Smash-Mouth: My Football Journey from Trenton to Canton [Hardcover]

Elvin Bethea (Author), Bum Phillips (Foreword), Mark Adams (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

Smash-mouth football was just another day at the office during the heyday of professional football in the 1960s and 1970s. Elvin Bethea began his pro career with the Houston Oilers of the AFL in 1968 when the upstart league was filled with colorful characters and brilliantly gifted players who had finally proven they were "good enough" to compete with the NFL. After the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970, one of the most exciting decades in pro football history was underway. Smash-Mouth the story of Bethea's journey from a life of rural poverty in Trenton, New Jersey, to his All-American college football career at North Carolina A&T, where segregation still ruled the South. Smash-Mouth takes Bethea from potential Olympic track stardom in 1968 to his legendary pro football career where he earned his reputation as one of the most feared and dangerous defensive linemen in NFL history. From classic playoff battles with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978 and 1979 to off-the-field exploits with some of football's most eccentric characters, Smash-Mouth culminates in Bethea's greatest ultimate honor-his long overdue induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. Along the way, Bethea's story is filled with candid assessments of the talents and personalities of some of the greatest names in 1970s football-Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath, O.J. Simpson, Archie Manning, Earl Campbell, Dan Fouts, Franco Harris, Bum Phillips, Dan Pastorini, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Chuck Noll, Hank Stram, Art Shell, Anthony Munoz, Kenny Houston, John Mackey, and many, many more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Elvin Bethea was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1946 and was the first of nine children. After graduating from Trenton High School, where he held national track honors in shot put and discus throw, Bethea attended North Carolina A&T in Greensboro on an athletic scholarship. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Bethea was drafted by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League in 1968. During his 16 years with the Oilers, he set team records for games played (210), seasons played, and Pro Bowl appearances (eight). Bethea led the team in quarterback sacks six times, including a career-best mark of 18 in 1976. After retirement from the NFL, the Oilers retired his jersey number (No. 65) and honored him with an Elvin Bethea Appreciation Night on August 4, 1983. Almost 20 years later to the day, Bethea was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mark Adams received his bachelor's degree in English from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and his master's degree in theatre and English from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Since 1995, he has been artistic director of the College of the Mainland Community Theatre in Texas City, Texas.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Sports Publishing (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158261881X
• ISBN-13: 978-1582618814
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,021,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars solid book by a solid man, October 15, 2005

By 

michael hammonds (lawton ok) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smash-Mouth: My Football Journey from Trenton to Canton (Hardcover)

smashmouth is a very easy read. tells the story of elvin bethea and the houston oilers from 1968-1983. i loved the oilers teams back in the late 70's who could not get past pittsburgh (ahh). really enjoyed the book especially the chapter on the great teams in the 70's and his trip to peru. the trip to peru really made all the guys who went look like normal people. highly recommend this book for any fan of the houston oilers or the NFL of the great decade of the 70's.

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY GOOD READ, June 21, 2008

By 

COOL JEWEL (MACEDONIA, OHIO USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Smash-Mouth: My Football Journey from Trenton to Canton (Hardcover)

FORMER HOUSTON OILER ELVIN BETHEA DOES A GREAT JOB TELLING US HIS STORY. HE HAS SOME AMUSING AND VERY INTERESTING STORIES ABOUT HIS CAREER. I AM A CLEVELAND BROWNS FANS AND I CAN REMEMBER HIS BATTLES WITH OFFENSIVE TACKLE DOUG DIEKEN IN THE TRENCHES. ELVIN WAS A GREAT PLAYER AND FINALLY WAS VOTED IN THE HALL OF FAME. TOWARDS THE END OF HIS BOOK, ELVIN RATES WHO HE THOUGHT WAS THE BEST AT OFFENSIVE POSITIONS THAT HE HAS FACED. I CONSIDERED HIS TELLING OF THE PLAYOFF GAMES AGAINST PITTSBURGH ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT OF THIS BOOK. (TOO BAD THE OILERS LOST TWICE TO THE STEELER DYNASTY) FOR ALL OILER AND FOOTBALL FANS.