This book is about a personal hero of mine. Major Dick Winters was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1918. In World War II he served as Commander or Easy Company (506th Parachute Infantry Regiment). To put it plainly these guys were bad asses! Dropping out of planes behind enemy lines is about as dangerous as it gets other than the front lines in Normandy. His book unveils the life of a paratrooper and takes you through the battles Easy Company fought in. The book is inspirational and will make you thankful for the life we have here in America. One of the famous stories in the book talks about the Battle of the Bulge where our paratroopers were surrounded (in the middle of winter with no winter clothing) by the Nazi’s, as the story goes Patton states that he rescued them, however Easy Company was able to fight and portray that their forces were much larger than the enemy thought leading to victory in the end.

The mini-series Band of Brothers brings these stories too life. It is well worth watching but the books really get to the heart of it.

From this day to the ending of the world…..
We in it shall be remembered……
We gallant few, we band of brothers.
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother.
– William Shakespeare, Henry V

John Heisman was an athlete and an innovator in the game of football. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio where he played high school football. In 1887 Heisman went on to Brown University and played four years of collegiate football. At twenty six years old he became the fifth head coach at Auburn University. There have always been young coaches succeed in the game of football! An outstanding career in coaching that lasted sixteen seasons (multiple schools) and compiled a 185-68-18 record.

Heisman’s contribution to the game of football is like few others. His innovation gave the game the first legal shifts, pulling of guards, shotgun snap, division of games into quarters (as compared to halves) and more importantly the advocate for the forward PASS in 1906! Man if he could only see the Air Raid at Work!

Without a doubt he is a legend and is important that everyone understands his contribution. Hence the Heisman Trophy was named in honor of him.

Cost: $50 per Coach or $40 Coach (2 or more from staff)

Clinic will be limited to 200 coaches so please sign up early. For details and information, call Matt Mumme at 575-639-3180.

The book is about Key West colorful former mayor and is well worth the time and money if you are a Buffett fan, Key West tourist, Red Raider fan, pirate, old movie fan or McMurry Indian in need of a laugh. Very entertaining although the first two chapters I found tedious but probably only because I know a lot of excitement was coming. Captain Tony led a very colorful life and I recommend this book highly.

Oh yea the co-author Brad Manard is a school superintendent from Iowa.

The book not only talks about football but the path that delivered Coach Bryant from Moro Bottom, Arkansas to the sport and some amazing stories that he choose to share with us. Everyone knows the success and the value that Coach Bryant had on the game of football but the inside stories will provide entertainment value to the reader.

Chapter Eight – “The first thing a football coach needs when he is starting out is a wife who is willing to put up with a whole lot of neglect. The second thing is at least a five year contract. He needs five years so he can set up his program and surround himself with people who are winners, people who believe in what he is trying to do. And so he can weed out the hangers-on and the politicians who can’t help.”

Well said back in the early 1970’s and could not be truer in today’s football world. Bear’s book is filled with stories from early life in Arkansas, to the Bluegrass state of Kentucky and on to the Crimson Tide. Of course when Coach Mumme was at Kentucky there was always the talk of how we ran off Bear Bryant after he won the SEC championship and so did Rupp (basketball coach). How you ask? They gave Rupp a Cadillac with whitewall tires and Bear got a cigarette lighter! Straight from the book a story that had been told in Lexington was put to paper in Bear’s book.

I could go on and on and to this day this book sits on the shelf in my office. Now to find this book may take a little work. The first place to look is on Amazon where I found mine for $3.99. Good Luck and happy reading.