes football so much? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Matt Christopher Books turned my Son into a Reader
My son was a typical 8 year old boy "I hate to read" - but he loves football and Matt Christopher books about Football have turned him into a reader.These are a little bit challenging for a 8 year old who is not a strong reader so he has mostly been reading out-load to me so I can help when he gets stuck...but I have seen huge improvement over the past months.

The Review of an Eleven Year Old
I thought that this was a very good book. It teaches young kids honesty and the meaning of freidship without it seeming like it. I think it is a great book for all those 10-14 year olds out there.

Very Good Book
I bought two copies of this book to read with my 11 y/o 5th grade son, to encourage him to read more and to check his comprehension.We both enjoyed the book.It was exciting enough to hold his attention with enough accurate details to allow me to check and also improve his comprehension.We highly recommend Matt Christopher books for young men. ... Read more

Product Description

Whether it’s smashing a home run, heaving a touchdown pass, or scoring the game-winning goal, fans love watching their favorite stars. With incredible photos and lists of stats, fans will love seeing the world’s best athletes and their amazing achievements up close.

... Read more

Product Description
Every offensive playbook gives you Xs and Os that look good on paper. Football's Best Offensive Playbook goes the extra yard, providing precisely illustrated plays that are proven point-producers in games.

Each of the 100 running, passing, and special plays comes with a clear, accurate diagram and coaching pointers that highlight key player positions and responsibilities. Many coaches list alternate formations, and most of the plays can be adapted to any offensive system. A convenient Play Finder index lists plays by type of run, pass, and formation. And since the book features contributions from coaches at the high school, college, and pro ranks, you'll find plays that work at all levels.

Strengthen your playlist with help from many of the game's most successful coaches—with Football's Best Offensive Playbook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Misses the mark
This book has no real audience. It is so basic that a high school coach would find it pretty useless, but uses terminology that a beginner would find hard to follow. In the front of the book and then again in the back it gets into some basic explanations of terminology but not enough to help with too many of the plays in the book.

The copyright is 1995. So much of what is covered can be easily found on websites these days. Complete offenses are available for free on a dozen sites I can think of off the top of my head. Don't waste your money on this one.

Good intro book
I bought this book expecting to get a football playbook.Well, I got some football plays, but not a full playbook. If you're new to football then this book would be for you.I got what I was looking for in www.totalplaybook.com .They offer a pretty solid offensive and defensive playbook.If you are a rookie then get this book, but for us veterans the www.totalplaybook.com or equivalant is more our speed...

Outstanding Guide to Great Plays
Dee Hawkes does a great service to all coaches with this compilation of the best offensive plays in current use.He also provides a handy "play finder" section for quick reference.

Plays are broken down by type (off-tackle, options, quick passes, etc.), and by formation (predominantly I formation, but with a healthy mix of single back/spread, Wing-T, veer and even wishbone).Hawkes also makes it easy to locate plays by each coach who submitted them.

And what a group of coaches -- the greatest offensive minds in college and high school football for the last 20 years are represented here.Cross-referencing plays among coaches reveals insights into the differences a seemingly minor blocking variation can make in the success or failure of a play.

Highly recommended.

This is NOT a playbook!
This book is a collected work of the most successful football plays from a variety of systems. If you purchase this book, as I did, looking for a PLAYBOOK you will be sorely disapointed.

The individual plays are well diagrammed and explained, as well as the philosophy behind their use, but there is no consistency within the book. You could not, for example, take this document to your football practice and install the plays with your high school team and expect to have a successful offense.

Rather, if you are running an offense SIMILAR to the offense of one of the coaches who contributed to the book, then you may find ONE OR TWO plays that you can add to your existing system. This is a far cry from being a "playbook" as the title claims.

I do not recommend this book for any coach below the high school level, or for parents wishing to learn the sport better. You will only be confused.

Hey coach, you need this book!
This book is a great investment for any coach.It has diagrams of the most successful plays by the most successful coaches in the profession.Not only does the book diagram the plays, but it also provides in-depth information about each play.There are plays from almost all offensive formations, such as the I formation, Wing T, Split Backs, Wishbone, and Single Back.I would recomend this book to any football coach that is interested in expanding their offensive knowledge. ... Read more

Product Description
Throughout the world, football is a potent force in the lives of billions of people.Focusing national, political and cultural identities, football is the medium through which the world's hopes and fears, passions and hatreds are expressed. Simon Kuper travelled to 22 countries from South Africa to Italy, from Russia to the USA, to examine the way football has shaped them.At the same time he tried to find out what lies behind each nation's distinctive style of play, from the carefree self-expression of the Brazilians to the anxious calculation of the Italians.During his journeys he met an extraordinary range of players, politicians and - of course - the fans themselves, all of whom revealed in their different ways the unique place football has in the life of the planet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The First Great Football Writing Adventure
The first football book of its kind. Ground breaking. The foundation stone for all of the other great football books to come. Well written by Kuper and adventurously researched: travelling the world to see how deeply football was embedded in politics and culture.

Truly a must read for all "thinking" football fans.

Number one on many Best-of lists.

Kuper knows his stuff.
Apart from a very informal writing style and a few errors like calling 1994 Brazilian presidential candidate LULU instead of LULA (Lula btw is the next President of Brazil), this book is just a jewel.

He shows well how culture and society mingle with sport, in this case, soccer.He was spot on repeatedly, such as:

--Holland Vs. Germany rivalry.I've asked Dutchmen about whether those comments regarding the war are true and they said yes.

--Brazil vs. Argentina:he said an American journalist never saw home court advantage such as the rabid fans in the Nunez venue in the Brazil match.True again.When these two play in either country home court advantage blows away anything US sports fans are used to.

And on he goes.If you are a diehard soccer fan as I am, you will love this book!

