Crimson Nation

I'm only 1/2 way through, and I like the book. I graduated from Bama in 1990 and appreciate the historical facts I was not aware of before. I don't find the writing great, but I am accustomed to reading different types of books. I find Eli repeats himself with facts during several chapters which kind of bothers me, but it may not bother some. It still gives some awesome stats and figures I was never aware of before. My favorite Alabama book will always be Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer by Warren St. John; this book I could not put down, but it's an entirely different kind of novel. St. John's is more entertaiment; Eli's is more historical. I think either would be enjoyed by anyone that loves to yell "ROLL TIDE ROLL" when the team kicks off. Let's hope for a better season next year........

As a life-long Alabama fan, I was excited to read Eli Gold's new book on the Crimson Tide. Written in typical Eli Gold style, the book was an easy read that makes you feel you're sitting around a table with other Bama fans talking about and reliving the great moments in Alabma football history. The chapters on former UA President George H. Denny, Wallace Wade, Harry Gilmer, Don Hutson and Frank Thomas were really good and informative, but the stories in the chapters on Joe Namath, Pat Trammell, Kenny Stabler, etc. really offered no new insights and would be well-known by old-timers like myself. Overall, it is still a good book and would make a great read for any Alabama fan

When Eli Gold took over as the play-by-play announcer for the Crimson Tide radio broadcasts, I was initially put off by his high-pitched voice. After decades of classical callers like John Forney, Paul Kennedy, and Doug Layton, Gold sounded downright shrill. But he has grown on me over time - and his voice sure cuts through the din of a crowd! Eli has had sports connections within the state for years and it certainly shows in this volume. There are anecdotes to spare. Honestly, many of the stories are well-worn to old-timers like me. But if you're a relative newcomer, if you're making your first Tide-related book purchase, or if you grew up in the 1960s and '70s and simply love to relive the days of perfection (sigh), you can't go wrong with this one.

Eli Gold, the voice of NASCAR and University of Alabama football, came to radio via his humble roots in Brooklyn, NY. How he did, and how he became such an integral part of the Alabama family, are an interesting sidebar to a larger story that Gold weaves--a rich tapestry of football, culture, and camraderie. Gold has done his homework, but this book doesn't get bogged down in the arcane. It's simply a warm, broad overview of Alabama football history, including some of the key coaches, players, games, characters, broadcasters, locations and moments that make Alabama football such a national treasure. One of the strengths of the book is that Gold writes like he talks--you can really "hear" him as you read, which is a good thing, given that Gold is one of our nation's finest sportscasters. He is also gracious, and goes out of his way to honor his colleagues and predecessors in the broadcast booth. His descriptions are colorful and accurate...and always interesting. This is an excellent book; a must for any Alabama fan, but also enjoyable for fans of sports everywhere.

If you are a big alabama fan like I am then you will like this book. It is simple and well written and gives a brief and short history of some of the teams. It majors on the late great "Bear" but over-all is a very enjoyable book. Michael Beck- Florence, Alabama