Every Week a Season: A Journey Inside Big-Time College Football

by Brian Curtis

“Brian Curtis tells the stories behind the stories. He brings the meetings, practice sessions, recruiting calls and game day experience to light like never before. Fans who want to know what goes on behind the scenes will find out in this book.”
–RON ZOOK, head football coach, the University of Florida

In Every Week a Season , acclaimed sports reporter and author Brian Curtis takes readers on an unprecedented whirlwind tour of NCAA Division I football. It’s a world that breeds great drama, a world that millions watch but few understand. It is a multibillion-dollar business. It is an obsession.

To get to the beating heart of college football, Curtis embarked on a breakneck itinerary that took him where all red-blooded college football fans long to behind the scenes at nine big-time programs. In nine weeks, Curtis visited Colorado State University, the University of Georgia, Boston College, the University of Tennessee, the University of Maryland, the University of Wisconsin, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, and Arizona State University. He braved the rain to watch Wisconsin pull off the upset of the year; he was at Neyland Stadium to see Tennessee manage a thrilling overtime victory; he was in Tallahassee to witness Florida State’s dramatic double overtime battle for the ACC title. As added bonuses, he was with Georgia when the team fought for the SEC Championship, and on the LSU sideline when the boys from Baton Rouge defeated Oklahoma to capture the BCS National Championship. At each stop, he brings us inside the game’s inner in team meetings and scouting sessions; on the field and on the sidelines, during scrimmages, practices, and games; at pre-game traditions, meals, and religious services; in the locker room before the game and at half-time. Virtually nothing and no one was off-limits.

Along with the players, Curtis got to know the coaches–from the young guns to the legends–spending time with them in their offices and on the road. We see firsthand the challenges of running a major college football program–when called on, coaches must serve as CEOs, PR gurus, lawyers, politicians, and policemen. We also learn of the sacrifices made by wives and children that enable coaches to keep the numerous young athletes under their supervision focused, secure, and happy.

Brian Curtis gives a no-holds-barred insider’s account that will rank as one of the most honest and accurate books on big-time sports in America. Short of strapping on a helmet, you’ll never get closer to the game.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Football

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2004

Reviews

[Simon Lupfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book gave great insight into what goes on inside major football programs during a game week. It was surprising to see how similar many programs were in-game week preparations. However, this book did get repetitive and boring.

[Mark S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it, great stories that gave us a favor of the personality and behind the scene of the SEC

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9

[Mark Heaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it remarkable how similar game day preparation was for a large variety of college coaches. It became interesting to try to determine what then separates the good results and coaches from the poor results or coaches. What does Nick Saban do different than all the other big name coaches in the book? The process of getting young college kids prepared to play games that are so lucrative to so many people was very interesting. The long hours discussed for every coach group may dissuade some many people from ever looking into the profession. Good informative book. Little monotonous as each week became more similar than different. Only the names of the coaches and players and teams changed. Nearly everything else staid the same each week.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book was written in the now-defunct BCS era, I found it to be easy to read and informative about what a typical week is like leading up to a big game for a football team and coach. I really liked the diversity of Curtis' choices about which teams to cover. The book is divided into chapters, in which each one covers a different team, coach and game. Hugely successful, rebuilding and up-and-coming teams were all covered. From someone who has never seen a game week of practice, recruiting, physical and mental preparation, coaching, strategy, and the many other things involved in football from the inside, this was a fun look into that process. Recommended.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book about the college football experience as shown in several top tier programs, including Tenneessee, Georgia and LSU. It's a wee bit dated due to coaching changes, but still a good read as the college season starts to wind it's way to a close.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every Week a Season: A Journey Inside Big Time College Football by Brian Curtis (Ballantine Books 2005) (796.33263). One week with nine different Division One powers (Fla St., UT, GA, LSU). My rating: 7/10, finished 2006.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly dont remember much about the content, and only bought it because it had Colorado State on the cover. It has some big names teams and even bigger coaches featured. One of the first books I read for enjoyment in college/life...