Well In There!
Young journalist Kuper traveled around the world like a madman to gather the stories of soccer's relationship to politics and culture collected in the book's twenty chapters. The result is a book that will delight anyone with an interest in the world's most popular sport, and will intrigue those interested in the world beyond their boundaries. The book's sole flaw is a certain choppiness, which is partially due to the haphazard nature of his travels, and partly due to Kuper's perhaps overambitious goal of examining how soccer "affects the life of a country" and "how the life of a country affects its football." Concentrating on one or the other would have given the book the focus it lacks-but that doesn't detract from its power.

Kuper uses soccer as a lens to look at the most central issues of the modern world race (South Africa), religion (Ireland and Scotland), culture (Brazil), totalitarianism (Argentina & East Germany), corruption (Ukraine), poverty (Africa), and especially nationalism (Holland, Slovakia, Catalonia, Serbia). Even those who dismiss sport as an "opiate of the masses" and don't care for soccer will be forced to acknowledge the sport's popularity and centrality, especially in less-developed nations. Each chapter is a stand-alone piece, with lengths varying from 5-25 pages or so, perfect for reading on the bus or just before bed. The only other caveat on the book is that it does often seem rather dated, and one keeps wishing it was a bit fresher. Still, this is a great bit of journalism and one every soccer fan should read.

Well In There!
Young journalist Kuper travelled around the world like a madman to gather the stories of soccer's relationship to politics and culture collected in the book's twenty chapters. The result is a book that will delight anyone with an interest in the world's most popular sport, and will intrigue those interested in the world beyond their boundries. The book's sole flaw is a certain choppiness, which is partially due to the haphazard nature of his travels, and partly due to Kuper's perhaps overambitious goal of examining how soccer "affects the life of a country" and "how the life of a country affects its football." Concentrating on one or the other would have given the book the focus it lacks-but that doesn't detract from its power.

Kuper uses soccer as a lens to look at the most central issues of the modern world race (South Africa), religion (Ireland and Scotland), culture (Brazil), totalitarianism (Argentina & East Germany), corruption (Ukraine), poverty (Africa), and especially nationalism (Holland, Slovakia, Catalonia, Serbia).E ven those who dismiss sport as an "opiate of the massess" and don't care for soccer will be forced to acknowledge the sport's popularity and centrality, especially in less-developed nations. Each chapter is a stand-alone piece, with lengths varrying from 5-25 pages or so, perfect for reading on the bus or just before bed. The only other cavaet on the book is that it does often seem rather dated, and one keeps wishing it was a bit fresher. Still, this is a great bit of journalism and one every soccer fan should read.

The best football book written in the past 10 years
This book is written in a style that will appeal to the lazy sunday reader in search for a funny read about football and politics, or the serious academic seeking answers to how a nation's culture manifests itself in the football style it adopts.

Kuper's book is simply outstanding. In it, we find out why the Dutch hate the Germans, the secret behind the success of Dynamo Kyev, and why anyone trying to map a post-war history of English culture must explain Gazza's tears. No serious football aficionado should be without this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Keith Stedman dropped the game-winning, undefeated-record-making pass that would have made him a hero instead of a loser.Still haunted by his gaffe, he's considering quitting football for good.His friends and family convince him to stick with it, but his troubles are far from over.Another player seems determined to do everything he can to keep the bad memory alive in the minds of his teammates-including Keith.Can Keith overcome his own obsession with the past and succeed in the present? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent Book
My 5th grader (11 y/o) son and I both Matt Christopher books.We had embarked on a joint reading adventure to encourage him to read more and also to try and develop an enjoyment for reading.Matt Christopher books are very good for that.

Ryan's Review
Football Nightmare is about a kid who drops a pass and he doesn't want to play anymore because of that incomplete pass. So everyone always nags him and begs him to play, and he almost loses a couple of friends. He always runs into his coach and his coach always asks him to play. No matter what anyone says, he still does not want to play. In my opinion, it is not good, and I don't recommend this to anybody.There was not enough football in it so if you are looking for a football book, this is not cool, sporty, fun, or good it's BAD--trust me you will not like it.Well, I read it because I thought it was mainly about football, but it wasn't.

this book
MATT CHRISTOPHER: FOOTBALL NIGHTMARE was an interesting book. It shows Keith Stedman life and his life nightmare. Keith Stedman is a hero on the team, and his little sister really looks up to him, his family always encouraged and proud of him. Even though he is an awesome player on the team he drops a winning pass and just that little thing wants him to quit. That is when the story falls apart. His little sister and family very disappointed but still knows it is his decision. He gets help from everyone and everything ends up getting fixed...you will have to read the book to know what all happens.

Football Nightmare Review
Have your nightmares ever haunted you?Well, Keith Stedman in Football Nightmare by Matt Christopher lives a life-like nightmare.This book is about Keith's life on and off of the football field.Being discouraged by Larry Vincent a kid who wants the starting slot instead of him and encouraged by his family but especially his little sister Traci.Will Keith to play, or will he just try to forget about his whole football past.

ALL EYES ARE ON ME
"All eyes were on me. I fell to the ground with the football right beside me. I hated myself. This is a quote from Football Nightmare.

I liked this book. What I liked about the book is that Keith doesn't gives up. I can relate him, because I dropped a pass one time. I like Matt Christopher; he is a good writer. This is one of his best books. I also like Undercover Tailback and The Shortstop From Tokyo.


Wharton ... Read more

Product Description
Blood, guts, and glory-veteran players reveal the NFL you never see on TV

Behind every glittering NFL game on television is a world of happy pain for a hundred men. NFL Unplugged lets you see that world through the eyes of the pros who live and sweat in it. Here are the places the cameras don't go: the locker room where coaches' speeches can deflate or motivate, the huddle where fart jokes vie with playcalling, the training camp where locusts and heat conspire to break the strongest bodies and shake the most determined minds. Now you can experience it all up close and unplugged.

