Product Description
Rodeo, the sport of epic legends. Cowboys and cowgirls use brain and brawn to contend for prizes and placement, but more often than not, it is the prestige of honorable competition that spurs them on. College Rodeo covers the history of the sport on college campuses from the first organized contest in 1920 to the national championship of 2003.

In the early years of the twentieth century, a growing number of kids from farms and ranches attended college, many choosing the land grant institutions that allowed them to prepare for agricultural careers back home. They brought with them a love for the skills, challenges, and competition they had known-a taste for rodeo. The first-ever college rodeo was held in 1920 at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, as Texas A&M was then known. It offered bronco busting, goat roping, saddle racing, polo, a greased pig contest, and country music. The rodeo was a fund-raising effort that grew enormously popular; by its third year, the rodeo at Texas A&M drew some fifteen hundred people. The idea spread to other campuses, and in 1939, the first intercollegiate rodeo with eleven colleges and universities competing was held at the ranch arena of an entrepreneur near Victorville, California.

Since that time, college rodeo has thrived on campuses throughout the West. Sylvia Gann Mahoney now presents the first history of the sport, tracing its growth parallel to that of professional rodeo and the development of the organizational structure that today governs college rodeo. She draws on personal interviews as well as the archives of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and newspaper accounts from participating schools and their hometowns.

Mahoney chronicles the events, profiles winners, highlights outstanding individuals, and analyzes the organizational efforts that have contributed to the colorful history of college rodeo. She traces the changing role of women and notes their victories, which were ignored by much of the contemporary press in the early days of the sport.

College Rodeo gives credit to the pioneers of college rodeo and includes rare photographs of rodeo teams, champions, and rodeo queens, blended with the true-to-life details of sweat ... Read more

Product Description
Columbus, Ohio, may be the closest thing to college football's epicenter, situated as it is in the sport's "cradle." And Ohio State football fans have been rocking that cradle for 114 years, exhorting their mighty Buckeyes in the bruising wars of the Big Ten conference since 1890. From the school's stable of Heisman Trophy winners to fabled coaches Paul Brown and Woody Hayes to the 2002 national championship team, football rules autumn in famed Ohio Stadium.

BUCKEYE MADNESS is the story of Ohio State football. Here are the legendary Chic Harley, Les Horvath, Hopalong Cassady, Archie Griffin, Eddie George, and other stars; eight championship teams; the explosive rivalry with archrival Michigan; the all-time Ohio State team; and the rosters from each national championship team. All of this is in the words of the players themselves, the coaches, opponents, fans, and members of the media. It's the ultimate three yards and a cloud of dust! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Simply the Best
Love the Bucks? Then this is your book. Sure there are some quibbles. I would have preferred more time with the Rex Kern-Jack Tatum-Leo Hayden-John Brockington team. Some mention of the Bubba Smith-Jimmy Raye embarassment in Columbus and the resulting hatred of Duffy Daugherty by Woody Hayes would have been nice. Also more than a mention of Cornelius Greene please. But regardless, this book made my hands sweat and my eyes mist. ... Read more

Product Description
Perhaps no symbol in college football is as easily recognized as the Hook 'em 'Horns of Texas Longhorns football. The longtime powerhouse has recorded two national championships and hatched a pair of Heisman Trophy running backs in its 113 years of gridiron greatness.
Longhorn legends abound: Bobby Layne, James "Jackrabbit" Saxton, Tommy Nobis, Earl Campbell, Chris Gilbert, Steve Worster, Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, Derrick Johnson, and Vince Young among others—all have illuminated the Longhorn landscape with brilliant play. And then there are the great coaches and the fabled rivalries with Oklahoma and Arkansas. In all, the Burnt Orange and White have left an indelible brand on the open range of collegiate grid annals.
Longhorn Madness is the timeless story of University of Texas football. Its star players, teams, bitter rivals, and magical moments are presented in compelling quotations by Longhorn players, coaches, opponents, fans, and members of the media. Special chapters highlight the all-time Texas team, the great Earl Campbell, and the complete rosters of the Longhorns' national championship teams. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

All things Longhorn
Reviewed by David Olvera for Reader Views (5/07)

If ever there was a Bible of quotes on the subject of The University of Texas Longhorn's football, "Longhorn Madness" is it.You'll be hard pressed to acquire a more comprehensive group of quotations on UT football as Wilton Sharpe has managed to corral.Sharpe does a good job of avoiding a shotgun approach by arranging his cornucopia of quotes into relevant chapters and themes.Sharpe includes some ancient, old, and new school.From the 1890s (I'm not kidding...) to Darrell Royal on up to Vince Young, Sharpe leaves no stone unturned.He even reaches across the aisles to sworn enemies to get their take on the Burnt Orange phenomenon.

