College and University Books

Florida State University is where I'll be in a few months! I have my parents to thank for letting me have free reign to where I'm going and Colleg Prowler for putting out these guides. They rank stuff like academics, safety and security, greek life, drug scene etc using the grading scale A-F. Florida State looks pretty good in this scale, and has enough bars and clubs near the university to make my decision final.

Peace.

I have to say, of all the different ways to learn about potential colleges, this guidebook offers the best way to find out if a school is right for you. I actually visited FSU, along with several other schools, and while a campus visit is nice, it doesn't necessarily give you the low-down on what being a student there is REALLY like. CollegeProwler hired a student to write the book, based on interviews with other students, so there isn't any of the hard sell you get from a campus recruiter. I highly recommend these guidebooks to anyone who is planning to attend college.

Clint Martin is an incoming freshman at Midwestern University, a school noted for the quality of its varsity football program. He loves to play football and even though he was not even a starter on his high school team, he tries out for the Midwestern freshman team. There are many other students who also want to try out, but were not recruited and they are all put together and taken through basic drills by one of the coaches. Then, well before the season starts, they play a scrimmage game against the freshman recruits. They lose big and that supposedly ends their football days.
However, the love of the game burns brightly within Clint, so he goes to the head of intramural athletics and asks if he can form an intramural team and use the University's old abandoned football stadium. He receives permission and with the help of Shoo-Fly Finnegan, an eccentric but powerful local businessman, he puts the stadium into shape and gets uniforms donated by local businesses. His idea also catches fire at other schools, so Clint's team, now called the Rebels, get to play some games.
At first they get clobbered, but after getting some quality coaching from an injured member of the varsity, they start winning. Since the quality of their game improves and there are physical and academic casualties on the varsity, Clint and his friend Yancy are asked to join the varsity. When the first-string quarterback gets booted out of the game, Clint takes over and leads his team to victory.
While the themes of determination and hard work are the main plot devices of this story, there is another one about the sport of football. Throughout the book, Scholz points out that football is not just about large men pushing each other around and knocking each other down, there is a great deal of strategy and teamwork involved. To play football well, you must think and react fast and every man on the field must handle their assigned tasks. This is an excellent book about many other things besides the sport of football.

As a sports-nut kid, I adored this book. It was great sports--and it taught me there's always a way to get it done. What a treat it is to find out it's been re-released! If you love sports, if you've ever been told you can't do something, if you like to see the good guys win...READ THIS BOOK!!!

P.S.--the guy who wrote this book won a gold medal in the Olympics, so he really *knows* sports!

I find it striking that there are so many dumb people in the world. Like the person who wrote the review of this book and said "it's better than The Godfather...Mario Puzzo does an excellent job"! First, Editors Nick Browne & Horton Andrew wrote this book -- NOT MARIO PUZZO! Secondly, it analyzes the trilogy -- it's not an addition to the trilogy -- and thirdly, quit writing reviews about stuff you don't know. That's something I cannot understand, you write about something you know nothing about!

I could not stop turning the pages! I read & re-read the book, and I am still completly compelled with the Godfather! Much better than the movies! This is simply one of the best novels that has ever been written. It can hold its own among some of the greatest writers in history. Truly the defining novel of its genre. Mario Puzo has written the perfect novel and I for one will never forget his work.

Item sent quickly and in good condition. Very satisfied with vendor. Would use again.

A lot of college football programs talk about having tradition but the University of Michigan IS tradition. The University of Michigan has the most wins and highest winning percentage of any college football team in history. The Wolverines also boast the nation's largest stadium where on any given Saturday in autumn you can rub elbows with 110,000 of your closest friends. Continuing their great series of Game Day books focusing on different college teams, Triumph books presents Game Day Michigan Football, a look at some of the greatest coaches, players, games, and moments in Michigan football history.

The book begins with a foreword by legendary former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler and then delves into some of the great history of the program from the birth of the winged helmets to the composing of one of the nation's most recognizable fight songs, "Hail to the Victors". Ohio State fans will be disappointed to learn that it was the Michigan Marching band that first performed the script spelling of Ohio way back in 1932.

