Jim Dent

I didn't go to A&M nor did I play football. I did go to the Air Force Academy in the late 1970s. The lessons of The Junction Boys remind me of basic cadet training and the Doolie year. Determination and perseverance to overcome physical and emotional pressures help build uncommon bonds of friendship and character. I enjoyed Dent's writing style, especially the frequent similes: "Bryant stared impatiently at the floor. In a monotone as flat as Lubbock, he said, 'We didn't come out here to eat. We came out here to practice football'".… (altro)

Since I live near Ft. Worth, this was a very appealing story. I am a transplanted Texan so learning about the area is always a plus for me.
Rusty Russell accepted the job as science teacher and football coach for the Masonic Home in downtown Ft. Worth in the 1920's. He was able to instill in these young boys self esteem and fortitude. Although so much smaller than the teams they went up against, these *mighty mites* had a great winning record through the years.
What I especially liked about this book was how Mr. Dent expressed the differences between Ft. Worth and Dallas. I had that figured out but it was interesting to me how Mr. Dent explained it the way he did.… (altro)

My thoughts on this book have changed from the first time I read it in 2001. The story of the OU football team that went undefeated is a great one. Sadly, this book isn't great. I would love to see someone who can actually write tell this story. The writing is sloppy and chock full of cliches and hyperbole. There are also numerous errors in fact, and those are just the ones that I have noticed. It was sloppily edited, and I'm really not sure if it was even fact checked. I would recommend this book for my fellow die-hard Sooner Born and Sooner Bred, but don't expect to be blown away. The writing leaves a lot to be desired!… (altro)