Sharpe could have left it at that and would have pieced together a decent sports book, but he takes it one step further.In between all the pigskin talk he includes short narratives of key historical and legendary events.So in case you're overwhelmed by the Longhorn quotes stampede you can rest your eyes on a quick story here and there.Sharpe also includes nifty rosters of all the UT Championship teams at the end of the book.

"Longhorn Madness" also includes some pictures along the way.Most of the portraits are pretty good for black and white paperback copy, but others leave something to be desired.All in all, the only downside of the book is couple of grainy pictures here and there.The cover is appropriately burnt orange with a great shot of Vince Young running through a pack of Mizzou Tigers.

Now I'd say that this book could be destined to any fan's Lavatory Readers Club, but it has more practical applications."Longhorn Madness" presents the reader with a great tool for research.Any kid writing about the Longhorns for a school paper or a sports writer looking for some good copy can use the book to their advantage.Sharpe has done a lot of work and people can take advantage of his research.To sum it up, it's a great archive of all things Longhorns from the guys who walked the walked. ... Read more

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Each of the well-researched chapters in this comprehensive volume makes a singular contribution to understanding the complexities of diversity and social justice in college sports. Chapters are grouped into sections that address major components: Historical Analysis Social Justice and Cultural Concerns African American Coaching and Other Leadership Opportunities Media, Media Images, and Stereotyping Intersection of Race, Sport, and Law Sport Administration/Management: Intersection of Race, Class, and Gender Looking Toward the Future ... Read more

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The phenomenal popularity of college athletics owes as much to media coverage of games as it does to drum-beating alumni and frantic undergraduates. Play-by-play broadcasts of big college games began in the 1920s via radio, a medium that left much to the listener's imagination and stoked interest in college football. After World War II, the rise of television brought with it network-NCAA deals that reeked of money and fostered bitter jealousies between have and have-not institutions. In Play-by-Play: Radio, Television, and Big-Time College Sport noted author and sports insider Ronald A. Smith examines the troubled relationship between higher education and the broadcasting industry, the effects of TV revenue on college athletics (notably football), and the odds of achieving meaningful reform.

Beginning with the early days of radio, Smith describes the first bowl game broadcasts, the media image of Notre Dame and coach Knute Rockne, and the threat broadcasting seemed to pose to college football attendance. He explores the beginnings of television, the growth of networks, the NCAA decision to control football telecasts, the place of advertising, the role of TV announcers, and the threat of NCAA "Robin Hoods" and the College Football Association to NCAA television control. Taking readers behind the scenes, he explains the culture of the college athletic department and reveals the many ways in which broadcasting dollars make friends in the right places. Play-by-Play is an eye-opening look at the political infighting invariably produced by the deadly combination of university administrators, athletic czars, and huge revenue. ... Read more

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PUT ME IN, COACH is a must-have guidebook for parents and their student-athletes who want to be recruited to compete in athletics at the college level. Most student-athletes and their parents venture into college sports recruiting with little or no experience. Because of limited roster spots, only a handful of high school athletes will play their sport competitively in college and even fewer will get NCAA or NAIA scholarships. For your child to be one of them, you need a game plan, and the earlier you start, the better. So if you are the parent of a student-athlete who is better than most in high school athletics, but college coaches aren't lining up at your door, you will find PUT ME IN, COACH indispensable. Here is a sampling of what you will learn by reading this book: how to market your child so coaches take notice, how to get money from any school even those that don t give athletic scholarships, how to identify the colleges that are the right fit for your child, how to understand recruiting from the coaches point of view, and how to make the right impression and get the most out of campus visits. PUT ME IN, COACH includes 20 true stories that bring to life the many situations you will find yourself in along the recruiting trail. You will encounter the personal observations and advice of 40 college coaches from different schools and different divisions. In short, the strategies in PUT ME IN, COACH put you right where you need to be -- in the driver s seat!

The greatest compliment to Laurie Richter's book for parents concerning college recruiting is that our coaches--the guys who have spent years doing this--found it to be a solid road map of the how to's of the business. It is accurate, fair, and gives valuable insight to parents and young people who are making one of life's most important decisions for a college-bound athlete. I have always said that recruiting is like dating, and you need to know all you can about a person before you get engaged. This book helps you figure out how to do that. --Mack Brown, Head Football Coach, University of Texas at Austin

From a coaching perspective, recruiting is an inexact science. This book provides a refreshingly accurate and honest assessment of the recruiting process and solid advice on how to manage it. Sports and educational opportunities are plentiful, but finding the best fit scholastically, athletically, and socially should be the primary goal. This is an excellent guide. --Jody Conradt, Head Coach, Women's Basketball, University of Texas at Austin, 1976-2007

