Remember This Titan: Lessons Learned from a Celebrated Coach's Journey As Told to Steve Sullivan [Hardcover]

Bill Yoast (Author), Steve Sullivan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 2005

Bill Yoast is the real-life hero of Remember the Titans, the inspirational hit movie that chronicled the struggles of black and white high school football athletes to create a championship season in racially charged Alexandria, Virginia, in 1972. Will Patton played Yoast's role and Denzel Washington played the role of Head Coach Herman Boone. Uniting in a common effort, Yoast and Boone led T.C. Williams High School to an undefeated season, and in the process brought the school and polarized community together. The real-life Yoast is even more compelling than his film version. At one time, the former World War II veteran considered going into the ministry. Fortunately, for the hundreds of young men and women whose lives he helped mold, he found his calling in coaching. To him, the title "coach" always meant more than wins and losses; coaching was a vehicle through which he could help young people. One of Yoast's greatest victories came with Gerry Bertier, his star lineman whose tragic auto accident and resulting paralysis was seen in Remember the Titans. What the film did not include was the fact that, for years after the accident, Yoast worked with Bertier, coaching him to win gold medals in shotput and discus at the Wheel Chair Olympics.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, was desegregated in 1972, Yoast was replaced as head coach by Herman Boone, an African American. Yoast's pride was hurt, but he accepted an assistant coaching position. Together, he and Boone led their school to the state championship. It wasn't all hugs and kisses, but the coaches set aside their egos and worked past any racial tension; the kids followed their lead. If this all sounds familiar, it should. Disney made a successful movie about the 1972 Titans starring Denzel Washington and Will Patton. Yoast offers his personal recollections from that now-immortalized season as well as the coaching philosophy he developed in over 30 years of coaching. As in the how-to books penned by more famous coaches (Pitino, Krzyzewski, et al.), the homilies are standard issue: be honest, demand effort, expect excellence. What's interesting here, though, is Yoast's perspective: the professional memoir of a coach whose greatest rewards were the successful lives of those who learned valuable lessons from their athletic endeavors. The movie was good; this is better. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"This moving saga reveals how players and their coaches, functioning as a team, manage in the end to overcome their mistrust and animosity. The book speaks to the strengths of football, and it does so eloquently." (Boomer Esiason The Wall Street Journal )

"The story is not so much that of a high school football coach, but of a person who learned his greatest life lessons the hard way--by living them." (S. Wayne Carter Jr. The Daily Times Delmarvanow.Com )

While the film permits only a snapshot of the saga that has been Mr. Yoast's life, Mr. Sullivan's biography captures the spirit, the tragedies and the victories behind the icon... His candor is striking and apparent in the book, which is crafted with straight-talking honesty. As Richard Ardia writes in the forward, "Steve Sullivan tells it like it was and not the way it should have been." (Rebecca Ransom Litchfield County Times )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1St Edition edition (September 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589792785
• ISBN-13: 978-1589792784
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #920,524 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The movie was GOOD...the book is BETTER, December 9, 2005

By 

Richard St Arromand "d. Richard" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Remember This Titan: Lessons Learned from a Celebrated Coach's Journey As Told to Steve Sullivan (Hardcover)

On the surface, you'd be impressed by the record breaking achievements of the team that were highlighted in the movie. Yet what is truly fascinating is Coach Yoast's journey as a person and a leader. What you learn about great leaders is that they are human. They have real experiences that helped them gain valuable insight, which they then transcend to the rest of us. Coach Yoast has done just that. And this book does not fall short of this remarkable man's accomplishments.

The author does a fantastic job of drawing out the essence of a wonderful life's journey. In a style truly his own, Steve Sullivan gets right to the heart of the matter; never losing grasp of your attention.

I read this book in one sitting. I flipped the last page only to find that I had reached the end of the journey. I realized immediately that although I had reached the end, the lessons and character of Coach Yoast will live on with me for a long long time.

Thank you for the inspiration.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!!, July 11, 2006

By 

Margaret B. Stewart "Peggy" (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Remember This Titan: Lessons Learned from a Celebrated Coach's Journey As Told to Steve Sullivan (Hardcover)

Remember This Titan, is a wonderful accounting of Bill Yoast's life, ups and downs, the expected and the unexpected. It is the story of a man who LIVED decency long before it was fashionable. The success of the team, both on the field and in their interpersonal relationships, was nurtured by the presence of this fine teacher, leader and coach. In a time when schools go out of their way to emphasize that character counts, this is a fine, enjoyable book to share with the children/students in your life. There are so many valuable lessons, from Mary's impact on Coach Yoast to the profound influence of Raymond Tetfeller on Yoast's young life. This book is beautifully written. It flows with astonishing honesty from humor to heart-wrenching pain. Sullivan has an obvious knowledge, understanding and respect for Coach Yoast. As if all of the above isn't enough, there are action plans and lists of invaluable facts in the back. Remember This Titan is a great read which has had a lasting impact on me. p.s. I had a student at the end of the year say, "Hey, Ms. Stewart are YOU reading a football book, cool!" Enjoy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leadership at it highest level., March 27, 2006

By 

Mike V. "Mike" (Orlando, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Remember This Titan: Lessons Learned from a Celebrated Coach's Journey As Told to Steve Sullivan (Hardcover)

Unbelievable leadership. This book is a must read. Everything in this book is a positive way to live and look at life, not just coach. Coach Yoast's book is now on my list of gifts to buy for my own coaching staff.