• Draws on firsthand accounts of more than thirty players and coaches from teams across the NFL, including Mark Schlereth, Bill Romanowski, Kevin Long, Kyle Turley, John Gruden, Hugh Douglas, Jon Runyan, and Michael Strahan
• An unvarnished look at everything from training camp and broken dreams, conditioning and injuries, and camaraderie and hazing to the quest to gain a competitive edge and the exhilarating triumphs of the game
• Written by one of the top figures in sports radio, Anthony Gargano of Philadelphia's 610-WIP

From the injuries that never heal and the money that never lasts to the memories and the glory that never fade, NFL Unplugged shows the unbridled brutality and sheer brilliance of the game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

A Firm Grasp of the Obvious
OK.I get it.Football is a tough, cutthroat sport.People get injured.Careers are short.If any of this is a surprise to you, buy the book.If you want to have those truths reiterated for 200-something pages, buy the book. Boring and not at all enlightening.

An insider's look at the NFL.
"NFL Unplugged: The Brutal, Brilliant World of Professional Football" is everything the title claims.It's raw, vulgar, eye-opening, and brutally honest.

The author obviously has a great deal of admiration and affection for the subject matter.However, his prose is often sophomoric and sometimes downright confusing.This, unfortuantely, detracts from some great insights that one will never see on a broadcast or cable TV program.

I enjoyed the observations that dig deeper than the bright lights and prima donnas that seem to hog the camera in the NFL.The stories of the faceless, nameless trench hogs who give their bodies for the foundations of the game are revelatory and make this book a worthwhile read for an avid NFL fan.Be forewarned, though:If you're planning to purchase the book as a gift for a younger/more sensitive fan, the author spares us none of the crude language spewing in the locker room.It adds to the realism of the experience, but it may make your eyes water.

Great insights and blunt anecdotes earn this book 4 stars.The occasional prose difficulties keep NFL Unplugged from getting 5.

Great NFL Insider Book by the Cuz
Anthony Gargano is a great sports talk show host on WIP-610 in Philadelphia.He is super knowledgeable about sports in general and, unlike some of the other hosts on that station, he appears to be a real gentleman.NFL Unplugged is an enjoyable, easy to read, behind the scenes look at the modern NFL.I highly recommend it.

Not For Me
My brother-in-law left this book in the "reading-room".His selection of reading material was thin.NFL Unplugged, Green Eggs and Ham and The Shopping News.I found Green Eggs and Ham to be intellectually stimulating.The Shopping News offered me an interesting pumpkin pie recipe and I learned of a few upcoming Kickin yard sales for next weekend.Let's just say that those were the only interesting and well written publications that I read during that visit. Sorry Cuz.

Nothing special
I'm a huge sports fan, so this title sounded appealing.Unfortunately, I found it a chore to read.It just wasn't very interesting.The author appeared to be limited by the sources he had to work with to contribute anecdotes.So, the book winds up being a poorly organized hodge podge of stories - many of which seem to be kind of exaggerated.

I suppose there is a fair amount of interesting stuff in here if you're willing to wade through the rest of it to get there.But, having read the book, I feel like it was a waste of time.I don't recommend it unless you're a hard core football junkie. ... Read more

Product Description
"Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." -John Heisman

Obsessed, fanatical, crazed - you bet! The Midwest may love college football, but Tony Barnhart, 1999 Georgia Sportswriter of the Year, reveals that in the South, love just ain't good enough. Southern Fried Football proves that when it comes to college football in the South, the operative word is passion. The 2000 season marks the 120th year of college football in the South, and the fever hasn't lost a degree of its pitch. This book celebrates Southern college football at its finest with:* Stories of regional rivalry-when Alabama and Auburn square off on a Saturday afternoon, families divide and marriages dissolve * The grand traditions of the South's most celebrated dynasties-the Bourbon Barrel of the Kentucky-Indiana game, the Gator Growl, the cowbells of Mississippi State, and, of course, UGA, the mascot with a face only a Georgia fan could love* Profiles of the greatest players, teams, and coaches in southern college football-from the 1898 Immortals of Kentucky to the young stars of today* And, of course, the real center of the action, the avid, flag-flyingfans who bring their southern passion for life to the grandstands every Saturday afternoon, but live Southern football seven days a week.

Southern Fried Football is a devoted celebration of the people, places, and moments that make college football in the South more than just a game, or a show of school spirit. South of the Mason-Dixon line, football becomes without question a passion as bold and as heated as good barbecue.

TONY BARNHART is an acclaimed sportswriter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and was recently voted 1999 Georgia Sportswriter of the Year. He has covered college football for ESPN for over six years and has been nominated for an Emmy for his screenplay "The Southern Game," a documentary on Southern college football produced by Georgia Public Television. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Really good SEC History Book
I love reading about football traditions regarding some of the finest NCAA coaches ever.I know Woodie Hayes and Bo had their moments, but SEC history is also deeply rooted.
The progression of the book is very even and it talks about all of the teams and their traditions.Alabama does seem to get plenty of space (for the Bear) and I thought Vince Dooley got a big part as well with UGA.To any SEC fans, this book is a must if you need to understand some of the "old" feelings between two schools.
I actually read this book in a single day.Once I started, I could not put it down.It was that good!

Not bad but a little lean in parts
I expected a little more from this book, but it wasn't bad.I liked the Georgia stuff since that's Tony's gig, but it was a little lacking on some of the other southern football "powerhouses."If you're looking for a comprehensive look at the most powerful conference in the country, try out the Tailgater's Guide to SEC Football.It's killer.In all, a nice addition to the collection.I give Barnhardt 3.75/5.00.

Not enough story telling
While the information collected gives the reader a wealth of facts, I was looking for the stories and story telling Barnhart can weave.Fans love to engage in arguing about great teams and great players while sitting around the living room. This reads more like a dry text book covering southern football.

A little disapointing...
`Southern Fried Football' is the definitive reference tool for fans of SEC and ACC football.The book has a comprehensive timeline, lists of the greatest Southern teams and players, and a section on coaches.

