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Running Scared
A football coach whose job is on the line discovers a talented quarterback who is afraid to run
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
14 people want to read
About the author
Thomas J. Dygard
23 books11 followersIn His Own Words...
"I can't remember when I first started writing fiction. it was shortly after I began reading fiction, I'm sure.
"I've been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. As a teenager, I read a lot of the same kinds of books I'm writing-the John R. Tunis sports stories, for example. I also read a lot of history when I was young-and I still do now. It's always fascinated me.
"When I was a high school senior, I was offered two jobs, both of the apprentice sort. One was in a commercial artist's studio, on a recommendation from my art teacher. The other was in the sports department of the local newspaper, following work on the school paper. I took the sportswriting job.
"For four years I worked for the Arkansas Gazette while attending the University of Arkansas, first at Little Rock and then at Fayetteville, covering football, baseball, basketball, boxing, golf, tennis-everything that made up the sports page. After graduation, I joined the Associated Press as a newsman at Little Rock and later worked in AP bureaus in Detroit, Birmingham, and New Orleans. Eventually, I was Chief of Bureau in Little Rock, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Tokyo, Japan. I retired from the Associated Press in 1993 and now live in Evansville, Indiana.
"For me, writing fiction is fun, relaxing, and satisfying-an enjoyable change of pace, a recharging of the batteries.
"My first young adult novel, Running Scared, got started one night in a motel room in Champaign, Illinois, when I had nothing else to do. Before long, the story had me in its grip. The creation of the thing was a fascinating experience. I liked the characters. I liked leading them through their problems to their triumphs. I kept going until one day it was finished.
"I did not set out to write for young people. Looking back, I think it was something of a blessing that 1 did not. As I wrote Running Scared, I imagined the reader as an adult, but after it was finished, it seemed more appropriate for young readers. The result, I think, was that the story did not talk down to teenagers. In every book I've written since, I've tried to keep the same approach."
"I can't remember when I first started writing fiction. it was shortly after I began reading fiction, I'm sure.
"I've been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember. As a teenager, I read a lot of the same kinds of books I'm writing-the John R. Tunis sports stories, for example. I also read a lot of history when I was young-and I still do now. It's always fascinated me.
"When I was a high school senior, I was offered two jobs, both of the apprentice sort. One was in a commercial artist's studio, on a recommendation from my art teacher. The other was in the sports department of the local newspaper, following work on the school paper. I took the sportswriting job.
"For four years I worked for the Arkansas Gazette while attending the University of Arkansas, first at Little Rock and then at Fayetteville, covering football, baseball, basketball, boxing, golf, tennis-everything that made up the sports page. After graduation, I joined the Associated Press as a newsman at Little Rock and later worked in AP bureaus in Detroit, Birmingham, and New Orleans. Eventually, I was Chief of Bureau in Little Rock, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Tokyo, Japan. I retired from the Associated Press in 1993 and now live in Evansville, Indiana.
"For me, writing fiction is fun, relaxing, and satisfying-an enjoyable change of pace, a recharging of the batteries.
"My first young adult novel, Running Scared, got started one night in a motel room in Champaign, Illinois, when I had nothing else to do. Before long, the story had me in its grip. The creation of the thing was a fascinating experience. I liked the characters. I liked leading them through their problems to their triumphs. I kept going until one day it was finished.
"I did not set out to write for young people. Looking back, I think it was something of a blessing that 1 did not. As I wrote Running Scared, I imagined the reader as an adult, but after it was finished, it seemed more appropriate for young readers. The result, I think, was that the story did not talk down to teenagers. In every book I've written since, I've tried to keep the same approach."
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 16, 2020
Coach Pearce is in trouble. Marlin State University hired him to produce a winning football team, and in the six years he’s been coach, they’ve won a lot of games but never a championship. And if he doesn’t produce a champion team this year, he’s history. As he looks out at his team he knows he’s got some awesome players. His line is rock solid on defense: fast halfbacks who can catch almost anything, and a fullback who’s as strong as a bulldozer. The problem is that he’s got a weak quarterback. Harry’s got a lot of spirit and his enthusiasm for the game is great for the team, but his passes—well, they float. It’s too easy to intercept one of Harry’s passes. Then, three weeks into pre-season practice, a stranger who’s watching practice picks up a runaway ball and passes it back to the player who lost it. And what a pass it is! Straight, true and strong—just the kind of pass Coach Pearce needs from his quarterback.
The stranger’s name is Larry, and he demonstrates one more pass for the coach, equally as good. When Coach Pearce asks if he plays football, Larry says he would like to play but he can’t; he doesn’t want to get hurt. But by the end of their conversation, Larry and Coach Pearce have made a deal: Larry will be on the team as a “passing specialist”—he’ll come in and pass, but never practice with the team, never stay in the game and never run with the ball.
Coach Pearce doesn’t know why Larry is afraid of getting hurt, but he really wants Larry to play, so he makes the deal. What will the team say when they find out Larry’s taking Harry’s place as quarterback, when he won’t even suit up and practice with the team?
(REVIEW: Other than the old fashioned language, the only negative would be that the story is from the coach’s perspective, not the college kid’s, which kids would probably relate to better. A great story, even for someone who doesn’t like sports stories! A coach trying to deal with team relationship issues, a boy working through his fears. Dated names. Prolific sports author. Wonderful sports descriptions. Highly recommended.)
The stranger’s name is Larry, and he demonstrates one more pass for the coach, equally as good. When Coach Pearce asks if he plays football, Larry says he would like to play but he can’t; he doesn’t want to get hurt. But by the end of their conversation, Larry and Coach Pearce have made a deal: Larry will be on the team as a “passing specialist”—he’ll come in and pass, but never practice with the team, never stay in the game and never run with the ball.
Coach Pearce doesn’t know why Larry is afraid of getting hurt, but he really wants Larry to play, so he makes the deal. What will the team say when they find out Larry’s taking Harry’s place as quarterback, when he won’t even suit up and practice with the team?
(REVIEW: Other than the old fashioned language, the only negative would be that the story is from the coach’s perspective, not the college kid’s, which kids would probably relate to better. A great story, even for someone who doesn’t like sports stories! A coach trying to deal with team relationship issues, a boy working through his fears. Dated names. Prolific sports author. Wonderful sports descriptions. Highly recommended.)
December 21, 2016
This book is about a guy named Larry, who's brother got hurt playing football, and now Larry wants nothing to do with the sport. The coach of his school's football team noticed that Larry had potential and he convinced Larry to join the team. The season went on but Larry was still scared of football and it affected the team. The team had a rough season and it's all because of Larry's fear. I rated it a five star because there is a good lesson but I don't think it can stretch to readers of other genres.
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November 2, 2012I thought it was a really amazing book. Coming from the fact that I play football my self, and I love and enjoy the game. The book to me show courage and willingness of the Quarterback that come in late and win the biggest game of the season for the team and the community.
October 27, 2014
This book is a ok book. I like this book because it is about football. This team is not a good team at the time. then they have a three game winning streak. They are the Marlin state campus. coach Chuck Pearce is a pretty good coach. the real big question is if they would be a good team.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews