The Super Bowl is an event that has redefined American sports. For the past half century, the game has evolved from its humble beginnings to become the single greatest sporting event of the calendar year. It is an event which has created legends and memories which will last forever. When Super Bowl Sunday arrives, the nation stops to watch. Even non-football fans are captivated by the event. The Super Bowl is the greatest reality TV ever created.Every Super Bowl has its own story and the legends of the Super Bowl have given us an inside look at America's biggest game. These are the real stories of the game from the people who participated. From Len Dawson's conversation with the president to Jim O'Brien's game-winning kick and Randy White's post-game duet with Willie Nelson, the tales of the Super Bowl are told like never before. Get an inside look at what happened in both the sanctity of the locker room and the atmosphere before, during and after the Super Bowl. It is a unique perspective featuring fascinating stories, with many being told for the first time with 50 years of unforgettable memories.

This book details the life of Percy Haughton, college football's first modern coach. A true innovator of the game, his Harvard squads went 71-7-5 during his tenure and were deemed national champions three times. In many ways, college football in the 1910s resembled what we still see today. A half century old, there were already concerns about violence and corruption. There were skyrocketing coaches' salaries, stadium arms races, bragging rights, and meddling boosters. There were recruiting excesses and cheating. And from Harvard coach Percy Duncan Haughton, there was a sophistication of football that would surprise many fans today. In The Coach Who Strangled the Bulldog: How Harvard's Percy Haughton Beat Yale and Reinvented Football, Dick Friedman tells the fascinating story of a football genius. The sport's first modern coach, Haughton systematized the game and utilized passing, speed, and deception. In nine seasons at Harvard, Haughton's squads went 71-7-5 and three times during his tenure the Crimson were deemed national champions. Haughton's system perfected line blocking, employed tactics such as the delayed handoff, and eschewed huddles. His practices were scripted to the minute and he had revolutionary ideas on conditioning. The Coach Who Strangled the Bulldog is not only a captivating biography of an influential coach from the early days of college football; it is also a history of the sport itself. Featuring timeless photos and tirelessly researched, this book provides valuable insight into the game today-how it has evolved and how it has stayed surprisingly the same.

Who comprised the most productive pairs in the history of professional team sports? Joe Montana and Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers? Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls? What about the prolific hockey tandem of Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier? And that all-time great New York Yankees twosome of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig can certainly not be excluded. Using various selection criteria-including longevity, level of statistical compilation, impact on one's team, and overall place in history-The 50 Most Dynamic Duos in Sports History attempts to ascertain which twosome truly established itself as the most dominant tandem in the history of the four major professional team sports: baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. Arranged and ranked by sport, this work takes an in-depth look at the careers of these 100 men, including statistics, quotes from opposing players and former teammates, and career highlights. Finally, all 50 duos are placed in an overall ranking. Covering every decade since the 1890s, this book will find widespread appeal among sports fans of all generations.And with photographs of many of the tandems, The 50 Most Dynamic Duos in Sports History is a wonderful addition to any sports historian's collection.

The past few years have been among the most challenging in NFL history, culminating in 2020, which brought the dual impacts of coronavirus and social justice issues. Yet a complete understanding of where the NFL is today should begin with 1957, and the five-year period that was the most transformative for the league. From 1957 to 1962, the NFL saw: the advent of unionization, with a landmark Supreme Court decision; the legendary 1958 title game, the first to go into sudden death overtime; a challenge from the American Football League that would have important consequences for decades; the introduction of computerization and statistical analysis; the first steps towards globalization; and the hiring of legends Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry, who both contributed to the league's growing mythology. This book describes in detail the key events that helped shape the modern NFL, and why this period was so momentous to the league and its fans.

I REMEMBER REGGIE WHITE presents the recollections and favorite stories of this dynamic minister and pro football's Minister of Defense as captured in the more than two dozen interviews with teammates, friends, coaches, acquaintances, and members of the media.

This year's most explosive expose discloses the names of the convicted criminals in the NFL, the stunning severity of their crimes, and tells why they're still playing.

I REMEMBER REGGIE WHITE presents the recollections and favorite stories of this dynamic minister and pro football's Minister of Defense as captured in the more than two dozen interviews with teammates, friends, coaches, acquaintances, and members of the media.

John W. Heisman (1869-1936) was a man of many faces whose public image has suffered from a diffused, enigmatic, and mostly misunderstood private personality. Since his death the popular reception of the memorial trophy named in his honor has also obscured his identity. In singling out his many innovative contributions to the development of intercollegiate football, this book attempts to present a true picture of Heisman as both man and coach. Because he coached at schools throughout the country during some of the most eventful years in our history, Heisman's life relates to significant political, economic, and social developments that impacted on American society as well as sports. However, this book is much more than the story of John Heisman's 36-year coaching career. It is also the story of how an indigenous American public ritual--the Big Game---came about and how college football evolved into the complex, problematic, and highly structured big business that it is today.

Sports history has emerged as a popular study over the past quarter century, and scholars have fueled this interest by providing a wealth of information on baseball and its role in American culture. Despite this increasing focus on the connection between sports and societal values, football, the sport that emerged in the late nineteenth century and merged the values of winning and commercialization with the culture of higher education, has been left relatively unexplored. This gap in sports history has left many questions unanswered, including football's link to American cultural values. Gerald R. Gems has filled this gap in sports history with his latest title, For Pride, Profit, and Patriarchy: Football and the Incorporation of American Cultural Values. This intriguing resource covers a host of issues including the rise of football, football and feminism, militarism and leadership training, and multiculturalism in football. A broad and comprehensive analysis of the ways in which football addressed the cultural and ideological tensions within American society during its period of development and consolidation after the Civil War, this study is ideal for everyone from the football enthusiast to the general reader.

From their humble start in the NFL as an expansion team to their current journey toward becoming one of the hottest teams in the NFL, this handbook spotlights the most compelling and truly great moments in the 46 years of the Atlanta Falcons. Scattered throughout the pages are pep talks, records, and Falcons lore, including the origins of the famous Freddie Falcon mascot, the best place to grab a meal before or after a game, and which famous quarterback the Falcons drafted in 1991 and quietly traded a year later. Some the most critical moments and important facts about past and present players, coaches, and teams that are part of the storied history that is Falcons football are also shared. Fans who bleed red, black, and silver will particularly enjoy reading about some of the more colorful and unique personalities such as Deion Sanders, Jamal Anderson, Eric Dickerson, Dan Reeves, and Michael Vick. Whether a die-hard from the Norm Van Brocklin era or a new supporter of Mike Smith and Matt Ryan, any fan will value this collection of all of the things Atlanta fans should actually see and do in their lifetime.

Pappy: The Gentle Bear is the story of a coach who won chapionships at Kansas State, Northwestern and Cal, then moved on to the San Francisco 49'ers as personnel guru. He became perhaps the most important catalyst for coooperation between university communities and the fledgiling NFL.

Buck Buchanan was the beloved equipment manager for the Dallas Cowboys for twenty-five years, during which time the Cowboys won four of their five Super Bowls led by such legendary stars as Roger Staubach, Hollywood Henderson, Randy White, Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Bob Hayes, Lee Roy Jordan, and of course larger-than-life coach Tom Landry. In these pages Buchanan provides a unique behind-the-scenes look at America's Team, from the logistics of moving equipment for away games, to the proclivities and needs of individual players.

Each year, more than 575 awards and trophies are presented to college football players and coaches around the country. This comprehensive reference offers detailed descriptions of each of these awards followed by a full list of winners through 2010. All levels of competition are covered, including the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, NCAA Division II, NCAADivision III, NAIA, and community and junior colleges. From major honors like the Heisman Trophy, to level-specific awards such as the NCAA Division I Lou Groza Award, to conference prizes like SEC Offensive Player of the Year, this work celebrates the highest accolades of college football and the talented men upon whom they have been bestowed.

The Special Relationship: The History of American Football in the United Kingdom charts the arrival and development of gridiron football on this side of the Atlantic. This comprehensive account presents the story across three key sections, outlining how and why the sport became so popular in Britain - from the first match at Crystal Palace back in 1910 to the birth of the incredibly popular International Series, which has become a permanent fixture in the NFL regular season. It covers every match played in London from 2007 to 2021, with anecdotes intertwined throughout to bring the deeper NFL history, its greatest players and franchises to life. The book also tells the unique tales of the British players who have played in the NFL, with each player providing special insight into their journey from Britain to the National Football League. The Special Relationship is the captivating story of how the sport arrived on the doorstep of America's great allies - and survived to become the ever-growing presence it is today.

