Front Porch FootballSummer Reads
by Chris Paschal
When I was a kid, it was much easier to do summer reading if I enjoyed the book and it was hot out. Sometimes, especially in the South, the only thing you can do is read a book or watch TV (or old SEC football highlights — or is that just me?) because it is just too dang hot and humid. When the pool is as warm as a bath or the beach feels like the surface of the sun, nothing can really beat pouring yourself a glass of tea, sitting on a breezy porch (or inside in the A/C) and reading. But why not read and further your love of college football at the same time? This summer, try one of these books while you seek relief from the sun and humidity. You won’t regret that you did.
Wins, Losses and Lessons, by Lou Holtz
This may be the book that defined my childhood, because not only did it remind me of lessons I had learned from my parents, but it also piqued my interest in college football. Lou coached at many Southern institutions including William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Anybody can pick this book up and enjoy it, but part of the magic of it was the fact that I was a young, impressionable sixth grader. This is perfect for any middle schooler.
It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium, by John Ed Bradley
The first time I read this book I was too young. I didn’t really understand the pageantry of college football, never mind the mystique and passion that is LSU Football. I would suggest you have to be 17 or 18 before you read this book. I read it again and I am glad that I did. This book captures all that is football in the South: passion, tradition, loyalty, sacrifice, honor, dedication, pain, glory. But probably one of the most intriguing themes is the idea of what it means to be a teammate.
Every LSU fan should definitely read this book, but I think every person that played football in the South or grew up watching football in the South would enjoy it, too. At times it is tough to read because of what Bradley is saying, but it is never tough to read because of the way he is saying it. It is one of the most well written books I have ever read. And you can tell that Bradley is as Louisiana as gumbo. Some of you may know him from the SEC Network’s series Saturdays in the South. His time in Baton Rouge shaped and dictated so many aspects of his life, whether he wanted it to or not. Get ready to be swept away in the story telling, to be reaching for a tissue or two for the tears you shed, and to learn why it never rains in Tiger Stadium.
Dixieland Delight, by Clay Travis
This is the exact opposite of It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium. You may be crying because of how hard you are laughing. This is definitely not a book a middle schooler should read. I think I first read it when I was a freshman in college. It is rude and crude, but you don’t really mind it because in between the rudeness and crudeness is witty insights into the culture that is SEC Football. The author, Clay Travis, is now a lightning rod when it comes to all things football, politics, and most especially, the Coronavirus. But before Clay was on TV or radio, he was an author.
Follow Clay on his journey touring every SEC game day. Be prepared for a lot of rankings, which include, the best game day atmospheres in the SEC, the best looking women in the SEC, and the most ridiculous haircuts in the SEC. Nobody is untouchable in Clay’s hilarious book.
The System, by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian
This is my favorite book about SEC football. It isn’t just about the SEC, but it goes into why the SEC is the premier conference in all things college football. This is not light reading. The System dives into the money, scandal, and glamour of big-time college football. And while it did not change my love for college football, it did shed some light on areas of the game most people know little about. Where does all that money go, who really does the recruiting on college campuses, and why is Alabama so dang good? It is a must read for college football junkies, casual fans that want to understand what drives college football, and for the young, aspiring investigative journalist who wants to see how research, knowledge, and persistence can paint an accurate picture of something many don’t want an accurate picture of.
