Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Texas: A Year in the Life of Lone Star Football, from High School to College to the Cowboys

by Nicholas Eatman

Combining the power of Friday Night Lights and the inspiring insight of  Remember the Titans , a veteran Texas sports writer offers a lively, up-close look at football in Texas—viewed through the interwoven stories of three teams, Plano Senior High School, Baylor University, and the Dallas Cowboys, during one season. In Texas, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mean one football. Dallas Cowboys’ writer Nick Eatman follows three teams in three leagues throughout the 2015 season blending their stories into a unique, eye-opening chronicle of Lone Star football. Eatman highlights the ups and downs and even the parallels that these teams experienced over the course of the year. Granted unique access to every level of the three teams, and drawing on his invaluable connections, he follows key players and coaches, including stars from Baylor and Plano, Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and head coaches Jason Garrett, Art Briles, and Jaydon McCullough.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Texas reveals the inextricable connections between the three teams and the players as the season unfolds. As high school athletes strive to win a spot at colleges like Baylor, college players fight for the chance to go pro, while Cowboys teammates reflect on their rise to the NFL. Though their challenges may differ—prepping for the SATs or Homecoming, working to get noticed by NFL scouts, or trying to prove themselves for that next contract in the pros—when the lights come on and they hit the field, they share one to win. Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Texas features sixteen pages of color photos that capture the highs and lows of the 2015 season. Combining the power of Friday Night Lights and the inspiring insight of Remember the Titans , it offers a fresh perspective on this beloved sport, and is a must for football fans.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Football

368 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2016

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Important disclaimer: I am a Texas Tech Red Raiders and San Francisco 49ers fan. This book is a Baylor Bears/Dallas Cowboys story. For those of you who don't know about Texas football, please understand that this means I was reading about arch-enemies and trying to do so with an open mind. There really should be a medal of some sort that I could be awarded for this....) :)

I love football, after all that.
Texas football transcends ordinary sports fandom; it's nearly a religion, and I love THAT passion for what otherwise seems just a "sport".
Nicholas Eatman decided to spend an entire football season following and writing about three teams, one at each level: high school (Plano), college (Baylor), and professional (Dallas). One would automatically (and rightly so) assume that this book was about football, but I'm happy to tell you that it's really about people who happen to be involved in football. It's about their personal investment, sleepless nights, relationships, ambitions, character in hard times, rise to challenges....it's a book with a lot of heart.
You don't have to love football or Texas to enjoy this book. If you're a curious reader who wants a good long look behind the television facade and ESPN squawk, you'll really like this one.

One more thing....
Baylor U was embroiled in huge legal controversy during and after the writing of this book. Eatman does not shy away from the reporting of it, although he saves it for the post-script of the book. I respect him for including it, but not allowing it to take over the "Saturday" portion of the story. Well done!

Goodreads giveaway that was totally worth my time!

[Jeff Hooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it underwhelming. The narrative momentum of the seasons was at times engaging but I would have hoped for a more nuanced and thoughtful analysis of the culture surrounding the teams and the sport as a whole in Texas. The author certainly had a difficult task however and I did find it easy and pleasant to get through

[Andrew Gibney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was OK. Amazing feat as the writer would go to a High school American Football game on a Friday, College game on the Saturday and then NFL on the Sunday.

But overall the events weren't great. The drama all happened at the end. It all felt a bit safe.

This is not the author's fault. But at what stage do you decide it's maybe not a book?

In doing all three teams, you feel as if you are not getting the depth on any of them. Then you discover he works for Dallas Cowboys. com and you realise why it's all safe. You need that separation to provide a great book.

Read if you love Texas and Football. But I'm sure there's better out there.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you read the blurb on the back of the book you get a different one on the inside. The books is about three teams, but is more or less a game by game review of their seasons. There is little to no detail surrounding the prep or interviews about the process of building up to the game with the coaches. Rather than the author being an insider speaking out he seems to be just as much on the outside as the reader.
The book has promise but tails off as the author repeats himself as it all the readers have amnesia.
It’s a shame

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on football in the state of Texas as the author covers a high school, college and NFL team in the same year and goes week by week with each team. The high school section is the Friday, and covers a team in Plano. The college section is the Saturday and covers Baylor football and its controversial season in 2015 that led to the firing of its head coach. The Sunday section covers the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys. I won't say what happens with each team, but I will say at least one of the three teams doesn't meet expectations. The author Nicholas Eatman does a good job of researching but I didn't like his writing at times. I have a pet peeve of someone using the word "literally" too much, or really, at all. I was kind of hoping this would be more like Friday Night Lights and it is to a degree, but with three teams instead of one you don't feel you get to know the entire teams as much as that book, but certain players are described and written about just as well. Really liked the idea, and it was pulled off well, to a certain extent.

