Heart Stoppers and Hail Marys: 100 of the Greatest College Football Finishes, 1970-1999 [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ted Mandell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 2000

A college football fan's ultimate dream come true. Full of exciting moments.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ted Mandell is a faculty member in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre at the University of Notre Dame, where he teaches film and video production. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame in 1986 and Maser of Arts degree in Broadcasting and Film from the University of Iowa in 1989. Ted has produced video segments on college football for Prime Sports Network and the College Football Hall of Fame. His documentary on little league baseball, I Coach Wendy’s, can be found in the library at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Although he spent four years as a member of the Notre Dame Marching Band, Ted has never set foot on the gridiron as a player. His only athletic claims to fame are a four-year, 59-game winning streak as a little league baseball coach, and his plastic trophy as part of the 1998 World Whiffleball Championship team.

He resides in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife KeriAnn and their new son, Joel.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 356 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing (December 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888698322
• ISBN-13: 978-1888698329
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,356,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Might stop your heart!, September 27, 2006

By 

wolfeye (LI, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart Stoppers and Hail Marys: 100 of the Greatest College Football Finishes, 1970-1999 (Hardcover)

As the Tampa Tribune observed, "If college football is the greatest sport -- and it is -- then HEART STOPPERS AND HAIL MARYS is one of the greatest books on the subject." I found this to be an understatement; HS&HM is more than that, it's a testimonial to indomitable human spirit -- you know, "never-say-die."

Some examples: the 1982 U Cal - Stanford game (where the contest came down to perhaps the craziest final four seconds in history). Some of you may remember... Down 19-17, QB John Elway led his Stanford team into field goal range and Mark Harmon booted it to give Stanford a 20-19 lead with FOUR SECONDS left. The Cardinal celebrated and the band poured onto the field. Get the book to see and hear those final, lateral-filled seconds and the Bears' winning touchdown [or was it?!]

My son-in-law ["Syracuse Forever!!"] will glory in another of Ted's Heart Stoppers: It's 1998 at the Carrier Dome. Virginia Tech and Syracuse battle for a Big East championship and major Bowl possibility. Tech leads 21-6 at the half, but the Orange battle back to within four points (22-26). There, however, Tech's great Defense holds and Syracuse is down to five seconds, 13 yards to go for a TD. QB Donovan McNabb has vomited three times, how can he overcome that and this Tech defense (No. 5 in the country)? Hey, get Ted's book and find out...

Oh, heck, McNabb found TE Stephen Brominski in the end zone and somehow completed the pass that toppled Tech, helped Syracuse to eventually win the Big East title and a date in the '98 Orange Bowl. McNabb is the only player ever to be named Big East player of the year three times.

Ok, that's just two of 116 incredible stories, what a book!

5.0 out of 5 stars Scintillating Finales, May 28, 2004

By 

Jeff W Traylor (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heart Stoppers and Hail Marys: 100 of the Greatest College Football Finishes, 1970-1999 (Hardcover)

This book is a great compilation of late game heroics in college football. The writer sets the stage for each scintillating finale with a few pages then cuts to describing the play itself. The beauty of the book is the included CD which contains the radio calls from these game defining plays. I am an LSU fan and there are two LSU games (both wins thank goodness) in the book and on the CD. I was at one of the games and being able to listen and relieve the moment is a treat. Anyone who loves a fantastic finish should get this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars For every college football fan!, January 11, 2001

By 

"uklover21" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart Stoppers and Hail Marys: 100 of the Greatest College Football Finishes, 1970-1999 (Hardcover)

Hi. I just wanted to tell you this is an awsome college football book I just got. The audio cd takes you back to the game and makes you feel like your really there. Another cool thing that I thought was so interesting about this book was how it doesn't just inclued the play but it tells the before,the aftermath, and the stats of each play. This includes things like how these teams ended up doing for that season and what the players did after college. I enjoyed a whole lot. I hope that other college football fans can get to read so that they can dont miss out on the enjoyment that I had getting caught up in the plays especailly by listening to them on the audio cd. It is also cool how the book doesn't just include division 1 teams but teams that only people from the teams area have heard of! I loved it!