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Bowled Over: Big-Time College Football from the Sixties to the BCS Era

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Michael Oriard, a former Notre Dame and Kansas City Chief player writes, what is essentially a history of big-time college football from the 60's to the beginnings of today's big bowl championships. For those who believe in a scholar athlete he says proposing reforms is a fool's task.
There are some interesting charts and statistics included that compare and show SAT scores , graduation rates, the college program's expenses and revenues.
He includes some interesting points: how the jocks of the 60's became the law and order types - the straight guys as opposed to the hippies and protestors, even the NCAA supported the Vietnam War. The problems of integrating college football, and the beginnings of player protests are covered. He sums up a huge factor in the change of college football because of the introduction of the one year scholarship where it was contingent on the coach's satisfaction with the athlete, not his academic scholarship. The grade scandals are covered as is the player's growing sense of entitlement and bad, even criminal behavior.

All of this is not news for anyone who even half way listens to the sports news, but it is somewhat of an eye-opener to see the facts gathered here. It can be a depressing book for those with an optimistic and glorified picture of college football; but anyone interested in sports, especially football and even the social history of the changes brought about by the 60's might enjoy reading this book.