Walk-on

This is the story of a talented black athlete who not only was breaking the 'color line' to be admitted to a southern university as a student but to make the team in one of the major sports -- football. It also brings into play the rivalry between two strong state schools as well as with others in the Southeastern Conference. It was a great read.

This new book plus shipping was less than half of the regular retail price. It arrived in 3 days, with standard shipping. I look forward to other purchases from this seller.

There have been many books written about college football, glorifying schools, coaches, programs, sometimes criticizing, ripping, schools, coaches and programs. Some books blast, some books worshp and adore. Few hit the nail right on the head and offer great insight into the program and the times as does Thomas Gossom's "Walk On." Simply put, Gossom's "Walk On" is one of the finest football books of our time. That it happened at Auburn is immaterial. It is, in reality and essence, a story of the pioneer young black men who braved and dreamed enough to be the first of their race to integrate the classic and storied--and white worshipped-- football programs of the Deep South. What Thom Gossom experienced at Auburn is not unlike what other players, other pioneers, at other schools experienced, endured, and ultimately conquered. What sets Gossom apart is his ability to tell the story in a truthful, measured way, one that takes into account what players and coaches of the other race were experiencing as well. One statement sums up the times, and, for the most part, the people of those times, mostly good people, trying to do the right things the right way. In words to this effect, Gossom says that Auburn was so intent on ensuring that all players, black and white, were treated the same, but in ensuring that playersa were treated the same, the few black playersa were, in reality, treated differently. Because of the scattering of black students at the University, there were no support system and no social system for the black players as there were for white players. So, in trying to treat players equal, black players were inherently treated unequal. But, as he affirms, everyone was trying to do the right thing as they knew the right thing to be. "Walk On" is a strong, affirming look at the times, of good people in changing times, of difficulties experienced by all, especially black players. It is to Thom Gossom's credit that he was able to write such a book and Gossom is a credit to Auburn and to its football program. Though his head coach, Shug Jordan, tried to understand, his life experiences had not prepared him to understand. But more than 35 years after the times covered in the book, more than 34 years since Jordan coached his last game, and almost 20 years since he died, Shug Jordan, the man and the coach, would be proud, very proud that Thomas Gossom was, as he might say,"one of my boys," Not in the sense that some might have used the term then, but in the highest, finest, and most loving sense that the term applies now, love, affection and deep, abiding pride in all that Gossom has accomplished.