Tony Barnhart is a great writer, so I was a little disappointed to find so many lists.While the sections on rivalries and game day traditions are very readable, the list of `100 Players That Made A Difference' is not.

More than anything else, traditions are what transform Southern college football from mere sport to religion.This book will give readers a crash course in these traditions.

Defiantly a must have for SEC and ACC football fans, but Barnhart's writing skill is not well represented here.

This one scores big
It's always football season in the South, and anyone interested in the game and its pre-eminent spot in Southern culture will find this book indispensable. The author, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's college football editor and ESPN commentator, is the nation's leading expert on the subject, and he doesn't miss anything. There are lists and legends, people and places. And the varied presentation style will appeal to those who like to prop up their feet for awhile, or those who also like to get their sports by channel surfing or clicking and pointing. From John Heisman to Bobby Bowden, Georgia-Yale in '29 to the "Swamp" in Gainesville, Fla., this is an enjoyable tour de force. ... Read more

Product Description
In this comprehensive history of America's popular pastime, John SayleWatterson shows how college football in more than one hundred years has evolved from a simplegame played by college students into a lucrative, semiprofessional enterprise. With a historian'sgrasp of the context and a novelist's eye for the telling detail, Watterson presents a compellingportrait rich in anecdotes, colorful personalities, and troubling patterns. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Bough this for my dad
I purchased this for my dad because he is an absolute college football fanatic. He seems to really love the book. He started reading it immediately after he opened. Seems like a real page turner.

A little dry, but informative and well researched
The book reads like a college paper, but is extremely well researched. If you enjoy history and football, you'll love this book.But don't expect to read about the past champions and players. This book is about the development of the college game and it's numerous, unending controversies. We all fantasize about the "Good Ol' Days" of college athletics and presume that there was a time when the "Student" came before the "Athlete" in vernacular as well as in practice. This book explores the idea that, in reality, the "Athlete" has always come first, despite the well-intentioned efforts of the academicians.

I didn't exactly breeze through this book. I'd put it down from time to time, read another book, and come back to it.I personally found the later chapters to be the most interesting, probably since the book is in chronological order and the issues were familiar.They must have re-edited the book because I didn't see many grammatical or typographic errors, as others have mentioned.

Pick it up if you like college football, but keep a couple other books in reserve.

Thoroughly researched, though long-winded and poorly edited!
Mr. Watterson has presented us with a volume that is unique among sports books - a comprehensive history of college football and its relationship to college life and American society. I recommend it for two reasons:

1. It is incredibly well researched; Watterson has spent years digging through college and university archives around the country. He has amassed a mountain of valuable information about the progression and development of the college game that is not available elsewhere.

2. Despite being an academic, the author writes in a style that is easily readable.In my experience, it is rare to find a scholarly book that is also comprehensible to a lay audience.

Though it has many positives, there are two major flaws that drive me to distraction.

1.Watterson insists on repeating himself, sometimes making the same point in the very next paragraph or on subsequent pages. At times, I found myself wondering whether I had mistakenly lost track of my place in the book and was reading a page that I had already covered. The author's tendency to rehash previously made points slows the reader's progressionand makes each chapter significantly longer than it needs to be.

2. The index is woefully incomplete. For example, references to Glenn "Pop" Warner are listed on three pages - 137, 146 and 172 - but more information about him appears on page 180.Likewise, Richard "Von" Gammon is referenced in the index on pages 36-38, but he also appears on page 47 (misspelled as Richard Gammen). There are many such instances in the index.

Nevertheless, this book is very valuable for the many nuggets of insight and history that bubble to the surface. The information contained in this volume is found nowhere else, and far outweighs the drawbacks in writing and editing.

Bravo! (Pity about the editing though)
This enlightening book covers the history of college football from an interesting and neglected point of view. That is to say, it contains none of the usual lionisation of players and coaches, and no re-working of big games we're all familiar with. Rather, Watterson examines (and questions) the place of the game in American society and its role on campus. The book establishes quite clearly that the over-emphasis placed on gridiron is hardly a recent phenomenon or even (as I foolishly suspected) down to the evils of television - that schools have been fielding ineligible players, fiddling grades, and operating slush funds from the days of Walter Camp. Watterson details the various movements which have attempted to reform the game and how it is run, and explains lucidly why virtually all of them failed. A seemingly insatiable desire for victory and glory to the alma mater has resulted in a gradual yet steady erosion of the original purpose of sport on campus, to the point where today a college President can express a desire to "build a university the football team can be proud of" without a trace of irony.

The book's only real fault lies in some woeful editing, which results in a few stories being re-told, and several paragraphs being repeated almost word-for-word many pages later (not to mention some grammatical howlers which don't strike me as being the author's fault). I found myself able to to overlook this, though, and can unreservedly recommend it. It may not be one which the more avid Sooner, Fighting Irish, Crimson Tide, or Buckeye-backer will gravitate toward, but those who enjoy big-time football and yet abhor how tainted it has all become will find it difficult to put down.

Should be a mandatory read for all college faculty -
This a dry read and takes some effort as it is essentially an academic tome that is concerned with the evolution of modern college football from a political, policy, and business standpoint. But it is quite thorough and hits the nail on the head. The final pages discuss how the game can be saved .... since reform is not an option. This is the weakest part of the book, but understandably so since it would take the wisdom of Solomon to fix this problem. I have always felt that a return to one platoon football makes a lot of sense regarding costs (less insurance, travel and equipment, scholarship dollars).

The editing in the book leaves something to be desired. There are a number of typos - and a few sentences that make contradictory statements. The author is not a well versed student of the game since there are several technical mistakes which indicate some deficiencies in research. Some of these are listed below as examples.

(1) Identifying Brian Bosworth as an Oklahoma lineman when he was a linebacker,
(2) Claiming All American status for 4 years (1982-1985)for a very average SMU running back,
(3) Confusing the major Western Athletic Conference (WAC) with the minor Rocky Mountain Conference,
(4) When describing the 1943 game between the College of the Pacific (COP) and USC attributing Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) membership to COP which was in fact an independent school during the 40's and never was a member of the PCC or its later version, the Pac 10.

That said I highly recommend the book for anyone interested in the history of college football. ... Read more

Product Description
Every weekend from August through January, 25 million Americans plop into their Lay-Z-Boys, crack open a beer, and watch football on television. At last, here is an illustrated book that celebrates their pastime and codifies their culture of extreme devotion like no other. The Armchair Quarterback Playbook is both hilarious and authentic, and is designed like a real football playbook complete with modified X and O diagrams. Everything a stay-at-home fan needs to know is here: how to redirect an interfering spouse ('The Listen and Respond Fake'), methods for keeping children at bay ('Intentional Grounding), equipment and etiquette tips, game food recipes, armchair quarterback vernacular, and more. Written by a certified 'AQ,' this is the perfect book for the football fanatic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great gift for guys who watch football
Bought it for my husband and he loves it. He's a huge football fan and he said there's lots of funny plays. He actually learned how to burn a NY Giants logo into our lawn--

Not exactly what I thought it was
I purchased this book for a christmas present thinking it would actually give football plays with diagrams.Instead it's just about how to organize the dip, and where to sit when watching football.OK book if that's what you are looking for.

Funny, but not ideal for all
After my wife finished her bachelors degree she announced that she now wanted to study football. Realizing I probably have the best wife in the history of the world, (at least since football was invented), I set out to help her accomplish her goal. She's been pretty into football for a number of years, but wanted to learn all of the terminology (such as Post Route, Slant, etc...), the detailed rules, and general history of the game including important players throughout the history of the game. She and I got on Amazon and bought about a half dozen football books, including this one.

Fortunately, my wife has a sense of humor, and isn't easily offended, or this book might have irritated her, as it is written with a distinctly and unashamedly male perspective. Less of a guide to the game than a humorous book that is related to football, it contains some real gems of anti PR. I actually read it cover to cover and found it entertaining, as did my wife, but if you're giving it to a woman, make sure they're not the sort who get their feathers ruffled easily.

HYSTERICAL!! And remarkably educational
Not just a light humor book. It's actually very insightful. Very well-organized, with tips throughout on things like fantasy picks and best of all, dealing with significant others. (Including a hysterical section on how to massage while watching the game.) For such a small book, it's packed with useful info...recipes, sports references, resources. Unbelievable. I highly recommend getting it while the football season is still in its nascient stages. Has already made my season that much more enjoyable.

Calling all football fans...
Great book!Very funny and full of good tips.We made the "towel-roll" chicken wings-- my buds were impressed.If you like watching football on TV then you should read this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (8)

Not the book the title promises
I pulled this title having read Lars Anderson's book on the 1915 Carlisle-Army game and Mark Bowden's book on the 1958 NFL championship. I would recommend either of those without qualification.Both provide a thorough background leading up to and culminating in a particular pivotal game, which game itself is described in exciting detail (although not quite down-by-down).Anderson and Bowden provide nice little mini-bios of the key players and a taut history of football leading up to the game in question (in fact it might not be a stretch to say that Bowden's book proivdes a better retelling of football's becoming a more "open" game than this volume.) The background provided here is not the same level or quality and the game description itlsef is lacking.Quite tellingly, the game of the title taks place at the mid-way point of the book. The rest of the book to follow the game account, and much of what precedes it in fact, is really just a hagiography of Harper.The exciting history of ND football deserves better.

Best Football Book I've Read
An insightful, INTERESTING book about, among other things, reasonable people developing rules intended to keep people alive as they engage in sport.It is astonishing to know that there were actually people who opposed the new rule of the forward pass.Maggio's well-researched hindsight gives much deserved credit to Harper's foresight, and gives us all a timely reminder that intelligence is never out of style.The book reads anecdotally, and is a must for anyone interested in the history of football, the history of education, the history, really, of the game that defines in large part the character of our land.Maggio's well developed story telling style is a pleasure.You'd be well advised to buy two: One for you, and one to make sure you won't have to loan yours out.

Interesting, but a lot of repetiton
I learned some interesting and previously unknown things about the pre-Rockne days at ND, but there was a lot of repetition and needless details that didn't add anything. The book could have been much shorter.

Notre Dame wasn't the first throwing team
I like the subject of the book, but really the Army game was long after Carlisle and LSU had been throwing the ball with great effect in the years of 1906-1909.

The game of 1913 wasn't the first forward pass and many years after Pop Warner had made the Indians a passing machine. The Indians with Jim Thorpe and the great passing game of 1907-08 were a one of the best early football teams.

Its Carlisle in the North and LSU in the South that put the passing game on the map and near every football team in America started following thier lead.

Army had already been beat by Carlisle great team of 1912 and between Jim Thorpe's running and the Indians passing game, Army was destoryed by the score of 27-6.

Coach Wingrad comes to LSU and has the pass as his key weapon in the 1907 and 08 seasons, Joe Pitchard uses the same offense in 1909 at LSU. Its the two key passing plays vs Auburn on plains that lead to the victory over the Plainsmen, both passes were Fenton to Seip in a 10-2 victory. Read up on Doc Fenton, he is in the Hall of Fame and was the key passer on those teams.

Hollywood made the myth out of the Army-Notre Dame game and today we are still hearing the myth, its time to put it to rest.

So unlike the movie shows, no one by 1913 and in no way was Army surprised by the farward pass.

And Notre Dame like all the smaller teams of those times saw and knew that the small Indian teams had beat the football powers of Harvard, Yale, Penn, Army, Navy, etc using the passing game.