As seen on TikTok, from Samantha Towle, the New York Times bestselling author of Ruin, comes a the next dramatically powerful and passionate novel in the Gods series. Readers are raving about Rush! 'Epic. Loved every word, and Sam Towle proves yet again a true veteran in the art of contemporary romance' 'Her characters are always amazing and her stories leave you wanting more.....enjoy the read!!' 'Every expectation was surpassed and I devoured this book in a day' 'A phenomenal book' .............................................................................. 'With the first pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select . . .' It's been three years since quarterback Ares Kincaid's NFL dream came true, and he's living the high life. The days of cleaning up after his drunk of a father are long gone, and he has no intention of going back. A car crash and DUI charge meant a lengthy stint in rehab for Arianna Petrelli, and her dream of being a professional artist slips further away when she's sacked from her position at a gallery. Her need for a job stronger even than her dislike of football, Ari goes to work for her father, the head coach of the New York Giants. Ares hates alcoholics, which is fine with Ari because she thinks he's a brainless jock. Yet when Ares rescues Ari from a situation with her ex-boyfriend, an unlikely friendship begins - one that quickly becomes more. But messing around with the coach's daughter can only lead to one thing . . . trouble. .............................................................................. The Gods series begins with Ruin - out now! Plus, don't miss any of Samantha Towle's sensational love stories, including the romantic comedy Breaking Hollywood, the sizzling beach romance, The Two Week Stand, and many more! Just some of he incredible praise for Ruin: 'A moving and fan-yourself-worthy love story' USA Today's Happy Ever After 'Samantha Towle at her best' 'Wow! What a story, I can't even begin to tell you just how much I loved . . . this mind blowing book' 'I adored this story! . . . Samantha Towle really knows how to make her characters jump out of the page and into our hearts as their journey becomes our own' 'I love a good second chance romance story and this one was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G'

The 1958 Baltimore Colts were one of the greatest teams in professional football history. Owned by the controversial Carroll Rosenbloom, and led by head coach Weeb Ewbank and 6 future Hall of Fame players-Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, Lenny Moore, Jim Parker, Art Donovan, and Gino Marchetti-they were the winners of the 1958 NFL title game, defeating the New York Giants at Yankee Stadium in the first sudden death championship game in NFL history, often called the greatest game ever played. The 1958 NFL title game was a seminal moment in pro football history, laying the foundation with the American public for the ultra-popular spectacle that pro football would become. The saga of the 1958 Baltimore Colts is a story of redemption. The 1958 Colts were a talented group of players. Many had been rejected, disrespected, and underappreciated at various points in their careers. Loved and respected by the blue collar fans of Baltimore, they came together and overcame adversity on and off the field to defeat the Giants and win the 1958 NFL title. This book tells the complete story of the 1958 Colts and the Charm City's love affair with the team.

Peyton Manning is America s quarterback. And America loves a great comeback story. Less than two years after Manning was fired from the Indianapolis Colts, he led the Denver Broncos to the Super Bowl and won pro football s Most Valuable Player award for the fifth time. In 2013, Manning broke the league record for touchdown passes in a single season, despite a body weakened by multiple neck surgeries that threatened to end his career. Manning did it against all odds, in a manner inspirational to any football fan or anybody who has ever lost a job and been forced to start over. This second edition of No Plan B follows Manning s remarkable season with the Broncos on a wild ride to the championship game. Through it all, from the suspension of a star teammate and the heart ailment of his head coach, Manning carried the Broncos to 15 victories, and even in an agonizing defeat at the Super Bowl, reminded us why he is one of America s most beloved role models. Retire? No way. At age 38, Manning s lone goal is: Win it all."

In the 1870s, Gus Hornsby spread the game of American football around the world like an evangelist and helped establish American football in the heartland of the U.S. Hornsby seemed destined for greatness as a groundbreaking journalist, inventor, explorer and entrepreneur. His arrogance, greed and an intractable gambling addiction, however, drove him to criminality and cast him into obscurity. But this public ruin led to his greatest accomplishment in prison: personal redemption.Surprisingly, Hornsby's meteoric rise and fall intersected with towering influencers of the time, including the women and men who would pioneer the "first-wave" feminist movement in the United States. This book explores their unexpected connections and interweaves their stories--along with details from the first American football game in the Midwest, a match at Northwestern University--to reveal elements of a pivotal moment in American history, both in feminism and sports. More than a biography of a person navigating nineteenth-century America, it is a story about America--brash, imaginative and seemingly limitless in resources and creativity, but overly self-assured and wildly reckless.