Resurrection: The Miracle Season That Saved Notre Dame [Hardcover]

Jim Dent (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Jim Dent, author of the New York Times bestselling The Junction Boys returns with the remarkable and inspiring story of one of the biggest comebacks in college football history.

 

Back in the 1960s, Notre Dame’s football program was in shambles. For five straight years, from 1958 through 1963, the home of Knute Rockne and Frank Leahy could not produce one winning season. Plagued by a series of bad coaching choices, inept management, and a loss of institutional support, no one could be sure if the Fighting Irish would ever return to glory. When “Touchdown Jesus” was erected in 1964, it presided over a team so hopeless that the entire football program was on the brink of collapse.

Little did anyone know, help was on its way in the form of Ara Parseghian, a controversial choice for head coach---the first one outside of the Notre Dame “family”---who had only set foot on Notre Dame soil when his football teams played (and won) there. It was now his responsibility to rebuild the once-proud program and teach the Fighting Irish how to win again. This was no small task.

The men of Notre Dame football were a bunch of unlikelies and oddballs, but Parseghian transformed them into a team: a senior quarterback who would win the Heisman Trophy two weeks before he picked up his first letter jacket; a five-foot-eight walk-on who would go on to make first team All-American; and an exceptionally rare black player, who would overcome much more than his quiet demeanor to rise to All-American, All-Pro, NFL Hall of Famer, and to justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Parseghian would change everything, from the uniforms and pads to the offensive strategy. He switched players from position to position like pieces on a chessboard, and just before the season opener, he hung a motto over the locker-room door:

 

What tho the odds

Be great or small

Notre Dame men

Will win over all

 

It would be a huge gamble against great obstacles, but Ara Parseghian had that look in his eye. . . .

New York Times bestselling author Jim Dent chronicles one of the greatest comeback seasons in the history of college football---the first season in what is known as the “Era of Ara.” Once again confirming his position as one of the top sportswriters in the country, Dent writes with passion, humor, and incredible insight, bringing the legends of Notre Dame football to life in an unforgettable story of second chances, determination, and unwavering spirit.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ara Parseghian, Notre Dame's first "outsider" coach-non-Catholic, not a Notre Dame alum-turned around a failing football tradition when he joined the university in 1963. To capture the way it was and communicate the sense of immense anticipation that greeted the young, driven coach, author and journalist Dent (The Junction Boys), an avid fan, researched past programs led by the legendary Knute Rockne and others, a strategy that sets the stage for his nail-biting saga, but makes for a choppy first quarter. Once he settles into the season, Dent does a masterful job recreating games without ever forgetting the human details; for example, Parseghian's fierce integrity drove him to get rid of a remarkably promising player: "I hated to let a player like Dave go...but I could see the players walking a little taller. They knew that we were serious as we could be about turning the team around." Dent's characters take on the dimensions of true and winning people; by the time the where-are-the-now epilogue rolls around, readers will consider them something like old friends. 8 pages color photos.
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Review

Praise for Jim Dent and Resurrection

“Dent interviewed Parseghian as well as many of the surviving players and painstakingly researched the newspaper and national press coverage the team received during its Phoenix-like resurrection. The genuinely engaging game accounts—usually momentum killers in sports books—are peppered with specific player memories that add urgency and excitement…we have an inspirational underdog saga, humor, pathos, tragedy, and triumph.” –Booklist

“Dent does a masterful job recreating games without ever forgetting the human details…Dent's characters take on the dimensions of true and winning people; by the time the where-are-they-now epilogue rolls around, readers will consider them something like old friends.” –Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312567219
• ISBN-13: 978-0312567217
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #406,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jim Dent is a New York Times bestselling author who has written nine books. "The Junction Boys'' became a NYT bestseller in 1999 and was made into a movie by ESPN in 2002. Dent covered the Dallas Cowboys for thirteen years before embarking on his book-writing career with a biography of Jerry Jones titled "King Of The Cowboys.'' His latest book, "Courage Beyond The Game,'' focuses on the life of Freddie Steinmark, who contracted cancer while playing for the Texas Longhorns in the late 1960s. Steinmark played the entire 1969 season with an osteosarcoma in his left thighbone. In spite of the tremendous pain, Steinmark left the field only once in the final regular season game against Arkansas. Texas defeated Arkansas 15-14 in the "Game Of The Century'' and went on to defeat Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. Steinmark's story has been compared to "Brian's Song'' and is expected to reach the big screen in 2012. For more information on Dent, check out his Facebook page, or go to Superbowltexasstyle.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ND 1964 - Onward to Victory, September 1, 2009

By 

Charles Gales (lancaster, Pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Resurrection: The Miracle Season That Saved Notre Dame (Hardcover)

The Struggling Irish of Notre Dame closed out their disastrous 1963 season with a 2-7 record after losing to Syracuse at Yankee Stadium. Could things get any worse in the post-Leahy era? Fortunately, the Fighting Irish experienced a "Resurrection" in 1964 following the hiring of Ara Parseghian as head football coach.

