The Bootlegger's Boy [Hardcover]

Barry Switzer (Author), Bud Shrake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1990

As head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, Barry Switzer was the fourth most successful coach in NCAA history. Both praised and reviled by the media as the "outlaw" of college football, Switzer was characterized as the "greatest rogue, pirate, hustler, and con man" ever to command a football team. Here, Switzer gets the chance to tell it all from his point of view. 2 cassettes.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In June 1989, player misconduct and allegations of recruiting violations forced the resignation of eminently successful gridiron coach Switzer. In this explicit autobiography, the poor boy from the Arkansas swamp bottoms answers his critics while providing a game-by-game rundown of his 16-year career at the University of Oklahoma. He discusses his groundbreaking enlistment of black players, explains the "feud" with Texas coach Darrell Royal, condemns the hypocrisy of big-time college athletics, and berates sportswriters who base stories on opinion, not factual investigation. Necessary for sports and black history collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/90. See also Charles Thompson's Down and Dirty , reviewed in this issue, below.
- Kim Holston, American Inst. for Property and Liability Underwriters, Malvern, Pa.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow & Co; 1St Edition edition (August 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688093841
• ISBN-13: 978-0688093846
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Read from "The King", April 28, 2004

By 

D. Mikels "It's always Happy Hour here" (Skunk Holler) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bootlegger's Boy (Hardcover)

Love him or hate him, Barry Switzer is a college football icon. Published a year after his banishment from the University of Oklahoma (following a series of turbulent off-the-field incidents), Switzer tells all in his rousing autobigraphy, BOOTLEGGER'S BOY.

The title is not an exaggeration; Switzer's father was a womanizing, hard-drinking Arkansas bootlegger, while his quiet mother battled mental problems and an addiction of her own. Able to overcome such dysfunction (and some of his family tales are fascinating), Switzer was able to utilize his athletic ability to play football at the University of Arkansas under legendary coach Frank Broyles. When his college career was over, Switzer realized his calling was coaching; Broyles gave him the opportunity by letting the young lineman join his coaching staff. In the mid-60s firebrand coach Jim MacKenzie was hired to restore the football "monster" at OU, a monster that the great Wilkinson had created. MacKenzie offered Switzer a position on his coaching staff; Switzer became a Sooner, and the seeds of destiny were sewn.

Chuck Fairbanks, succeeding MacKenzie (who died tragically after just a year on the job), promoted Switzer to offensive coordinator. Switzer writes he was looking for an offense to revolutionize college football; an unorthodox, high-risk option offense, known as the "wishbone," captured his attention. Switzer installed the offense and the Sooners took off, figuratively and literally, as NCAA rushing records were shattered. When Fairbanks bolted in 1973 to go to the NFL, Switzer was handed the keys to the OU program, and the rest, as they say in the Sooner Nation, is history.

For sixteen seasons, Switzer commanded a college football powerhouse; during his tenure the Sooners captured twelve Big Eight championships and three national championships. Switzer attributes his success to his Arkansas upbringing; growing up, most of his friends and neighbors were African-Americans. As a result, Switzer was more than comfortable approaching black athletes--at a time when other major programs were tentatively recruiting minorities--while reassuring parents that he would take good care of their sons. His recruiting redefined collegiate athletics, opening the doors for black athletes nationwide to participate in Division One football.

Switzer's affection for his players is genuine. Page after page, account after account, the King (as he's known by Sooner diehards) fondly recalls his relationships with a plethora of All-Americans: the Selmon brothers; Joe Washington; Billy Sims; Tony Casillas; J.C. Watts; Keith Jackson; Brian Bosworth. Switzer was no stern disciplinarian, he readily admits it, and this "lack" of discipline created a perception of an outlaw program--a perception that came home to roost in 1989, when he was forced to resign by the OU administration during a series of troubling incidents that ultimately put the Sooners under NCAA probation.

Switzer defiantly addresses the NCAA allegations, refuting some and pleading "guilty" to others. To enhance his arguments, he points to antiquated NCAA regulations (and keep in mind, this book was written years ago), regulations that, Switzer maintains, permeate a double standard. As an example, Switzer argues, why is it permissible for a chemistry professor to dig into his pocket and buy an airplane ticket for a homesick student during Christmas break, but not an athletic coach? Switzer's defense, along with his account of the events leading up to his ouster, make for fascinating page turning.

Praise him or revile him, Barry Switzer's mark on college football is eternal, and BOOTLEGGER'S BOY is the King at his good ol' boy best. I only wish he would come back with a second edition describing his four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Three national championship rings and a Super Bowl ring. Not bad for a bootlegger's boy.
--D. Mikels

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bible for Sooner football fans, December 27, 2000

By 

V. Ravindran (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bootlegger's Boy (Paperback)

This book is something to be revered by Sooner fans. Barry's recounts of the great games and great people around OU's glorious runs in the 70s and 80s bears reading. I just re-read the book after keeping it down for a few years, and it just gets better with time. If any of you out there need ammo for those Barry bashers, you need this book. Barry Switzer is a great man, and every Sooner fan should remember that.

Barry covers his childhood, personal struggles, and his years at Arkansas. He then talks about those great 70s teams that we know get to see on ESPN Classic.

Probably the most interesting part is his line item by line item response to every NCAA violation that OU was found guilty of. Barry pulls no punches and is not afraid to admit guilt where he saw it. His candidness is something special.

You might find this book hard to find, but try your hardest and hit the auction sites, etc, you should be able to turn it up, and you won't be sorry.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book on Big time College Football, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bootlegger's Boy (Hardcover)

This book was great. It tells a lot about being a coach in a big time college football. Its the truth from Barry, one of the few coaches from Div I college football who wasnt born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Very inspirational, and tells about the terrors of administration. BOOMER SOONER!