Richter's book guides parents through each step of the recruiting process, starting with actually deciding whether or not college athletics are a good fit for you and your child. Besides drawing on her personal experiences, Richter reviewed statistics from the NCAA, talked to college-bound students and their parents and interviewed college coaches from a range of sports and schools. The result is an honest tutorial that stresses the importance of researching potential colleges as early as the ninth grade. --North Shore Magazine, March 2009-- Richter's book on recruiting hits the nail on the head. Put Me In, Coach, A Parent's Guide to Winning the Game of College Recruiting is a thoughtful and detailed look into everything a student athlete and his parents need to know before attempting to find a school that best fits the student's needs. Put Me In, Coach is full of common sense tips for the prospective student athlete. --Lincolnshire Review, A Pioneer Press Publication. January 8, 2009-- Put Me In, Coach has a lot of great info. It will help the student athlete who wants to get recruited, better navigate a process that has become a lot more complex than it used to be. --Kristine Lilly, Two Time Olympic Gold Medalist Women's Soccer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Well written bookwith basic information
The reason I gave it three stars is the information is too basic.BUT if you know nothing about college athletics then this is the book for you.If you know basic information about recruiting there are better books.The book itself is well organized, concise, and is an easy to read. Because there is nothing in the book that you will use as a reference for later use, check "put me in coach" out at the library.There no need to own this book.

This book is the must have inside guide for any parent...
This book is the must have inside guide for any parent trying to get their talented athlete into a good college hopefully along with a scholarship. It is immensely practical and filled with plenty of the information you will need to get your child placed on a college team.

In this clearly presented guide, Laurie Richter leads us step by step through the process from the very beginning stages of deciding if pursuing college sports is the right decision to creating your college list and finding the right fit, to getting coaches interested, getting recruited, and finally how to make your final decision. She manages to take a large complex process and break it down into digestible and understandable chunks. Each chapter is designed with bulleted lists calling out the main topics, pertinent quotes on the subject by various college coaches, and inside tips like "Everyone wants to be wanted. Coaches are no exception." Actual examples are used, such as a student resume and a letter template that students can send to coaches.

The preparation for your athlete to get into college begins the first day he walks into high school. Richter covers what types of classes are required for division schools and what types of activities coaches are looking from perspective players. She authoritatively and gently lets us know that not everyone will play sports in college. For example, the percentage of high school senior athletes who will make a college team for men's basketball is 3.0%; for soccer it rises to 5.5%. She points out that many parents have wasted a lot of time and money because of bad assumptions and pipe dreams about where their student can play.

Following the skills assessment guidelines provided allows you to make a qualified evaluation of your student helping you to not waste money applying to school that are simply out of your student's abilities. While this book may not be able to guarantee that your child get into a great scholarship on a full athletic scholarship, if you follow the information provided, it will save you time, money and maybe even a headache or two.

Great reference to help your student athlete make the right choices.
This book is a great resource for parents of any student athlete that is beginning their work on chosing the right college. The author does a great job of pointing out the most important thing of all, chosing a college that will allow your child to get the best education they can, while also allowing them to follow their dreams of playing college sports.

IWish I'd Had This Book Years Ago!
As the parent of three college-age kids who all explored the idea of playing sports in college, believe me... this is the definitive guide.This book would have saved me a lot of trial and error and, more importantly, a lot of angst over the process had it been written at the time we were going through this process.

Even if you are not sure whether your child will be interested in pursuing sports at the college level, you should read this book.It helps set up the ground rules and the "have to's" along the way.It can also help you assist your child while they sort through the important elements to consider as they contemplate sports in college.The format is simple and easy so you can just refer to one chapter at a time as needed.

Although our family has been through this process successfully with two college athletes happily ensconced in exactly the right schools for them, we will definitely use this book to guide our thinking as our youngest heads off to freshman year of high school.

A helpful resource
As a parent of three - two interested in college sports - I had always been under the false assumption that their high school coach would walk them through the entire process.

Sooner rather than later, I came to the unfortunate realization that the parent and athlete were solely responsible for the athlete's collegiate future.

Put Me In Coach, has been a lifesaver for me and my family.It walked us through each decision, and answered most of the abundant questions that I, and presumably most other parents, had in the recruiting process.

I highly recommend this book to any parent who's children have even the slightest chance of a future playing a sport in college. ... Read more

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The best book in exercise physiology by far
I teach Physiology and Exercise physiology in Costa Rica.
By far this is the best exercise physiology book ever writen... You find any mechanism... great for teachers and students who want to know a little more

Good service!
I bought this book from Amazon's website recently, and I felt that Amazon's service very much. The context of the book is excellent!

