When George S. Halas was asked to rebuild the Staley Company's football club in Decatur, Illinois in 1920, nobody could have imagined that his efforts would forever change Sunday afternoons in America. Halas helped found the National Football League, and with it the Chicago Bears, the most storied franchise in the league's history. From the Galloping Ghost, to the Monsters of the Midway, to that indomitable "46" defense -- the "Grabowskis" as their coach named them -- Bears teams and players have made such an impact on the city of big shoulders that Chicago will be forever known as a "Bears town."

When teams meet on football fields across Georgia, it's more than a game--it's a battle for bragging rights and dominance in a state that prizes football above all other sports. Join seasoned Georgia sports journalist Jon Nelson as he tracks the history of college football statewide. Whether it's Georgia Southern's glory days with legendary coach Erk Russell, the bitter rivalry between Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, the Mercer College team's historic beginnings or Shorter University's up-and-coming program, every team in Georgia makes the cut in this hard-hitting history. Enhanced by an appendix with each school's records, championship statistics and coaching accomplishments, this is a book no Peach State football fan can do without.

The last time Danny Ford spit tobacco juice on a Clemson sideline was Dec. 30, 1989. Yet Ford has become more beloved as time has distanced the Tigers from the glory he orchestrated in eleven years as the team's football coach. It began in December of 1978 when a young, obscure offensive line coach took over a heartbroken fan base. It ended in January of 1990 under a cloud of controversy and mystery that has not yet been completely resolved. In between, Ford led Clemson on a wild and unforgettable ride. Award-winning sportswriter Larry Williams presents, for the first time in book form, the definitive story of Ford's complicated, compelling Clemson tenure.

South Carolina has a proud tradition of high school football stretching back to the 1890s, making the sport one of the most celebrated in the state. Discover how Florence High School-- sometimes dubbed the Yellow Jackets or the Golden Tornados--won the first four state titles, a record that has been tied but never broken. And learn about the aftermath of a 1922 game between Columbia and Charleston, when violent Columbia fans hurled eggs at the Charleston train as the players left for home. Through the 1960s, the sport withstood the immense pressure of integration until 157 teams ballooned into 193 by the end of the decade. John Boyanoski reveals the trophies, tears, and triumphs of the Palmetto State's time-honored football legacy.

Few high school football programs can match the success of Highlands. Having captured 17 state championships since 1960, the school ranks fifth in total wins among all high schools in the United States. The program has produced many outstanding college and professional players, including Jared Lorenzen of the New York Giants and Rob Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs. Legendary coach Homer Rice led Highlands to its first state championships in 1960 and 1961 before going on to coach Rice University and the Cincinnati Bengals. Fort Thomas Highlands Football highlights the program through the 2007 championship season and pays tribute to the teams and players since 1915.

From the beginning, East Tennessee State University has placed great emphasis on creating a football program that would give their studentathletes
training unlike any other for sportsmanship, leadership, and academic excellence. During its 80 years, the football program grew from barely fielding enough able-bodied students to going undefeated and winning its first bowl game. Although the program was discontinued after the 2003 season, there is a renewed commitment by the university to restore the program and its strong traditions with the help of the community and groups like the Buc Football and Friends Foundation.

The Washington Redskins franchise remains one of the most valuable in professional sports, in part because of its easily recognizable, popular, and profitable brand. And yet "redskins" is a derogatory name for American Indians. Prominent journalists, politicians, and former players have publicly spoken out against the use of Redskins as the name of the team. The number of grassroots campaigns to change the name has risen in recent years despite the current team owner's assertion that the team will never do so. The NFL, for its part, actively defends the name and supports it in court. Redskins: Insult and Brand examines how the ongoing struggle over the team name raises important questions about how white Americans perceive American Indians, about the cultural power of consumer brands, and about continuing obstacles to inclusion and equality. C. Richard King examines the history of the team's name, the evolution of the term "redskin," and the various ways in which people both support and oppose its use today. King's hard-hitting approach to the team's logo and mascot exposes the disturbing history of a moniker's association with the NFL-a multibillion-dollar entity that accepts public funds-as well as popular attitudes toward Native Americans today.

It is so statistically unlikely as to be almost unbelievable. Somehow, the Gronkowski family has produced three sons who play in the NFL (Rob, Chris, and Dan), one who was drafted into Major League Baseball (Gordie, Jr.), and another who is the starting fullback for Kansas State (Goose). Their father, Gordy, even played college football for Syracuse.

How did it happen? From an early age, Gordy realized the potential his sons had and worked with them to make the most of it. Beyond their monstrous size, physicality, and raw talent, he instilled in them a commitment to fitness, health, drive, and determination that would give his boys a leg up in ways other families simply couldn't match. And the boys' motivation certainly wasn't something solely triggered by a driven father. They were like a pack of adolescent wolves readying themselves for the recruiting hunt. Still, all were honor roll students; the three oldest earned college degrees. Each was motivated and inspired by his brothers. Competition and bragging rights were -- and continue to be -- a big part of what makes the Gronkowskis tick. "Growing Up Gronk "reveals the secrets to the Gronkowski's astonishing collective success while opening the door to a lively, entertaining, one-of-a-kind household.