Customer Reviews

Bowls, Polls, and Tattered Souls: Tackling the Chaos and Controversy That Reign over College Football

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thanks to my profession, I know about Mickey Mouse. But I never knew about all the Mickey Mouse shenanigans in college football until I read this book. For example, the author writes about how, in the 1960s, the Notre Dame publicity director changed the pronunciation of quarterback Joe Theismann's last name so that it rhymed with "Heisman" -- even though the family had always pronounced it "thees-man."

But there's much, much more. Mandel uses his behind-the-scenes access and years of experience to shed light on some of the most controversial, confusing and downright Goofy topics in the sport. Specifically:

* The Bowl Championship Series, and how it works -- or doesn't!
* The often arbitrary and unfair way voters rank teams in the polls
* How the Heisman Trophy winner is picked, and when the system first jumped the shark
* How FireRonZook.com changed how coaches are fired
* Why Notre Dame occupies its holier-than-thou spot above all other teams
* The influence of the Internet on college recruiting
* Why the Big Ten has 11 teams
* The plethora of post-season bowl games, and their weird and wacky names
* The unpredictability of the NFL draft
* Why one school's tawdry scandals catch the NCAA's notice, while others gets off scott free

I devoured every page. As a Florida State fan, my soul has been tattered many times in the past few years, but it wasn't that long ago that the bowls and polls just loved us (just ask Notre Dame). To sum up. I think any college football fan will love this book. Mandel's affection for the game is obvious, and his stories are consistently enlightening, entertaining and funny.

I thought I knew most of the politics, etc involved in bowls, polls, BCS, etc just by reading Stewart's column (among others)...but the book offers clear & detailed explanations on all subject matter covered, and made me realize I knew very little about college football's inner-workings & politics....geez, hard to believe there were so few bowl games just 11
yrs ago. Love the chapter on ND & how they became so popular - with the explanation stemming from their exploits 80+ years ago.

"(NFL) scouts are to football what the third base coach is to baseball - an excuse for a whole bunch of old-timers to stay a part of the fraternity and collect a paycheck to boot." - Stewart Mandel

There are two U.S. sport seasons: Football and No Football. As far as I'm concerned, it's even a finer point than that: College Football and No College Football. BOWLS, POLLS & TATTERED SOULS tells me more than I thought I wanted to know about the collegiate game. But, now that I've read this book by "Sports Illustrated" writer Stewart Mandel, I'm so very glad that I did. It's a completely absorbing volume that I devoured over two days. I wish it was longer.

Mandel examines ten of college pigskin's greatest ongoing controversies, one per chapter:

1. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) - how we got to this impasse, who supports it and doesn't, and why it's not likely to change dramatically anytime soon.

2. The team ranking system - its evolution, politics, and how it's affected by the BCS.

3. The Heisman Trophy - its history, and why it's become a media exposure contest not necessarily based on playing ability.

4. The hiring and firing of coaches, particularly the latter - the growth of their salaries and the precariousness of their tenures (or "What have you done lately?").

5. Notre Dame - what makes this independent university so damn special that it has BCS equality with the Pac-10, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC and Big East?

6. The recruiting of top high school players - the stand-alone spectacle it's become, and the impact of the Web.

7. The formation of, and school re-alignments with, conferences - it's all about money, particularly TV revenue $. (Say it ain't so, Joe!)

8. Post season bowls - their history, why there are so many, and the team motivation (or not) to participate.

9. NFL recruiting - the joke that it's become.

10. Scandals - who the perps are and why the NCAA doesn't necessarily have jurisdiction (much less care).

Mandel being an ultimate insider himself, his book should be required reading for all the insider-wannabe fan(atic)s who populate the off-field margins of the sport and who come off their couches in droves to demonstrate vociferously with torches, pitchforks, tar and feathers whenever their favorite teams, coaches, or players are perceived to have been criticized unfairly or gotten a raw deal in the polls or BCS standings. While BP&TS won't make such partisans more reasonable, it will perhaps raise their stridency level and make the collegiate football season even more deliciously confrontational and loud than it already is. I love it!