Not for Beginners
I tried reading this book the first time and only understood about 20% of what i was reading. So I stopped, bought and read the book Physiology of Sport and Exercise before reading this one, believe me it makes a big difference. This is an advanced book with advanced terminology, but damn is it thorough. This first few chapters are boring because they mostly talk about the locomotion involved with walking, the spinal cord and nervious system. But when it gets into the skeletal muscle chapters, it get very interesting. I advise anyone who plans on reading this to go through it slowly and highlight or underline the important sentences. Now i probably understand 95% of what I am reading. ... Read more

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Presented here are 60 games featuring some of the most outstanding efforts in history--dramatic comebacks (such as USC's 1974 triumph over Notre Dame), stunning upsets (Columbia's 21-20 win over Army in 1947 or Appalachian State's over Michigan, 34-32, in 2007--see front cover), great individual efforts (Jim Brown's 43 points in a single game), bizarre plays (Roy Riegel's wrong-way run that helped Georgia Tech defeat California), and Yale-Harvard, 29-29, in 1968 (the latter scoring 16 points in the final 42 seconds). Each story includes the highlights of the games, with quotes from many of the principals, a look at the contest's effects on football overall, career follow-ups for the key participants, and seasonal wrap-ups for the teams involved. ... Read more

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Every Saturday afternoon from early September to the end of November more than a thousand teams from St. Norbert's (Wisconsin) to Western Kentucky to Ohio State meet in front of crowds as small as several hundred and as large as 100,000. They are participants in an epic that began November 6, 1869, when the men of Princeton and Rutgers decided to test themselves on a field not yet called a gridiron. They are actors playing out their drama on a stage on which an unmatched cast of legendary performers has presented thrilling rivalries, glorious triumphs, and spectacular upsets. It is college football, a tapestry woven of memories as indestructible as they are colorful...threads that have encircled and captivated an audience measured in the millions, and have done so for generations.

Welcome to Rites of Autumn: The Story of College Football, the definitive history of college football, from Fielding Yost's "point-a-minute" Michigan Wolverines of 1901 to Bobby Bowden's undefeated 1999 Florida State Seminoles and everything in-between, before, and since. Here are Red Grange, Illinois's Galloping Ghost; Army's Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, and Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett. Here is that day in 1957 when Bud Wilkinson's 47-game winning streak at Oklahoma was ended by Notre Dame and the Game of the Century when Bubba Smith's undefeated 1966 Michigan State team played also-undefeated Notre Dame to a 10-10 tie. With hundreds of vintage photographs, dozens of primary documents, and a vivid text, Rites of Autumn brings back to life Johnny Rodgers running back a punt for a Nebraska touchdown against Oklahoma in their 1971 Game of the Century; Cal's four-lateral kickoff return for a touchdown -- "The Play" -- that defeated John Elway's 1982 Stanford team; and Doug Flutie's Hail Mary pass that beat Bernie Kosar's defending national champion Miami team 47-45 on the last play of the 1984 Thanksgiving Day game.

In this extraordinary volume -- the companion to an equally extraordinary 10-hour prime-time television series -- are the stories of the first forward pass (1876; Yale vs. Princeton), the first huddle (Illinois, 1921), the invention of the flying wedge (Harvard, 1892), and the wishbone (Texas, 1968). Here, "outlined against a blue-gray October sky," are Notre Dame's Four Horsemen and George Gipp, the subject of Knute Rockne's most famous halftime speech, who once told his coach, "Aw, these pep talks are O.K., Rock, I guess, but I got two hundred bucks bet on this game and if you think I'm lying down out there, you're crazy." Here are USC tackle Marion Morrison before he became John Wayne, and the famous letter to Princeton coach Fritz Crisler written by a former student known, when he attended Old Nassau, as Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald. In Rites of Autumn prize-winning sportswriter Richard Whittingham brings the most spectacular regular-season games to vivid life, from Jim Thorpe's Carlisle Indian School vs. Army in 1912 to USC's one-point victory over crosstown rival UCLA in 1967. Here are the great coaches, from Pop Warner to Knute Rockne to Eddie Robinson to Joe Paterno; the great African-American tradition, from schools like Southern and Grambling and from players like Paul Robeson, Jackie Robinson, and Jim Brown. And, of course, here are the great rivalries: Army-Navy, Texas-Oklahoma, Notre Dame-USC, and more. With sidebars on everything from Walter Camp's first All-America team to the history of the great Bowl games, conference and national championships, the Heisman and Outland Trophy winners, decade-by-decade all-star teams, and the greatest teams of all time -- all illustrated by an astonishing selection of more than 250 photographs -- Rites of Autumn is a spectacular achievement: the ultimate book for anyone who has ever spent an autumn Saturday following America's most passionately watched sport.Amazon.com Review
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 Autumn is for football fans everywhere. --Michael Ferch ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Amazon stinky service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The book was a gift for my 83 year old Father, the book was ordered 12/15/2009 and did not get to my Father until way after Christmas.I learned after I placed the order that is was some fly-by-night company called vana 11 DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING FROM VANA11 they don't know what service is about.I'm very upset with Amazon as I had no idea I was ordering a book (while on Amazon web site) that was NOT AMAZON, they NEVER Told me this until I had a problem with Vana11 then of course Amazon yelled "hey that's Vana11 not Amazon!!!!!!!!!! Anyway you call it Amazon should be ashamed how they treat there customers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you ready for some . . .
Better written than the coffee-table book this appears to be by weight and shape, and better written than a television-series companion, which this is, needs to be.