The author defends his position.
I enjoyed Homer Martin's review of my book, but I stand by my position that the Notre Dame vs. Army game of 1913 was indeed the game that changed football. I understand that many teams had used the forward pass prior to the 1913 game, including the great teams at the Carlisle Indian school. Sally Jenkins in her recent book points this out very well. However, I would point Mr. Martin, Ms. Jenkins and others to Chapter 3 of my book concerning the evolution of the rules governing the forward pass and also the change in the shape of the ball. Prior to the 1913 season the rules and the shape of the ball virtually prohibited the full and free passing attack that Notre Dame used against Army in 1913. Notre Dame gained 213 yards in the air that day. An unheard of statistic at the time.The evolution of the rules and the change in the shape of the ball made all the difference. Note also that ESPN, see the final chapter of my book for the citation, called Jesse Harper's decision to to pass against Army in 1913 the number one college coaching decision of the 20th Century. Hollywood did not make a myth out of the 1913 game. The credit for the game being the game that changed football has been asserted by numerous sport's writes since the day the game was played - starting with 2 and 1/2 columns on the game in the Sunday edition of the New York Times the day after the game was played. The Times article quoted Bill Roper, the former head football coach at Princeton, who was one of the officials in the game to the effect that "he had always believed that such playing was possible under the new rules, but that he had never seen the forward pass developed to such a state of perfection." So I submit, there is no myth to put to rest. It is a reality. Best regards to Mr. Martin and all who read this. Frank P. Maggio, the author. I can be contacted at "maggioND@msn.com"
... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Football is the most comprehensive and up-to-date football-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of over 80 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round football-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results.

No other Football book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book will have players of all positions and skill levels increasing strength, agility, and power dramatically resulting in more touchdowns, crisper and harder tackles, and the flat-out domination of opponents all over the field.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

As an added bonus, this book also contains links to free record keeping charts which normally sell separately for $20. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ok - very basic
Book is extremely basic. I have been training for over 20 years, maybe I expected to much? Still an ok book though for youth that need to understand the basics. Good book, just not for advanced levels or what I would call " The Ultimate Guide". ... Read more

Product Description
The West Virginia University® Football Vault®: The History Of The Mountaineers® takes you on a journey through WVU football history, starting with the first game in 1891. Along with a story woven by West Virginia alumnus and longtime sports information official John Antonik, this scrapbook contains never-before-published photographs, artwork and memorabilia drawn from WVU s athletic department, campus archives and personal collections. Tucked into dozens of sleeves and pockets are reproductions of old game programs, historic tickets, numerous postcards and vintage photos. Fascinating replicas include an 1891 cast photo from the Shakespearean play that served as a fundraiser for the inaugural team, a 1919 program cover from the WVU-Washington & Jefferson game, the 1930 Pitt-WVU program cover, a 1940s-era pennant, a 1954 Sugar Bowl ticket and program cover, a 1969 poster showing artificial turf being installed at Mountaineer Field, the contract Don Nehlen signed when he became WVU s coach in 1980 and a 1983 biography card for quarterback Jeff Hoss Hostetler. No Mountaineer fan should be without this home archive of West Virginia s football history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Fantastic book for WVU football fans!
This book is great, very interesting and different.Shows what old tickets etc looked like.Gave one to my husband and to father-in-law - both are WVU alumni - both love it!

A True Tribute
This book brings pure pleawure to a diehard Mountaineer fan.I gave it as gifts and it was so much fun to watch the two gentlemen go through it and share things from it with others.They hjave read and reread its contents.Having grown up in Morgantown, it was a true walk deown memory lane for me and remembering my father speak of the events.An excellent gift for a Mountaineer.

Let's Go Mountaineers!!!!!!!!!!
Great book. WVU obviously has a great football tradition, and this book tells that story VERY well. Also has a bunch of "add ins" in the book, like pull outs of older gameday tix, or program, and lots off other stuff. Well written, and a bunch of great pictures.
Well worth the money!!!!

WVU Football Book - The Vault
This product was great! I really enjoyed it and the price beat all the other places I looked.

Great!
I bought this as a gift for my father in-law and it is awesome! We are so excited to give it to him. This is the perfect gift for a die hard Mountaineers fan!! ... Read more

Product Description
As coach of the powerhouse Jenks (OK) High School Trojans, Allan Trimble has amassed an amazing number of victories, state championship titles, and national rankings. And he’s done it with a carefully planned and executed game plan that promotes the positive development of athletes and teams.

Trimble shares the specifics of his system in Coaching Football Successfully. This meaty coaching manual covers it all: sideline communication, teaching fundamentals, practice drills, scouting and game planning, and postgame analysis and adjustments. Whatever your offensive and defensive schemes may be, you’ll find the concepts applicable to your own program.

Loaded with detailed diagrams of plays and advice for handling off-the-field challenges, this book is of great benefit to both head coaches and assistants. Coaching Football Successfully is more than a worthwhile addition to your library; it’s a proven game plan to building a championship-caliber football team. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

good
Very interesting. Alot of insight into the game, but could use a little more explanation on what they are talking about. He starts going into plays and you kinda sit there and scratch your head.

Great General Book
Great book outlining a proven method of setting up a successful program which was what I was looking for.

What every coach should know about building and maintaining a football program
Coach Allan Trimble has a 111-9 record and six consecutive Class 6A state championship titles. And his winning list goes on and on...

His book is a step by step guide on how to start and maintain asuccessfull football program.

This book covers the I-formation (power running game with a wide open passing attack) and a versatile multiple defensive system. Which, he used to win a 32-2 career playoff record and 25 consecutive playoff victories.

This book is very user friendly. Coach Trimble uses tons of pictures and diagrams. If you do not understand what he is talking about, all you have to do is look at the pictures. If you are looking for a play book, here it is. This book is great for youth to college level.