[Mike Koellhoffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Texas: A Year in the Life of Lone Star Football, from High School to College to the Cowboys" by Nicholas Eatman follows the 2015 season of the Plano Wildcats (a high school team located in Plano TX just outside of Waco) Baylor university, and the Dallas Cowboys demonstrating the love, loyalty, and obsession that the Texas fans have for football. While I think all football fans, former players and coaches can find something relate able in this book, I think those in Texas, especially those in the Waco area, will find this book and the pictures inside recalling memories from a few years ago. Written to be quite readable as it compares and contrasts the game on all three levels and how each effects and fits into our culture.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a Cowboys fan...I'm not even from Texas, but I enjoyed the book. However, I thought the author spent too much time trying to finish each chapter with a cliff-hanger ending. Also spent too much time moping about the Dez Bryant "incompletion" in the playoff loss to the Packers. Time to get over it, I think. It didn't need to be brought up in every other chapter.

Other than this, I thought it was a great idea and a good story. It made me appreciated the hard work and dedication of all players and coaches in all aspects of the sport, whether high school, college, or the pros.

[Jimmie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book on my to read list for years and decided it was time to finally read this book. Friday, Saturday, Sunday in Texas is a book that covers the 2015 seasons of Plano High School, Baylor University and the Dallas Cowboys. Other than reading about tough seasons for Plano, the Cowboys and the horrible sexual assalt issues at Baylor University, this was a well researched and written book. I highly recommend this book to any football fan.

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one covers Plano High School, Baylor Bears, and the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas and Baylor go through quarterbacks due to injuries like bad decisions made by Jerry when it comes to personnel moves. Plano too loses quarterbacks at a high rate, with a losing record flowing two of the teams. Baylor can't escape the bad behavior and they ... Read the book to find out the rest.

[Sandra Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for any football fan be it high school, college ( my favorite) or the pros. I really enjoyed this book and loved how it followed the three different levels of football. Thank you Goodreads Giveaway for another enjoyable read.

[Zach Barnhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great concept for a book. Was intrigued to read this for a few of the different plot points I knew were in the book. The "religion" of high school football in Texas. The Baylor football scandal and Art Briles. A behind-the-scenes look at Jerry Jones. It was a little dry at times for me, but interesting read overall.

[Scott Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!! If you're from Texas and love football, you'll love this book.

[Tolkien InMySleep · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book on football in Texas could never be boring for me. This one lacked inspiration, but I give the author credit for the work involved in writing about 3 teams during one season

[Matt Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mainly for American Football fans but does a good job following the long season felt in high school, college and the NFL for players and coaches.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a football fanatic, this is the book for you. I, personally, enjoyed the high school portions the most, probably because I have driven through Texas and been blown away by the size of the high school football stadiums, in even the smallest towns. I also didn't read it from cover to cover, after the first couple of chapters. Instead I went through and read all the Friday sections about high school games. Then went back and did the same for the Saturday (college) and Sunday (NFL) sections.

[Merle Shiffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football galore!

An enjoyable story of three Texas football teams, one high school, one college, and one professional. Each is covered for a season of wins, losses and tribulation. Well done story.

[Stephen Cronin]

Great read

Gives a great insight into the three facets that make up the sport of American football and the unique problems that each face throughout a season!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

a detailed look at football in the state that loves it more than any other.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly outstanding piece of reporting. I went into this expecting the light, jocular reporting that 99% of these type of books usually are. Instead,Nice Eatman writes a profound review of the unique culture that is football in Texas. He doesn't shy away from criticism when it is called for but this is not meant to be an expose or rebuff of the culture. Normally I would expect the 3 types of football to be shown as thought football was football and that's it. Eatman explores the similarities as well as the unique differences that makes each element appealing in its own right while combining to form the larger culture. He does an equally great job telling us stories which are already well known in the pros and college games. Lastly he shows football as an extension of culture and not one unto itself.

This is a great read even for those who don't care for football.