Great pictures, quotes from college football giants, enough information to be informative, enough stories and pictures of big games to be fun.

Sure, worlds not made and lives not changed, but this book is just fun.

One of the best football books!
I collect football books. As an historian, I look for books that cover the glorious tradition and history of the game. This book is perfect if you're looking for that theme. First of all, check out the cover. The cover tells the story of this book. It takes you back to a different era.

I love this book. It is one of my favorites. It covers everything and makes for a great coffee table book. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy college football.

Great book based on ESP series
I really enjoyed this book as the companion to the ESPN series of the same name. It's a must read for any college football fan!

Indispensable
An indispensable book, a real bible for all who love the american football and his history in the colleges across America. ... Read more

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Filled with scholarship opportunities for Women's Soccer. Includes the academic and athletic overview with the coaches name, address, email, phone and other valuable information to help student-athletes find the perfect college or university. ... Read more

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Investing in College Basketball provides a comprehensive set of tools and techniques for successfully wagering on college basketball.It shows how the returns – winnings -- from investing in college basketball can be far greater than investing in stocks and bonds. These returns can be achieved by anyone with an interest in basketball, basic mathematical skills, and a computer with spreadsheet programs and Internet access.The power of the methodology is demonstrated by actual investing results for the 2003-2004 season of the Atlantic 10 Conference.The book includes an analysis of investment outcomes for the A-10 Conference, the working papers for assessing each team, and the analysis of each game for which an investment was made.There are extensive examples of how theory is applied in analyzing actual games and showing how good analysis consistently pays off. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Don't invest in this book; play your hunches.
I bought this book along with author Seidel's companion book, Wagering To Win, during a dry spell in my basketball betting.These books continued the drought.

The only pearl of wisdom from this title was concentrating on a local conference, finding "live" teams or dullard squads that the bookie may have under-priced or over-priced as the circumstances dictate.

Hey guys, don't you already do that in your gambling routines?Seidel then tries to masquerade this thin exercise with a return-on-equity discourse, in an apparent attempt to convince you that you are really investing rather than betting.

The problem is:those propositions are past history.The new season brings new challenges. You cannot rely on the past to give you insights into the upcoming season.


I'll save you some bucks with this advice:bet on a roadie at your own risk.If there was ever a live proposition in gambling it has to be the homey, especially a home team dog.Home teams cover at a near-60% clip.

One of the best sources for up-to-the-minute basketball information are individual webpages from informed locals.Your problem is to find these pages, knowing that they are typically set up by fans at various campuses.None last beyond five years in duration, but I've found valuable gems of data from them.I've learned who was flunking out, rumors of team dissension, who was contemplating leaving campus for the NBA draft, what players were in the doghouse, etc.The UseNet newsgroups are the best place to start.

Sports betting is hard work.Research is vital.You won't find much of it in Seidel's book.

Take the points and skip the books on dinosaur history.

Note added August 2009:UseNet newsgroups have been obsoleted by Twitter.If NCAA football is any indication of a trend, then it appears the BB crowd has congregated at Twitter.Log in and study the tweets in college athletics; be prepared to work at winnowing the wheat from the chaff.There is solid information out fhere for those willing to work.

Well written and informative book except for the money management part
Wagering on CBB for the past 5 seasons, I decided to pick up this book to see if it had anything new to offer that I had never thought of.

Turns out, almost everything I did to handicap games was in this book. So if you are just beginning to handicap CBB, this book would probably help a lot more than it did me. Either way, it was nice to see that Larry handicapped games similarly to me. Even the opinion that I have that NCAA tournament time is NOT the time to bet is held by Larry.

