Customer Reviews

'59: The Story of the 1959 Syracuse University National Championship Football Team

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This book is a valuable resource in that the story of the 1959 national champion Syracuse Orange needed to be told. The information gathered in the various interviews is informative and revealing.

That said, was no one assigned to copyedit or fact-check this book? The errors jump out at you from the second sentence of chapter one (where "its" is spelled "it's") and continue throughout, to chapter 19 (where "we're" is spelled "were").

Errors of fact abound, such as referring to Oklahoma coach Bud Wilkinson as "Wilkerson" and Pitt coach John Micheloson as "Michelson." Photos of SU vs. Maryland are misidentified as SU vs. Penn State. And I don't believe the University of Kansas ever used the nickname "Jayhawkers" as the book claims; nor was the Kansas coach in 1959, Jack Mitchell, an All-America at Oklahoma (at least not a consensus All-America).

The book even concludes with an error (of ommission). The final page has a list of "1959 Syracuse University Football Team Statistics," categories in which the team led the nation, such as 451.5 yards/game total offense and 39 points/game scoring. However, the listing "Touchdowns -- 21" should be "Passing Touchdowns."

-- Jon C. Halter
Euless, TX
5.22.07

The book was a factual account of the players, coaches and games that led to the National Championship of College Football in 1959. Interesting quotes from both players and coaches, both living and deceased. I enjoyed it immensely.