I myself have followed USC on and off - mostly off - since the late 60s when I numbered among my friends several who graduated from the university and got me interested in the Trojans' game at the time OJ was still a hero and not a bum. I've never been a fan(atic), but rather now follow the extraordinary career of Coach Pete Carroll and his gridiron squads much as one would intellectually admire the craftwork of an expert glass blower or master stonemason. In the doldrum years of such head coaches as Ted Tollner and Paul Hackett, I couldn't be bothered. I'm a Fair Weather Adherent, and proud of it. (Would I switch allegiance to the UCLA Bruins if their new coach proves as succesful as Uncle Pete? Most assuredly not. Who can root for a team whose colors include powder blue for Chrissakes!) But even I found BP&TS enormously satisfying and interesting for the insider knowledge it imparts and will better appreciate the moment at the beginning of the 2008 season when USC charges onto the field to beat the Bandini out of its first opponent, Virginia.

Fight On!

In a profession that seems defined by 'shock-jocks', hype and opinions that pass as facts, Stewart has a made a name for himself by consistently providing well written analysis and perspective to college football fans through his weekly 'Mailbag' at si.com.

In Bowls/Polls, he takes on some of the more controversial and universal issues affecting the game. These are the issues that are discussed each and every week during the season but that lie beneath the surface of the game as it's played on the field. Stewart brings these issues to light - and few look better for his effort - in a way that is entertaining, educational and that, somehow, managed to enhance my appreciation and enjoyment of the game.

It's not your typical college football book - when was the last time you saw the word 'lavaliering' in print (as someone who worked full-time to get through school, it was a first for me and I still don't know how to pronounce it) - and that's why I recommend the book. It's a good read, on a great topic from an unusual perspective by a knowledgeable and writer.

I have been reading Mandel's columns and Mailbags for 3 years now and love his writing style. His book BP&TS has all of what makes his writing great on [...] plus even more detail than you can get into an online column.

The book provides a wonderful inside look at the politics of college football. You understand (kind of) the motivations of the bowl system after reading this book. It makes for fascinating reading.

I really like the snarky asides he puts into the book. The footnotes are almost more entertaining than the regular text.

Overall, an excellent buy and a good Christmas present for anyone on your Christmas list that loves college football.

Bowls, Polls, and Tattered Souls is the definitive guide to the current state of College Football. Featuring a comprehensive break down of the BCS, Rankings, Recruiting, Notre Dame and Cheating, Stewart Mandel explains the state of the game so that anyone from a die hard war eagle screaming fanatic to a casual observer is engrossed in the maelstrom that is college football.

Mandel brings a previously unheard of objective approach to the madness that is college football. This book is a must read for both the oil tycoon with the hundred dollar handshake as well as the ivory tower academia that is infuriated that the uncouth behemoths paid for his proton accelerator.

The allegiance of College Football Fans to their team / conference / region (in that order) is well documented. Pro football apparel is seen during the fall but College team apparel is seen year round because of the unending devotion of fan to their team/program.

Stewart Mandel tackles 10 major issues that confront College Football. The birthing of the BCS, Rankings, Notre Dame, Conference realignments, Bowl alliances, Recruiting, Cheating, he? "won" the Heisman, the online phenomena of firemycoach.com, and ephasis on the "40 yard time". These issues drive many fans to unbridled angst breeding behavior that borders on mob mentality (Acts 19:32). Historical and recent data/facts are laid out in a concise straight forward easy to understand manner, that favors no team while not impugning any team/program.

If approached without bias, BP&TS gives a reader unparalled access to the inner sanctums of College Football that will help open minded fans understand "why" issues are the way they are. A fan may not agree with issues of "why" but will understand issues of "why" presented by Mandel.

After reading BP&TS, you will understand Mandel's statement and reasoning that "No one is in Charge of College Football" which further fuels the mob mentality.

This book is for the true college football fan.It is a rehash into the deeper issues that pertain to this sport. For someone not familiar with the recent bowl situations, the history of the game, or the nuances of college sports, i would not highly recommend this book. It can get a little tedious with numbers and poll rankings, but more than makes up with that with the insightful observations of the author.Mr.Mandel is an excellent journalist who has a very sarcastic tone, and doesn't take himself too seriously. Especially worthwhile were the stories pertaining to the holier-than-thou Notre Dame football factory. It was a pleasure to read an honest appraisal of the college sports climate from an astute observer.

Great book by Stewart Mandel! He nails why college football is such a staple of American life & all the stuff that comes with it, good and bad! Very informative & intriguing...with events & dates that I didn't know about.

This book was great fun. Granted, I'm a fan of Mandel's SI mailbag but every chapter was a great snapshot on the current landscape of college football. This is a must read for any college football fan. The book will keep you laughing and nodding your head in agreement. Hope there is more to come.