Something though that did open my eyes a little bit was the conference specialization. Picking a conference and only betting those games has it's advantages and disadvantages. If you don't have a lot of time though, I think it may be better to specialize in a conference than to just know some stuff about a lot of teams.

I enacted this strategy for the last month of the season last year with rather strong results to show for it.

As I mentioned, the money management section to me is poorly written. I may think this because I don't believe in what he said to do. The mantra I follow is "don't bet it unless you think you see value and thus an easy cover".

He says you should bet more on some games that show more value. Well experience shows you that some games you think have more value turn into non covers and vice versa. Betting this way is an easy way to cause a huge variance in the bottom line. I used to do that and it caused a variance of profit of over 300%.

Easy example: Over a 50 game stretch you bet between 10 and 60 dollars and finish down 100 with a .500 record. Average bet was 30 per wager. You could have bet 175 per wager and would have only been down 100 dollars as well. If you had bet the same 30 every time, you would have only been down 26 and change.

Wagering the same amount on each game keeps this variance from happening and you can worry more about hitting above 55% and not from that hole you just dug because you upped the amount on a certain game because of "perceived value".

All in all, a good book except for the money management section.

Brilliant NCAA Basketball ideas
This is the single best book I have read on handicapping NCAA basketball. His methodologies for analyzing teams, and setting spreads and totals are both fascinating and deadly. This treatise has a lot of solid theoretical content which I observed in the 2004 season, and it worked in application.

This is not a gambling treatise - while his analysis of basketball is superb, his ideas on money management and risk analysis are borderline catastrophic. However, if you are already an intermediate to advanced gambler, and you ignore all the material on bet sizing, the handicapping material is first rate (and would warrant a 5-star rating).

Use with caution
This book is pretty interesting.On the one hand it does a good job outlining the hard work necessary to win betting on college hoops, and even outlines somenice methods. But all that is almost entirely nullified by the horrendous "money management"advice Seidel gives.He sounds like a tout when he says things such as "if you can't win 60% you should be doing something else".He goes on to talk about how a 75% winning percentage seems to be attainable and gives advice for using bet sizes of over 10% of your bankroll.I can not begin to tell you how bad this advice is.It basically brings into question the rest of the book and how long Seidel has actually been involved in sports betting. His money management advice reaks of someone who had a very nice season betting basketball and doesn't have an appreciation for the swings that are inherent in betting sports.Because even the most successful sports bettor in the world would eventually go broke putting that much of his bankroll at risk.For better money management advice look into classic books such as "Insights into Sports Betting" and Beating the Professional Football Point Spread".I could only recommend this book to people who are seasoned sports bettors with their own set money management ideas and REALISTIC expectations, but are interested in reading about some good approaches to college hoops. Because there is some good advice in the book, just some very bad advice as well.

Invest, don't gamble!
This book is great.I love college basketball and this book describes exactly how to win by spending more time on your passion.

I love the concepts.Imagine a stock market where you know more about the stocks than anyone else.Where most of the other investors are amatuers, not professionals.Where there are few frauds like Enron, Marsh, WorldCom or HealthSouth to tank your portfolio.Where investment gains come immediately, not after years. Where there are dozens of brokers keeping commissions low.

Well, this book describes college basketball betting as just such a market.College basketball "investing" offers all of these, plus none of the disadvantages of large and public betting markets such as stock market, or even the NFL or NBA.The book is a how-to-guide for those who want to gain an advantage and have the discipline to invest the time and effort.

The book is heavy on concrete descriptions on how to gather and use information.It describes strategies for each part of the season, the advantages of specializing in a conference and how to choose one, and the key factors in game analysis.The methods seem to require a lot of work and very disciplined selections, but remember, we're talking about college basketball here.This is fun analysis.

This book is completely unlike "The Odds," which came out about three years ago.The characters in that story were gambling, something this author would probably never do.He has written a book that teaches, rather than just entertains.
... Read more

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Amazon Shipping
I bought a book and Amazon said 3-5 days to ship...well it's over 2 weeks later and the item is still not shipped.Oh by the way..it is one day past the first estimated delivery date.Probably the worst performance I've ever experienced in delevery and customer service.Perhaps they don't need additional customers...My recommendation is to ONLY order from Amazon as a last resort....Oh yeah....I also emailed their customer service...haven't heard anything....guess they have enough customers already. ... Read more

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Now, with this book fans can find out whos on top as a team of blue ribbon athletes, coaches, and journalists in the field come together to choose their favourites. With the tremendous increasing popularity of college football a devoted and large audience of college football lovers are sure to embrace this book for themselves and give as a gift to friends and family alike.Amazon.com Review
As the leaves turn to gold, so do thoughts turn from summer games to--you guessed it--football. Perhaps Chris Schenkel said it best: "What a way to spend an autumn afternoon!"