Jim Dent does a masterful job of setting the scene with his account of the demise of the Notre Dame football program. His character development focuses on a group of lesser known players and follows them through their introduction to Ara and unexpected success in 1964. More familiar players (e.g. Huarte, Snow, Page and Lynch) appear throughout, but the amazing part of this story is in how Ara and his coaches were able to craft a plan and execute it with a group of players that had been totally demoralized by the previous regimes.

The controversial close of the 1964 season (at USC, of course) deepens the bond of friendship and teamwork in the underclassmen that manifests itself in a National Championship two years later. So much has been written about Notre Dame's championship seasons. This book is unique since it digs deep into how a program can be completely turned around (perhaps a blueprint for 2009?).

Dent's writing structure flows smoothly with generous use of direct quotes from team members. His game accounts are intensified by the personal struggles of the main characters. This book is a must-read for any fan of college football. It will also be enjoyed by anyone interested in how purpose-driven leadership can instill excellence in a group of young men.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read about an Awesome Coach and Team -- A "Must Read" for College Football Fans (especially Domers!), September 1, 2009

By 

Cinci Book Lover (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Resurrection: The Miracle Season That Saved Notre Dame (Hardcover)

If you love college football, you'll find this a great read -- and if you love Notre Dame, too, you'll be in heaven. The detailed and well researched story of how Ara developed as a coach and ended up at Notre Dame is terrific football history, as is the full story of the ugly ineptitude that was the ND football program just prior to his arrival. I'm an ND fan, but was only a toddler when all this was happening in the early 60's, so it was quite an eye-opener for me. There was so much I didn't know, including the fact that John Huarte won the Heisman trophy before receiving his first Monogram Award (varsity letter). Amazing! The triumphant comeback story of the '64 Irish is filled with heart-warming human interest stories and inspiration -- not the least of which is the recounting of how Ara came in and restored a sense of fairness and dignity, along with strategic and tactical excellence. I've met a handful of men who played for Ara and have always been awed by their deep love for and steadfast loyalty to him. Now I understand why. The book also touches on his later work fundraising to find a cure for Niemann-Pick disease (which claimed the lives of 3 of his son Michael's 4 children). There's much to be admired in Ara Parseghian, and Jim Dent does a beautiful job of documenting a true gentleman and the hugely successful turnaround he engineered at Notre Dame.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A universally good read that offers a fresh perspective on a surprising story, September 16, 2009

By 

Patrick Downey (Philly, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Resurrection: The Miracle Season That Saved Notre Dame (Hardcover)

Jim Dent's "Resurrection" will obviously appeal to any and all Notre Dame football fans. But I would recommend this book for all readers, from casual football fans to those who couldn't tell a pigskin from a frying pan. Dent brilliantly weaves the personal stories of Nick Rassas, Tony Carey, John Huarte and others into the fabric of Notre Dame's 1964 season, doing so with an unassuming and personal touch that appeals on a variety of levels.

Dent sets the stage for the 1964 season not only by giving a brief history of Notre Dame football up to that point (no small task indeed), but also by examining the unique stories of the players, coaches, and administrators prior to that fabled season. These stories cause the reader to identify with the players, to feel their frustration during the Kuharich years, and to feel everything slowly begin to turn with the new regime.

Equally as impressive, Dent presents a deeper look into Parseghian, beyond simply the coach's on-field successes. Dent follows Parseghian from Northwestern to Notre Dame, and shows a glimpse of Parseghian's amazement at the players he finds at Notre Dame, and also the priceless interactions between Parseghian and his assistant coaches. Dent is able to truly capture the cultural change that occurred at Notre Dame in 1964, and does so using personal stories and perspectives that engage the reader and create a sense of ownership in the story.

Ultimately, this book is an excellent behind-the-scenes account of a group of players, coaches and people, who truly brought out the best in each other. While this manifested itself on the football field in "Resurrection", I think this story would resonate with anyone, regardless of your football inclinations.

If you are a Notre Dame fan, you must read this book. If you are not a Notre Dame fan, or not even a football fan, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you will find yourself invested in the young men chronicled in this book. You just may find yourself cheering along with and for their success. Kudos to Jim Dent for not only telling a wonderful story, but making his readers a part of "Resurrection" in the process.