Game Day: Texas Football: The Greatest Games, Players, Coaches, and Teams in the Glorious Tradition of Longhorn Football

As of this writing, this book will soon have to be revised to add a new chapter into the rich tradition of the University of Texas as the Longhorns have just captured the National Championship in a thrilling win over USC in a game for the ages. This book shines the spotlight on UT's grand football tradition and covers some of their greatest players, games, and coaches in their storied history. Inside you'll learn of the origins and history of things such as the "hook `em horns" sign, Bevo the steer, the Spring Jamboree and Big Bertha, the world's largest bass drum. The Drum's interesting history goes back to when UT purchased it from the University of Chicago in 1955 when they ended their football program. The drum is 8 feet in diameter and 54 inches across. The book provides brief profiles and career highlights of players who are not only all-time Longhorn greats, but all-time NCAA greats as well. Included are Running backs Earl Campbell, Chris Gilbert, Cedric Benson, and Ricky Williams; Quaterback Bobby Layne who went onto become a Detroit legend as QB for the Lions, Linebacker Tommy Nobis, and Defensive tackled Brad Shearer. Curiously Roy Williams, perhaps the greatest Wide Receiver in Texas history is excluded. I suspect that quarterback Vince Young will be included if the book is ever revised. The book spotlights the two greatest Texas coaches: Darrell Royal, who coached from 1957 to 1976, winning three national championships and had the team's longest win streak of 30 games from 1968 to 1970, and Mack Brown who has just one his first national title. Some of Texas' greatest games are also featured. There's the 1958 game that Texas won 15 - 14, snapping a six game losing streak to the Sooners. Then there is the 1965 Orange Bowl in which Texas knocked off Bear Bryant's #1 ranked Alabama team 21 - 17, and then one I remember quite well as the Longhorns pulled a shocking upset of #3 Nebraska 37 - 27 in the very first Big 12 Conference Championship game. There are also histories and highlights from two of the team's greatest rivalries against Oklahoma and Texas AM. Great color and black & white photography accompanies and complements the text. The book isn't meant as a comprehensive history of Texas football. Rather it's meant as a summary of highlights and traditions and in that regard it does it's job very well. There could not be a better time for Texas fans to check this book out as they are basking in that championship glow. Reviewed by Tim Janson