Rites of Autumn: The Story of College Football
Rites of Autumn: The Story of College Football, the companion  book to the ESPN series of the same name, is an attractive, broad, yet detailed  history of college football, from the first game through the latest bowl  victories. Not only does author Richard Whittingham include comprehensive  rankings of the top teams, players, and coaches throughout the last century-plus  (such as Heisman Trophy winners or the greatest team rivalries), he highlights  the choice games and plays, as well as the coaches and gridiron legends that  have put their indelible stamp on this truly American sport.Timelines and photographs complement the text, providing a deep sense of how the  sport has evolved. Moreover, the author uses a variety of sources, giving  readers bits of poetry, fight-song lyrics, and famous or insightful quotes,  along with play-by-plays and a lively narrative. Whittingham put careful thought  into his selections, readily admitting the difficulty of winnowing down the  lists, and he even includes notes on those that barely missed the cut.As Whittingham summarizes, "The game itself--violent, tactical, demanding of  skills, strength, and endurance--evoked the very essentials of classic drama:  conflict, suspense, excitement, competition, triumph, and failure. It is hardly  surprising then that it became such a fertile ground for the cultivation of  legends." The roar of a crowd, the sense of place or destiny--all of the factors  that have led to greatness are described, with statistical support, in this  informative, oversized book.Rites of Autumnis for football fans  everywhere.--Michael Ferch