ESPN College Football Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Game

"Fifty Years of College Football" was released this past summer as the second entry in this year's derby of new college football encyclopedias, and it takes a more unique look at the sport's past than the other two recent reference works. Although "Fifty Years" opens with 16 pages of general information and commentary on the complete history of college football, the work's primary focus is providing plenty of data strictly on the seasons of 1955-2004. The most interesting part of the encyclopedia for researchers will no doubt be the season-by-season in-depth reviews that are provided for the 50 year period. For each year from 1955-2004 the authors provide a page of general information about the season, and then move into week-by-week highlights of the top games during the campaign along with the weekly Associated Press rankings. Each season's chapter is concluded with the final standings for the major conferences, accounts of the major bowl games, All-Americans and other award winners, and the top rounds of the pro football drafts. After working through to the 2004 season, the book then presents an extensive section of byschool data - arranged by conference - for each season of the 1955-2004 period. Included for each team for each year are such items as game scores, the usual starting players, and stat leaders for rushing, passing, scoring, and receiving, A listing of the schools all-time statistical leaders in various categories is also presented. Fifty Years represents a monumental amount of research work on the part of the authors, and the book certainly provides a considerable amount of information to assist college football historians having a primary interest in the sport's modern era. Ray Schmidt, College Football Historical Society, November 2005

This book is informative and entertaining. It's too thick to be read in a day or even a week, but it really is hard to put down. Makes a great reference,also.I highly recommend it to true college football fans, especially those who grew up in the 1950's and 60's.

I have written three books on the history of USC football, and am working on a fourth: ranking the 25 greatest all-time traditions and best single-season teams ever. I found Bob Boyles' and Paul Guido's book to be an invaluable resource; one that, before it was written, really did not exist. One needed to search the Internet in a hit/miss cavalcade of queries. This gives it to you all one great book! All the facts needed to determine who, indeed, is the best college football program ever - USC, Notre Dame, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State? - is found here: national championships, bowl records, all-time records, All-Americans, draft picks, schedules, drama. For instance, one sees that aside from having tied Notre Dame for the most national championships (11) and most Heismans (seven) of any program, Troy has a 28-15 bowl record vs. the Irish at 13-13. Plus USC has more first round draft picks and more All-Americans. In other words, this book allows the discerning college football historian to wash past the myths and get to the facts, which is what it is meant to do. Fight On! STEVEN TRAVERS, author of THE USC TROJANS: COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S ALL-TIME GREATEST DYNASTY BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN TROJANS ESSENTIAL: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE A REAL FAN! SEPTEMBER 1970: ONE NIGHT, TWO TEAMS, & THE GAME THAT CHANGED A NATION [email protected]

Could not believe the information packed in this book. You can find any stat or fact on every important game imaginable. Stuff I have never seen or heard about before. Truly a remarkable feat. I can tell the authors love the game. I highly recommend this book to any college football lover or someone who wants to learn more about the sports history.

The book has a lot of things that I have never seen in one book including line ups by year and school. The book covers so much of the changes in the last 50 years from single platoon, single wing, full house tee and all of the other changes and styles of the last 50 years. It covers almost all of TV's college football. It has been a great 50 years of college football for me and it is well captured in this book. I find myself going back to it often to answer questions. It is a must for all of us older fans that remember the 50s, 60s and later. I have spent years gathering all this information in notebooks and now I have it in one book. You can tell the authors love for the history of the game. I don't need my notebooks now.