First published 2013
September 1967. Eddie Robinson paces the sidelines at Grambling College while his counterpart Jake Gaither prepares Florida A&M for what promises to be the season of their careers. Both coaches field exceptional quarterbacks: James Harris runs Robinson's offense while Ken Riley commands Gaither's squad. The civil rights movement has reshaped America through three years of landmark legislation, but three months of urban riots have left the nation divided. Now these four men and their teammates face a football season that will determine more than a championship. Each game builds toward their climactic showdown for the black college title. The contest proves excruciating in its closeness and historic in its impact. Robinson, Gaither, Harris, and Riley push through a campaign that forces segregated Southern colleges to integrate their programs. Their success redefines the quarterback position in professional football and opens coaching and management roles previously closed to black athletes. The season becomes a crucible where talent meets opportunity and character faces its ultimate test.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, african-american, sports
Vibes: emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: based-on-true-events, historical-figures
Setting: Florida A&M, Grambling College
Period: 1967
336 pages · Kindle Edition · Simon Schuster