If you want to read about another coach that has reached the same level of success, read "COACHING FOOTBALL SUCCESSFULLY" BY Bob READE

One of the Most Usefull Books
Thisisnt one of those x and o books but ratheran inofrmational book. It details every single thing you could possibly use at any level. All around it's a great book!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Written by Pete Nordsted, author of "Mastering Betfair", and Matt Finnigan, full-time trader, "The Premier Football Betting Handbook" showcases the best of the available football betting markets and how you can profit from them. Betting on football has increased massively in recent years and it now offers a great way to make money whilst enjoying some thrilling football matches - a pretty unbeatable combination! If, like most people, you lead a busy life you simply do not have the time to analyse the key stats before placing a bet on the weekend's football. Often you'll end up betting on hunches rather than basing your prediction on the important facts. If this is the case then this is the book for you. It gives you all the necessary ammunition needed to take on the bookies - and win. As well as highlighting a variety of football markets you can bet on, we offer you structured analysis of the main markets such as Match Odds, Asian Handicaps, Corners, Bookings, and First and Last goal scorer, by pinpointing the best angles to secure a steady stream of profits throughout the season.The handbook also includes a detailed breakdown of each team's statistical performance over the previous season, backed up by unique reports which will give you that all important edge. If there is money to be made betting on the Premier League then "The Premier Football Betting Handbook" will show you how. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent guide to this season's Prem
Packed full of useful stats and advice for this season's Premier League.Give you lots of angles in order to make a profit from your betting this season.It's also backed up by a website which gives further advice.Recommended.

Awesome
You MUST have this book if you want to have a bible about betting in English Premier League. ... Read more

Product Description
SI.com "College Football Mailbag" author Stewart Mandel tackles the ten issues that confound college football fans--with a new chapter on the 2007 season

"An intricate tour through the ills of the college football world (and there are many), but still manages to take on a breezy, airy tone."
----The Quad, NYTimes.com

"Stewart Mandel writes about college football's major controversies with a wit and depth of knowledge that will impress even the most obsessed fans. And because he's both fair and objective, there is something in this book to infuriate nearly everyone."
----Warren St. John, author of the bestselling Rammer JammerYellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania

"In a book dripping with sarcasm, Stewart Mandel plays tour guide on an interesting ride through the college football nuthouse."
----Bruce Feldman, author of Meat Market and senior writer for ESPN the Magazine

"If you're confused by the world of college football, particularly the BCS and how the present polls are conducted, then I will recommend to you Bowls, Polls & Tattered Souls."
----Football Outsiders

"Presents history and insights on all aspects of the sport, from recruiting to the bowl system to why certain teams play in certain conferences. A great read for fans with thirty days or thirty years of experience."
----Orlando Sentinel

If your heart beats faster on Saturday afternoons as your team takes the field, this book will give you new insight into the fanaticism and chaos that characterize college football today. Stewart Mandel takes a provocative, hard-hitting look at the hot-button issues: the controversial BCS; the polls and their largely arbitrary rankings; the ego-inflating recruiting craze; cheating and recent scandals; the huge pressures and salaries heaped on coaches; the Heisman hype-fest; the NFL draft; the clunky conference expansions; privileged Notre Dame, college football's greatest juggernaut; and the proliferation of bowl games. You'll get behind-the-scenes insights on how the issues evolved and why some are almost impossible to resolve in a book that's as entertaining, passionate, and thought-provoking as the game itself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A Little Outdated, but a Great Read
This was another book I read for fun.Everyone needs some of these titles, and it was read a little after college football season started.It just made the love for college ball even greater.The book is really good, though a little outdated, but most of the material is still relevant.It is interesting to see some of the predictions or the future not play out as the author describes.He states that Charley Weiss is going to bring the glory back to Notre Dome.As you all know, that was not the case.He talks about the BCS, and the alignment of the divisions, and even states that he did not see any more realignment happening in the near future.Once again, he was dead wrong as this summer, it seemed everything blow up again.The chapter about recruiting was great, as this is one of the areas I am most interested in, and his talk about the Heisman award was interesting.He mentioned the ESPN affect which robbed Peyton Manning of the award.If you love college ball, this is a fun read, and it is interesting after a few years to see how much things have changed, and how little we know about the shifting forces in this game.Great reading for relaxation.

Must Have for an College Football Fan
It is an excellent read.I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know about the innerworkings and politics of college football.

Fantastic read
Mandel is a terrific writer probably best in college football. A must read for all cfb fans.

Good introductry book
I am a foreigner to the sport of Football but became a fan at my College when I was doing my grad studies. I used to read a lot of websites to keep up with what was happening in the world of College Football & the authors weekly column on SI.com is one of my favorites. However, after seeing his plugs one too many times in the Mailbag about this book I decided to buy it during the off season.

I have to be honest that it really helped me clear up some of the reasons on why the college football world is the way it is. To an outsider a lot of stuff in College Football just does not make sense especially a lack of playoff. [Personally, I dont care about a playoff cause my team does not figure in National Championship talks]

Anyway to cut a long story short, to someone new to the world of college football this serves as a good starting point in describing the history and traditions of the sport. It is written in a humorous & entertaining manner which is characteristic of the author in his Mailbag column on SI.com.

A must-read for all fans of college football, and its detractors as well.
Stewart Mandel draws on his many years of covering college football and lays out all of the sport's flaws as well as why it continues to endear so many of us Saturday after Saturday. His chapters on proliferation bowl games and the inact science of the NFL draft are classics. And it's fun reading. ... Read more

Product Description

There is no college ball more passionate and competitive than football in the Southeastern Conference, where seven of the twelve schools boast stadiums bigger than any in the NFL and 6.5 million fans hit the road every year to hoot and holler their teams to victory.

Customer Reviews (35)

Excellent Book
It's great I learned and laughed a lot. If you're an SEC fan it is a must read.

A Fun Look at Southern Football
Don't wait around for the Pulitzer prize to be bestowed on this travelogue through a season of Southeastern Conference football, but also don't discount the fun factor.Clay Travis has an engaging and lighthearted writing style and it's an engaging and fun read.Sure you'd rather watch your calories and keep down the cholesterol, but sometimes nothing beats a good chili dog.Dig in, take a big bite and enjoy the smile on your face going from stadium to stadium during a season-long trip through all the SEC schools.