From there its on to meet some of the school's greatest players. Heisman trophy winner Tom Harmon, Bob Chappuis, Bump Elliott, Dan Dierdorf, Rick Leach, Anthony Carter, Desmond Howard, Charles Woodson, Braylon Edwards, and many more are profiled. And of course we can't leave out former President Gerald Ford who was the team's MVP in 1934. Michigan's greatest teams are featured as well. There is the "point a minute" teams of Fielding H. Yost in the early 1900's, the 1947 national champions, The 1970 - 1974 teams of Schembechler who compiled an astounding record of 50-4-1, and the undefeated national championship team of 1997.

Greatest Games? How about the 1969 upset of undefeated Ohio State who coach Woody Hayes referred to as his greatest team, or Tim Biakabatuka's single-handed dismantling of the Buckeyes with 313 yards rushing in 1995, the wolverines astounding fourth quarter comeback from a 21 point deficit to beat Minnesota in 2003, Anthony Carter's last second TD on the final play to beat Indiana in 1979, or the thrilling OT defeat of Michigan State in 2004.

The Rivalries, the great plays, even the Little Brown Jug is all here in a book that is simply indispensable for the Michigan Football fan all in an attractive hardcover book loaded with brilliant color photos. Triumph Books proves again why they are a leader in sports publishing.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Got this book for my son-in-law and could hardly put it down myself. Great pictures and information. Easy reading, easily find information wanted. This was the perfect gift for my Notre Dame fan.

There really is something magical about Notre Dame Football. Eve growing up as a Michigan Football fan I realized this. Part of it came from growing up in a Catholic family. We'd often visit my grandparents on Saturday afternoons and my grandmother always had the Notre Dame football game on on her radio. The fact that Notre Dame is not in a conference has provided them with the kind of national appeal that other programs don't have. Game Day Notre Dame Football is one of Triumph Books' Game Day series featuring the greatest players, games, and moments in Notre Dame Football history.

The numbers are staggering: 7 Heisman Trophy winners, 21 national championships, 179 first team All-Americans. With those stats it's no wonder that Notre Dame has been a football powerhouse since the beginning of the 20th century and the days of the legendary coach, Knute Rockne. It was Rockne who was responsible for developing the modern passing game where previously the pass had been a novelty.

Most people are aware of two of the most famous campus landmarks at Notre Dame. First the Golden Dome which was built after a fire destroyed the main building in 1879 and the 132 foot tall Touchdown Jesus. But there are other great landmarks including "We're No. 1 Moses" and "Fair Catch Corby" that are detailed in this great book. It's no wonder the Notre Dame campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation.

Great players abound in Notre Dame's history. Heisman winners Leon Hart, Johnny Lujack. Paul Hornung, and Tim Brown stand side-by-side with other legends like George Gipp, The Four Horsemen, Joe Montana, Alan Page, and Joe Theismann. Gipp, of course, has become the stuff of folklore. Gipp led the team in rushing and passing in 1918, 1919, and 1920 but died from complications of strep throat in 1920. Eight years later in 1928 Rockne, the story goes, gave his famous "win won for the Gipper" speech just before the team was set to play the powerful Army team. Notre Dame's team was weak that year, coming in to that game with only a 4 - 4 record, but inspired by Rockne's speech, the team went out and pulled the upset.

Other great games are highlighted as well including the win over Oklahoma in 1957 which ended the Sooners record-breaking 47 game winning streak, the "game of the century" 10 - 10 tie with Michigan State in 1966, the 1978 dismantling of Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and the 1993 upset of #1 ranked Florida State.

As with all the fantastic Game Day books from Triumph it is a beautiful, heavy, hardcover book with fantastic photography and comments from former Notre Dame players and coaches. A great book about a great football program!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

This book is a must read for all Badger football fans! It is a well-written tribute to the great football players that have graced Camp Randall over the past several years!

