I'm not a huge football fan, but I read this for a Florida book chat. The book focuses mostly on southern college football, with an emphasis on Florida, but there is mention of many other teams and incidents. It was worthwhile to read it, yet I finished feeling disturbed by the corruption in college football that I had only been tangentially aware of before reading this book. I was astounded to learn how many star football players have allegedly committed immoral acts and crimes to have them overlooked and forgiven by coaches, college presidents, police departments, and sometimes even victims. The fan bases and alumni support for winning college teams are discussed in detail, and the whole culture of the big game left me dumbfounded.

Diane Roberts makes some astounding analogies about southern football and the NCAA. I laughed out loud when she compared some prominent football "families" to ancient Roman rulers, British dynasties, the Vatican, and other esteemed institutions. This author understands college football’s role, both historically and in our present times, and she is both fan and critic. ( )

I finished this book last night while watching college football. Like the author, I am a smart, reasonably well-cultivated and sophisticated woman, and I freely admit my love for college football (and pro football and hockey and baseball and basketball.....) while acknowledging the many and varied issues with the whole system. A non-fan will not understand, and I get that. Just don't look down your nose at me, thankyouverymuch.

Roberts takes on all aspects of the world of college football - player safety, race and gender issues, conduct, academics, the NCAA, boosters, etc. Most of her examples and anecdotes come from major programs in the South, especially the SEC, and it makes for fascinating reading, as it's a region where a lot of the most problematic questions about race and gender bubble up even outside the world of football.

I learned a lot from this book, had my disgust with the NCAA re-affirmed, watched the games yesterday with a new perspective, and still found myself practically bouncing up and down during the excellent Texas A&M-UCLA game, so excited to have football back. ( )