Awesome
I'm in the middle of reading it, but it is well written and hilarious at times. I often find myself laughing out loud, making for awkward moments on the morning metro ride. The section about Jefferson Pilot is perfection.

SEC Football lovers
Hilarious and insightfull look at the teams, fans and structure of SEC Football. Once you read this, you'll be a fan forever.

Decent read for non-SEC enthusiasts.Otherwise don't waste your time
Clay offers a glimpse of what SEC football is like from a fan's perspective.There's nothing groundbreaking especially if you are already an SEC fan.He simply visits every campus, offers a few opinions about the places, throws out a few tired jokes that SEC fans have heard countless times and lets us know he went to Vandy Law School.It was boring to me, but for someone completely unfamiliar with southern college football culture, it might be somewhat entertaining. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a follow-up to the popular first book in the series, "Sports Investing: Profiting from Point Spreads," which remains a top-selling book in its sports gambling category.This book focuses on specific college football betting systems and strategies.The book remains true to the philosophy of contrarian value in sports investing.In particular, the authors reveal betting systems and parameters that they have used to successfully navigate the college football sports marketplace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Easy to read, went 25-5 first 4 College Football Saturdays
The results speak for themselves. Using the "Bet Against the Public" betting strategy, I went 25-5 in the first 4 weekends of college football. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to make money at sports betting while having fun watching the games.

College Football -- handicapper's edge
I like the fact that the author doesn't hype his work.I believe that this "sports investing" value approach can help cappers get an edge.I think it is best used in combination with other handicapping methods as well.Although the edge is slight, the historical numbers DO show a statistically significant bias that backs the approaches.Even so, I'm liking the 6-0 start to the 2010 season for one of the author's college football approaches.

I hope the authors keep up the good work and I look forward to a Major League Baseball version of their research.

Contrarian Betting Systems for College Football
I enjoyed Fabrizio's first book, "Sports Investing: Profiting from Point Spreads" - which gives a good overview of applying contrarian methods to the sports betting world.The first book is fairly general but does a good job of helping readers apply systematic methods.In particular, the author advocates objective approaches that make sense, such as: "betting percentages" (to find value and bet against the general public) and "line movement setups" (that indicate the direction of syndicate/big bettors).

http://www.amazon.com/Sports-Investing-Profiting-Spreads-Marketplace/dp/160970004X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283008305&sr=8-1

This follow-up book on "College Football Betting Systems," is fairly thin, but it takes the first book a step further.It focuses on college football data - and in particular, shows parameters such as specific point spreads and betting percentages ranges that have helped the author and his team achieve decent results.

Sports bettors looking for a get-rich-quick method will be disappointed.However, those looking for a solid approach that can be used both "stand-alone" -- or as part of additional handicapping methods -- will find a lot of useful and practical betting info.Dan Fab and his team have put themselves out there with published data, methods, and picks for years -- and have produced generally profitable results, even after vig. ... Read more

Product Description
Discover the world of pro football; the history, the teams, the stars, and what equipment they use.

Developed in association with the National Football League (NFL), Eyewitness Football features photographs and text on hundreds of people and objects from 80 storied years of the National Football League. Football captures the drama, excitement, and spectacle of professional football using the signature Eyewitness style. It is the definitive pictorial guide to America's most popular sport in all its rough-and-tumble glory, from its schoolyard roots through its rise to the status of an international supersport. See inside an NFL locker room and training camp and what players wore before helmets were introduced. Learn how coaches design plays, how to throw a perfect pass and make a clean tackle. Discover what trainers, referees, and coaches do, what it takes to win the Super Bowl, and much, much more!Amazon.com Review
Eyewitness Guides: Football tells the story ofAmerica's favorite sport--from its beginnings in 19th-century Englishschoolyards to its current status as one of the world's favoritegames. Broken down into helpful sections on coaches, strategy,training camp, the field, the stadium, and so on, each topic isclearly explained and illustrated with several photographs. Especiallyinteresting are the sections on players' equipment, from shoes tohelmets and from protective pads to jerseys, and the way these itemshave evolved over time. For example, in the early years helmets weremade of pliable leather and could be folded up and carried in apocket--a far cry from the high-tech plastic headgear worntoday. Trivia fans will find much fodder here, from the number ofonfield officials (seven) to the name of the star-like shapes on thePittsburgh Steelers' logo (hypocycloids). Packed with usefulinformation, football fans of all ages will enjoy--and learnfrom--this beautiful book. (Ages 9 and older) --Sunny Delaney ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

missing one important point!
This book is generally good. However, it missed one very important part. It failed to introduce the different players in the game. For a person who knows nothing about this sport, s/he would be very confused when the author starts to talk about line back, quarter back, etc.

It definitely should have a chapter to explain all those different names for the players.

Also there was one minor wording problem, I think. On page 31, it has "a tube not unlike a lipstick."What does it mean "not unlike?" I think that he can choose a better word for that.

Great Christmass gift for the young football fans
My son (4.5) recenly got excited about football.This book is excellent for providing him with all the basic facts about the game--from its historic origins and development over time, to the role of the uniforms, helmets, coaches' responsibilities, etc. Must admit that it helped me as well to become at least a little literate in my son's latest obsession.

As in all Eyewitness books, it is structured in "chapters" detailing one aspect of the game.Good quality pictures and clear captions further help the kids understand the game.

Another DK Winner
I am an elementary school librarian and this book has been a smashing success in my library, especially with 2nd to 5th grade boys.The pictures are done in the DK style and draw even the most reluctant reader to thisbook. The book covers a basic history of the game, complete with oldpictures, which the kids love, in addition to information about footballtoday. It has interesting trivia that the kids love sharing with each otherand pictures of all the current football superstars.This one is a surefire winner. ... Read more