Customer Reviews

Sports Illustrated: The College Football Book

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Well now you can! In picture! (It's still exciting!) Please be forewarned, this is not a book for people who want stats, game scores, leaders, records, anything that resembles numbers. If you want that, take a look at 50 Years of College Football: A Modern History of America's Most Colorful Sport, which is so exhaustive it belongs as a reference book. However, if you want fun readings, big pictures from all eras (heck, the helmets on the cover are fun to look at), and tribute the game itself, then this book is for you.

Even with the lack of information regarding my personal favorite team, there still is plenty of stuff. The pictures here are glossy, huge, and very colorful (or a very vibrant black and white). There's collisions, running, plays in action, some field storming, and pictures of Steve Spurrier when he was in college (!!!). The artifacts section is very cool, spanning helmets (the very first helmet is a scream), nose guards, and even the dirt of the first college football game played. On a side note, I also like the scoreboard of that Georgia Tech Vs. Cumberland game (220-0!). If you haven't noticed already, this book has a lot of perks. College football fans will appreciate all this book has to offer.

As far as writing goes, each era (20's to 00's, plus an "pre years" or something of that nature), which includes information about the era, dynasties of that time, Heisman winners, All-decade Teams, and "epic games". Scattered throughout are columns and essays written by various writers, on such topics like Herschel Walker, Steve Spurrier, OJ Simpson, Bear Bryant, Joe Paterno, Woody Haynes, Archie Manning (Why no Peyton Manning?), and Vince Young. They are nothing but well written, especially evident when you going for somebody like Rick Reiley. There's also a lengthy introduction.

This is really just a beautiful designed coffee table book. They do update this book every year, too, but that still doesn't deter anything from it. College Football fan? Bar none, own it.

Great gift idea for the college football fan in your life. Some wonderful new essays by SI staff to go along with many classic SI articles, and, of course, dozens and dozens of terrific photos. I read this book in just a few hours, and enjoyed every minute of it. Can't wait for what I hope will be a book on college basketball. All the recent SI books, such as the ones on pro baseball, pro football, pro basketball, and this one have been well worth the money....

This book has great photography, as you would expect from SI, but also some great writing, also not a surprise from SI. For the price, this was a steal and I would recommend it for every college football fan.

This book is so amazing! My wife and I are huge college football fans and I was excited when I first heard about this book because of our love for college football. We knew it would be a great addition to our coffee table books and it is a great book to have on the table during the fall because of all the rich history of college football that is in the book. I would highly recommend buying this book if you are a huge college football fan and enjoy learning about the early years of college football and how it has transformed into the sport it is today.

OK, its a big, heavy coffee table book (11" x 11.5", 2 lbs., 296 pages). Covers about 1890 to 2007 (5th volume). Filled with trivia (Flutie was 5'9 3/4"). Lots of clear action photos of unknown/small time as well as legendary/big time college players/coaches and a mix of schools (including 1AA). Outrageous photos of helmets & footballs over the years. Articles written "at that time". 12 game day program covers/decade. All decade teams, Heisman trophy winners, rushing and passing leaders, range of player nicknames. Decade dynasty team blurbs. Epic game summaries. Campus culture (what was being read/seen/heard/discussed at that time. Sure to bring back memories and provide a newer perspective for all fans. Not a book one can absorb in only one sitting. Somewhat random collection of photos so one can't guess what is on the next page. Something one is likely to review over and over again. Definitely well worth the price.

The most popular Christmas present received. Three generations of men have picked it up and poured through its pages.

Highly recommended. The book is fun to read and page through. You'll be able to position Red Grange, Jim Thorpe, Knute Rockne, Bear Bryant, Johnny Rodgers, Herchel Walker, Barry Sanders, Vince Young, and most of the other players, coaches, and teams you've ever cared about in their respective places in history. The book is mostly SI pictures with a couple of dozen articles, some charts by decade, and similar fare (old helmets, ticket stubs, etc.). Photos are better because the book is oversized. The cover features over 100 helmets, most you know, some you don't.

The book has no index, and it's neither an encyclopedia nor a statistical record. There are, for example, no lists of national or bowl champions although the Heisman winners and some minimal stats are noted by decade. But if you want a good overview of the historical highlights of the college game, this is the book.

Purchased as gift for grandson.

Sports Illustrated publications are a wonderful way to motivate both children and adults.

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This coffee-table book is a more-or-less pictorial history of college football, and contains many great full-color pics along with info and stories, and should make a great gift for a college football fan! While not the comprehensive history of college football such as say Ken Burn's is for baseball it contains many great full-page pictures from the last 100 years. In addition it includes summaries by decade of the great college football teams, epic games, "all-decade team," Heisman winners, and innovative figures of the decade (although I'd personally say listing the conference Commissioner who created the "BCS" is a suspect honor...).

Also listed are fun "Campus Culture" tidbits by decade including major books, movies, news stories of the day, and other - everything from "the foxtrot" and Thomas Edison in the early part of the century to "facebook" and the O.J. verdict in the latter part. But the book is mainly devoted to college football - throughout the book are also featured great pieces on such legendary figures as Bear Bryant, Ernie "The Express" Davis, Dick Butkus, Knute Rocke, and stories such as the "U," the Flutie-comeback game, and more. In addition to pictures also featured are many classic game-program covers; one other creative feature is a large illustrated foldout of the "all-century" team - greatest players/coaches.

Overall, a very enjoyable collection of pics and information. One thing I found quirky - the book lists the national champs from each decade up to 30's, when they then are replaced by the Heisman award trophy winners. I suppose SI couldn't fit both on one page so just they stopped listing the national champs - but it seems strange they consider the individual award more important than team championships (in any event a listing of national champs can easily be found on-line, if one cares to, in tandem with reading this book). Overall, this book will provide college football or American sports fan plenty of enjoyment, and lives up to its title of "THE College Football Book!"