The Room: A Memoir of Youth, Football and a Win-or-Die Coach

Nonfiction, Sports, Football, Biography & Memoir
Cover of the book The Room: A Memoir of Youth, Football and a Win-or-Die Coach by John M. Brewer, Jr., One Monkey Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: John M. Brewer, Jr. ISBN: 9780977708215
Publisher: One Monkey Books Publication: April 5, 2013
Imprint: Smashwords Edition Language: English
Author: John M. Brewer, Jr.
ISBN: 9780977708215
Publisher: One Monkey Books
Publication: April 5, 2013
Imprint: Smashwords Edition
Language: English

The Bulldogs of Westinghouse High School were a legend in mid-century Pennsylvania as perennial Pittsburgh city football champs and much-feared exhibition-game opponents for elite, outlying Western Pennsylvania steel-town teams where many greats like Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, and Joe Montana were trained. Supported by his “winning” record, the Bulldogs’ head coach of this era led national clinics on how to condition young players.
Then there were his Bulldog players, some highly talented, some simply courageous, paying the horrendous price--in bullying, vicious hazing, serial concussions and other major injuries--of winning at any cost. And there were most of the ex-players--idle on street corners, faking old handoffs with a bottle of wine, because the coach’s “winning” system had nothing to do with preparing its mostly impoverished, mostly Italian-American and African-American players for college or college-level ball.
At the heart of the system was the team’s private room, where bloody ritual floggings and other humiliations enforced a ruthless code of fealty, discipline, and silence.
“A fascinating read from cover to cover,” according to the Midwest Book Review, The Room relates the true, first-person story of how one young player, John Brewer, Jr. grew up idolizing the Bulldogs until he himself became one of its best players. Once trapped inside, he and a few other teammates rebelled against the Bulldogs’ brutal master and the system that was chewing up their lives and bodies. The Room--insightful, frank, gripping, sometimes grim but deeply humored--records John’s personal struggle and the prices he and other teammates paid to speed the downfall of a tyrannous, dangerous coach.
Any reader whose passion is football or is concerned about concussions and other injuries to young players, or about institutionalized adolescent hazing and bullying will want to read this true, well-told account.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The Bulldogs of Westinghouse High School were a legend in mid-century Pennsylvania as perennial Pittsburgh city football champs and much-feared exhibition-game opponents for elite, outlying Western Pennsylvania steel-town teams where many greats like Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, and Joe Montana were trained. Supported by his “winning” record, the Bulldogs’ head coach of this era led national clinics on how to condition young players.
Then there were his Bulldog players, some highly talented, some simply courageous, paying the horrendous price--in bullying, vicious hazing, serial concussions and other major injuries--of winning at any cost. And there were most of the ex-players--idle on street corners, faking old handoffs with a bottle of wine, because the coach’s “winning” system had nothing to do with preparing its mostly impoverished, mostly Italian-American and African-American players for college or college-level ball.
At the heart of the system was the team’s private room, where bloody ritual floggings and other humiliations enforced a ruthless code of fealty, discipline, and silence.
“A fascinating read from cover to cover,” according to the Midwest Book Review, The Room relates the true, first-person story of how one young player, John Brewer, Jr. grew up idolizing the Bulldogs until he himself became one of its best players. Once trapped inside, he and a few other teammates rebelled against the Bulldogs’ brutal master and the system that was chewing up their lives and bodies. The Room--insightful, frank, gripping, sometimes grim but deeply humored--records John’s personal struggle and the prices he and other teammates paid to speed the downfall of a tyrannous, dangerous coach.
Any reader whose passion is football or is concerned about concussions and other injuries to young players, or about institutionalized adolescent hazing and bullying will want to read this true, well-told account.

More books from Biography & Memoir

Cover of the book Faith, Doubt, and Other Lines I've Crossed by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Today I Am a Ma'am by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Woodstock by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book American Pharaoh by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book SANTANA by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Ocean Country by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book 210Po by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book The Leonard Bernstein Letters by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Charlie Chaplin: The Silent Clown by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book The Boy from Brooklyn by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Who Are You?: Part 3 of 3: With one click she found her perfect man. And he found his perfect victim. A true story of the ultimate deception. by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Voices of a Dream by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Spain: A History by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Virginia Woolf by John M. Brewer, Jr.
Cover of the book Tomcats and House Calls by John M. Brewer, Jr.
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy