Passing game
Subtitle: Benny Friedman and the transformation of football
By: Murray Greenberg.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Published: 2008
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 358
ISBN-13: 9781586484774
Subjects: Friedman, Benny, -- 1905-1982; Michigan Wolverines (Football team) -- History; Football players -- United States -- Biography
Genres: Biography.
Description: Benny Friedman, the son of working class immigrants in Cleveland's Jewish ghetto, arrived at the University of Michigan and transformed the game of football forever. At the time, in the 1920s, football was a dull, grinding running game, and the forward pass was a desperation measure. Benny would change all of that. In Ann Arbor, the rookie quarterback's passing abilities so eclipsed those of other players that legendary coach Fielding Yost came back from retirement to coach him. The other college teams had no answer for Friedman's passing attack. He then went pro--an unpopular decision at a time when the NFL was the poor stepchild to college football--and was equally sensational, eventually signing with the New York Giants for an unprecedented $10,000, bringing fans and attention to the fledgling NFL. Passing Game rediscovers this little-known sports hero and tells the story of Friedman's evolution from upstart to American celebrity, in a vivid narrative that will delight and enlighten football fans of all ages.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Michigan; title: The kid from Glenville; title: Grange and Yost open the door; title: Benny takes command; title: We got the little badgers' skin to wrap the baby bunting in; title: Benny to Bennie; title: The greatest team I ever coached; title: Senior year; title: Benny Friedman passed all afternoon like only Benny Friedman can; title: King of the Big Ten; title: The pros come calling.