ABC Sports began covering a full season of college football in 1966. Since then many Americans have spent autumn Saturdays gathered around the television listening to Schenkel, Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, Brent Musberger, and more as they call the play-by-play. These broadcasters--along with 25 of their colleagues--made up a blue-ribbon panel to select the greatest college players from 1966 to 1999. The result is ABC Sports College Football All Time All-America Team, a visually stunning, lavishly illustrated book. It opens with two chapters on the history of the game, from the afternoon at Rutgers where football was born to the rise, demise, and resurgence of the two-platoon system and the effect World War II had upon college ball (for example, 31 players took the oath of enlistment into the Naval Air Corps at halftime of the 1942 Cotton Bowl). Then comes the heart of the matter: their picks for the All-America Team, first string, second string, and third string. Number one QB? John Elway. First team RBs? O.J. Simpson, Herschel Walker, and Archie Griffin. Wanna fight about it? Good--debate is welcomed.

Old-schoolers may be put off by the graphically heavy layout (the ESPN generation will love it), but there's plenty of substance behind the style. This book is a handsome addition to the football fan's coffee table. --M. Stein ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The pictures are the only good thing.
I love Keith Jackson. He's one of the top play by play guys to ever do it if not the best. He should have looked around and done some more homework because he is wrong in a lot of places in this book.

I couldn't believe Keith kept with the media favorite Big 10 and Pac 10. Over half of the people on their three all american teams are from this confrence. The favortism is ridiculos. There are also some guys on this team because they were popular with the media. It's a shame they put a lot of guys on this team because of it.

This really is a hard book to try to right because of the favorites people have. It's also a hard book to write because of all the players and all the players from the different decades. There are no way guys from the 50's and 60's could stay with the young men who play in college football today. It's hard to make comparisons.

The pictures in the book are fantastic. It's pretty easy to find this book cheap and pick it up for the pictures alone. There are some great shots and a lot of the quotes in the book are great. They are the only thing that made me able to stomach this.

This book play favorites a lot. It's worth buying for the pictures. Don't buy it to read it. Buy it look at it.

Great walk down memory lane for college football fans
This book is a must-have for the die-hard college football fan.Very well laid-out, lots of good information; and something to interest anyone with an interest in college football.Lots of lists, stories, and pictures.

Younger fans will appreciate the perspective from some of the all-time great players, coaches, and broadcasters; and older fans will appreciate the historical soundness of this book.My only nit to pick with this book is that they insisted on mis-spelling ABC analyst Tim Brant's last name (it's not "Brandt")

All in all, very well done.

All-Time Football Team After 1966
A listing of great football players and teams from 1966 onward is just the tip of the iceberg.The reviewers have to eliminate such greats as Red Grange, Tom Harmon, Knute Rockne, Jim Thorpe, Don Hutson, Dixie Howell, Johnny Mack Brown, Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis, Bobby Layne, Harry Gilmer, Vaughn Mancha, Shorty McWilliams,Barney Poole and hundreds more football greats who played the game merely for the love of it.The book is fine for those who think football began in 1966, but for those of us who remember the real greats it leaves a lot to be desired.

i love the game
if you like diversity this is the thingits a great book for people whoenjoy the historyand present of the sport

Outstanding!Keith Jackson does not disappoint!
Although not deep in terms of specific stats, games, etc., the context ofthe book, and the overall selection of all-stars from years past are areminder of the true legends of the game.With the growingcommmercialization of the college game, it's refreshing to look back to theguys who played because they loved the game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good College FB Book
Good read about the college / NFL transition. The book is a series of short stories giving an inside look at player situation from first round draft picks to walk ons. Good easy reading for the college fan waiting for the season to start.

Ted Kluck is the greatest writer on earth.
Whoever wants to know the heart and soul of America, should know the heart and soul of Ted Kluck. ... Read more

Product Description
From the first intercollegiate game--Rutgers vs. Princeton in 1869-through the 2003 season, James Quirk's The Ultimate Guide to College Football compiles the complete records of all 117 Division 1-A collegiate football teams. A crucial handbook for college football fans, coaches, players, sports reporters, or anyone interested in the history of college football, it collects the major team and conference records into a single volume. This nearly five-hundred-page compendium includes the teams' locations, nicknames, school colors, conference affiliations, and even stadium capacity. It features Quirk's brief history of college football, the results of bowl games, and the final rankings of teams for each season. The Ultimate Guide to College Football also includes the All America teams, the records of service teams from more than 130 military bases and camps, an extensive list of awards, and a comprehensive history of changes to the rules. This is the most complete and authoritative reference book on college football ever available. James Quirk's The Ultimate Guide to College Football is an essential resource for any student of the sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Statistical Guide
I have been looking for a book like this for a long time.It lists the W-L-T records for each season of all 1-A team.A tremendous reference guide. ... Read more