Drawing from the photos and writings of award-winning authors and photographs at Athlon Sports, "Game Day: Wisconsin Football" showcases University of Wisconsin football teams in general, and what it means to be a Badger football fan in particular. Packed from cover to cover with entertaining and informative anecdotes of past and current players, the stories behind Wisconsin football rivalries and traditions, detailed histories of some of the greats players, coaches, teams, and moments in Wisconsin's collegiate football, lists of the most successful seasons, recaps of the most exciting games every played, as well as year-by-year team performance statistics. Profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "Game Day: Wisconsin Football" will be read with interest and appreciation by the legions of Badger fans -- and should be considered 'a must' for all Wisconsin school and community library collections.

As a PSU Alum, a faithful reader of Jordan Hyman's columns in the Daily Collegian during my years at Penn State and a fellow writer, this brought me right back to my voice-losing afternoons and evenings at Beaver Stadium supporting my beloved Nittany Lions. Kudos to Jordan Hyman on capturing th eessence and spirit of the greatest college football program in the nation.

The author here does an outstanding job capturing the essence of Nittany Lions football in a series of short stories, told through the eyes of some of State's most famous players/coaches to ever enter Happy Valley.

Kudos to Mr. Hyman, for attaining all the great stories inside the book. This is a must have for any Penn Stater and any college football fan in general, for that matter.

Since reading this guide I am absolutely sure of my decision to go to GWU. The information presented in this guide was honest, thoughtful and incredibly informative. I am not only certain that the school has what I need academically, but I am sure that my social life will also improve, since GWU has so many hotspots so close to campus (good since I won't have a car).

This book seriously helps students who are unsure of where they want to go to college. Since it's written by a GW student, all of the information is honest and open -- NOT from an official's point of view. Also, it'll be awesome once at GW b/c it lists the best dorms, food venues and nightlife spots. Cool!!!!

Having assisted US students to study in the UK for 20 years I have a pretty good idea of what they want to know, and what they need to know - not necessarily the same thing! This excellent little book "Get Set for Study in the UK', written by Tom Barron, for 12 years Director of the International Office at the University of Edinburgh, covers both these areas clearly and succinctly. There are chapters on finding a University and a course in the UK which suits you, applying and getting accepted. It gives an invaluable glossary of UK academic terms, covers study skills, and gives some advice on using the Internet to get further information. All US students intending to study in the UK will benefit from this book - indeed, it should be their first resource - nothing else covers so much ground for so little money.

Having assisted US students to study in the UK for 20 years I have a pretty good idea of what they want to know, and what they need to know - not necessarily the same thing! This excellent little book "Get Set for Study in the UK', written by Tom Barron, for 12 years Director of the International Office at the University of Edinburgh, covers both these areas clearly and succinctly. There are chapters on finding a University and a course in the UK which suits you, applying and getting accepted. It also covers study skills and some advice on using the Internet to get further information as well as a glossary of UK academic terms. All US students intending to study in the UK will benefit from this book - indeed, it should be their first resource - nothing else covers so much ground for so little money. Dr Eileen Macmillan

Parents, it's not too late to buy this book and send it to your sons and daughters starting their first year in college. You'll feel better if they have this helpful little book in hand. It isn't just a list of what to take (presumably you've already taken care of that). This is an easy-to-read survival manual for the new college student. It has tips on laundry, lofts, long-distance relationships, studying, social life, safety nets--you name it! If you're having separation anxiety as your student sets out on his or her own, buy a second copy for yourself!

"Getting Ready for College" is an amazing resource for high school students on the verge of attending college. The handbook covers not only the essentials (like what to bring, study tips, planning your schedule, etc.) but also addresses the much fuller picture of college life - facing a new social scene, getting homesick, the added pressures one faces with new found independence, and so much more. The book is full of tips and advice from those who've recently gone to college. Based on my years of experience working in student affairs on a college campus, their perspectives are accurate and incredibly helpful. The handbook also serves as a useful guide in preparing for summer jobs between school years and getting ready for the work world when graduation looms near. It's a book you should buy, read from cover to cover, and take with you as a reference guide throughout your college years. You'll be very glad that you did!