It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium

John Ed Bradley played football at Louisiana State University for 4 years, and, after his final game on December 22, 1979, with a 34-10 victory over Wake Forest, he left, never looking back until 23 years later. He had become a successful writer and journalist, and was leading the good life. But, after the death of Charles McClendon, memories of when he played for LSU creped into Bradley's head, and he was forced to go back and seek closure and forgiveness from teammates who still remembered him. This novel follows that path to forgiveness, and truly shows the reader how powerful the game of football is and the draw it will have on anyone who had once played, no matter what their position in life was. This book isn't so much about football, but more of a life lesson, like losing a best friend and years later remembering about that friendship. This is a powerful and compelling story that anyone could relate too. Reviewed by James Rojek

This is the autobiography of a young man named John Ed Bradley who lettered in football for four years at Louisiana State University. (LSU) Despite the fact that the only position more impressive in Louisiana than playing football for LSU would be Governor, this is oh so much more than a sports story! John Ed's football career at LSU culminated on December 22, 1979 with a 34-10 victory over Wake Forest in the Tangerine Bowl. At that point John Ed decided to put his entire lifetime football experience behind him, including any contact with any of his teammates or coaches. Though at first blush, the reader might feel, like John Ed did, that this was just a step in the maturation of a child putting aside childhood toys, but twenty-seven years later, John Ed agonizingly realized with excruciating sadness, that his choice reverberated with echoing emptiness in the deepest chambers of his heart and soul. The writing style of John Ed is akin to romantic poetry, instead of the "click-click-click" staccato you would expect from your everyday sports section in your local newspaper. The reader, with just a little imagination can become ensconced, as if you're involved in a youthful breakup with a lover, that you walked away from a quarter of a century ago, and though you've refused to look back on whether you did the right thing or not so many years ago, an alignment of your life's planets has forced you to re-examine with fresh eyes and heart, the scene you left frozen in another time. John Ed was asked by teachers, "What was it like?".... He was asked by bankers, "What was it like?"... He was asked by women, "What was it like?" He was asked by students, "What was it like?" "TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT LSU!?" HE SAID: "WE WALKED BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS. THAT PRETTY WELL DESCRIBES HOW WE THOUGHT ABOUT OURSELVES. NOTHING COULD TOUCH US, INCLUDING THE RAIN. AND OF COURSE IT WAS AMAZING HOW PEOPLE TREATED YOU OUT IN PUBLIC!" And then twenty-seven years later, it hit John Ed like a million tons of raindrops, and he poetically wrote: "I miss football so much. I miss it like you can't believe. I miss the things I didn't value or pay much attention to when I had them. I don't miss the games so much, the people in the stadium. I miss being a part of something. I only have myself to worry about now, and it's about worn me out. The weird thing is I've even started to miss the guys I didn't much care for when I was playing. And I miss August and the way the grass used to smell when we went out to start two-a-days." "I guess I never saw my time running out. I thought I'd have it forever. And now if I could have anything back, it would be that-the feeling that came around every August when everything was new and anything could happen because the season was about to start." As I said; this exquisitely written book, isn't really about sports. It's about the parent you stopped talking to years ago, and now it's too late. It's about the lover you walked away from and neve

A great read for all college football fans ... Bradley's 1st hand experiences give an accurate view of the world of a college football player and his transition into reality. A must read.

This book was one of the best things that I have ever read. I also attended LSU, and can almost see John Ed Bradley sitting in the Quad, or walking to Allen Hall. He not only makes you realize a new respect for the game, but also makes you feel like you are a part of it. You start to understand that you are not the only one that is missing a part of themselves, and it helps you to realize that you, too, can get past the things that haunt you in your dreams. This book is so well written that you come away from it with the feeling that you have been reliving your past, not someone else's. It takes a minute for it to sink in that regardless of whose life you are thinking of, we all share one thing: the desire to be great.

I feel like I know John Ed too well now. It's almost as if I went through his medicine chest when I was at a party at his home. The book gives the best insight into college football (and LSU in particular) that any outsider will probably ever get. I will still enjoy my Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium, but I will look at those men on the field with new respect. You won't regret the purchase.