Product Description
In this collection of essays, leading national sport authorities including journalists, coaches, athletic directors, and varsity and professional players themselves, talk about what is wrong with sports education today and how it can be improved. Each contributor considers whether public expectations - that sport promotes character development, physical fitness and positive educational and social values - are being met in today's reality. By exploring these long unchallenged notions, the writers ask tough questions like: is a coach or parent screaming at a 6-year-old for missing a fly ball a healthy way in which to introduce a youngster to sport?; just how does an athletic scandal or the low graduation rate of student-athletes positively contribute to the image and educational mission of a university?; what does sport really represent in the age of television, corporate sky boxes and "sneaker deals"?; and how has organized sport become more about the egos of those who coach and administer the programmes than about the personal development of those who participate in them? ... Read more

Product Description
For the last eight years, Dan Doyle,founder and executive director of the Institute for International Sport, and parenting expert Deborah Doermann Burch have researched The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting. The Encyclopedia offers prescriptive advice on virtually every issue that confront parents of young athletes of all ages. The research has encompassed an extensive array of surveys with a wide variety of individuals and groups, including present and former athletes; parents and grandparents; non-athletes - and a special survey conducted with 500 highly successful individuals on their views of sport. In his capacity as Distinguished Lecturer for the NCAA Foundation, Doyle has interacted with thousands of student-athletes at the nearly 100 schools at which he has spoken over the last eight years.

Subjects include detailed chapters on issues such as "Playing for a Demanding Coach," "The Unparalleled Value of Team," and "Should My Child Play on a Travel Team?" The text has been reviewed by over 60 distinguished individuals, all of whom have experience in either sports parenting or education. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Must Have Sports Bible
Dan Doyle has written an amazing sports bible for everyone from the parents of youngsters approaching sports for the first time, to the parents of talented Division I prospects. Along the way meticulously researched advice and factual examples abound for everyone. As a teacher I loved the clear instructions and the ethics espoused for parents,coaches, and children alike. As a parent I only wish that I could have gotten his invaluable advice twenty years earlier when my children first went through all the issues he expands upon from good/bad coaches to parental input to sportsmanship to balancing numerous sports to, in our case, college advice for the Division III student-athlete and parent. Kudos to Dan Doyle and to this great book- a must read!

The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting -- A Slam Dunk
Whether you're a student athlete, the parent of an athlete, a sports fan, a fitness-conscious individual, a guidance counselor, a coach, or an armchair athelete, The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting teems with information for all levels and interests of sports.With great insight and near-reverence for the power of sport not only to change lives, but even more importantly, to change the world, Dan Doyle treats readers to an insider's view of the world of sports, a world to which he's devoted his life.
In conducting the research, Doyle plumbed the minds and expertise of hundreds of renowned and respected coaches as well as student athtletes for information about the college recruiting process, the pros and cons of playing Division I or Division III sports, how and when to talk to your child's coach, sports cmap, and so much more.Open to any page and you will be rewarded with advice, statistics, web information, and a host of resources for athletes playing at all levels in this essential sports guide for parents.
The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting makes you feel as if you have your own personal sports consultant at your disposal, 24-7, at a fraction of a sports consultant's fee.Don't miss out.

Lynn Hoffman
Mother of a High School 2-Sport Varsity Athlete, Guidance Counselor

Great book for sports parents and anyone else
Although the title might suggest that this is book is written solely for parents who love sports, that's far from the truth.This is a really good book for parents who are crazy about sports, but also for those who don't know a basketball from a soccer ball.The book covers all of the basics of being a "sports parent," like how to sign your child up for little league and what type of summer camp to enroll them in.For those parents whose kids get more serious, there's plenty of information and advice on navigating high school sports, college scholarships, etc.But most of all, this is a book about parenting.There's a lot of helpful advice on using a kid's sporting experience to teach him or her about hard work, about success and failure, and about competing hard while still treating people fairly.The book is both a practical how-to guide, but also a rich trove of common sense wisdom on raising good kids.

Essential for any parent of a potential sports mega star.
Child Athletes need a brand of special care to be the best they can be - and "The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting" is here to help parents do the best that they can for their young athletes so they get the most they can out of their hobbies. Covering youth sports of all ages - from little league baseball to college football, nothing is left uncovered. Providing advice on encouraging ones children, and giving them the little extra special things they need in their adolescence to do well in youth sports, "The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting" is essential for any parent of a potential sports mega star. ... Read more