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Chip Hilton #9
Freshman Quarterback
In college at last, Chip joins the football team and rushes into danger!
As fall arrives and the new school year begins, Chip Hilton and his friends from Valley High get their first taste of college football. years of dreams and discipline have led to this golden opportunity—playing on the freshman squat at State university. But when the boys are confronted with a shocking, unseemly situation, they suddenly realize the dark side to competing in the big time. It's a story packed with intrigue, suspense, and classic sports adventures as Soapy Smith, Biggie Cohen, and Speed Morris join with Chip to toss the pigskin and catch the spirit of life at State U.
The Chip Hilton Series has inspired and influenced young people for more than five decades. Now, today's youth can gain lasting values following the adventures of Chip Hilton, the sports-loving hero who will capture their hearts and direct them toward developing strong determination and character.
As fall arrives and the new school year begins, Chip Hilton and his friends from Valley High get their first taste of college football. years of dreams and discipline have led to this golden opportunity—playing on the freshman squat at State university. But when the boys are confronted with a shocking, unseemly situation, they suddenly realize the dark side to competing in the big time. It's a story packed with intrigue, suspense, and classic sports adventures as Soapy Smith, Biggie Cohen, and Speed Morris join with Chip to toss the pigskin and catch the spirit of life at State U.
The Chip Hilton Series has inspired and influenced young people for more than five decades. Now, today's youth can gain lasting values following the adventures of Chip Hilton, the sports-loving hero who will capture their hearts and direct them toward developing strong determination and character.
214 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 13, 2021
This is the ninth novel in the long-running Chip Hilton series of sports books for boys by Clair Bee that Grosset & Dunlap published from the late 1940s into the early 1960s; this one is from 1952. Chip has at long left Valley Falls behind and is now attending State University. He and his pals Biggie, Speed, and Soapy are excellent football players, but are not given fair consideration for starting positions due to the politics of the program favoring the Booster Club picks, dominated by the local alumni. Now Chip has to lead the group not only in adjusting to the rigors of individual study and semi-independent living, but has to demonstrate the strength of character and patience necessary to win their rightful places. Thematically, it's a nice moral demonstration, though perhaps a bit more dated than most of the rest of the series.
December 16, 2017
I have recently read the book “Chip Hilton: Freshman Quarterback” by Coach Claire Bee. The theme of this realistic fiction book is, never give up. When Chip and his friends try out for the freshman football team at State University, they make the team easily. But making the team doesn’t mean starting, and even though Chip, Speed Morris, Biggie Cohen, and Soapy Smith are obviously faster, better blockers, and better receivers than the others on the freshman team, the coach starts only the Booster kids. The State University Booster Program is a program to develop future State varsity players, and State’s athletic director chose the Booster Stars over Chip and the new kids. Chip and his buds fight for their starting spots on the team, but will they get them with all of the Boosters, coaches, State staff, and fans fighting against them? The adversity directed toward Chip’s group made me feel harsh towards the State staff, while supporting Chip and the guys who were fighting yet another problem. In every other book, they have conquered their problems. What about this one? I loved the point when Fireball Finley, part of the State University Booster Program, moved from the Booster House into Chip’s dorm. Fireball ends up becoming one of Chip’s best friends. The twists and turns on every page kept me turning the trees. This book is worth your time because it is a great story. Check this one out!
September 18, 2021
This was a new Hilton for me! Picked it up a few months back at Half Price Books and finally read it. And...I quite enjoyed it!! Reading a Hilton book is always heart-warming and encouraging and this one did not let down. A simple book about a boy, his friends and football, but you know what? Sometimes simple isn't a bad thing. Of course, there was drama aplenty, what with Chip going off to college and having to prove himself in a new environment and finding some significant obstacles. I enjoyed seeing Chip work in a college cafeteria, go to a school dance (yes, he danced with a girl!!) and play on his dorm football team. Some college nostalgia definitely played into my liking this book, for sure! Chip sometimes seems a little too perfect, but I do like seeing the author's focus on kindness and integrity. We could use more of that in this world.
April 24, 2024
It was fun to get back to Chip Hilton and his friends. This time they are starting college. There were a few times I really wanted some people to develop a backbone, but the lesson the other people needed to learn was better the way the story ended up. I like Chip and Soapy, Biggie, Red, and Speed. And some of the new characters were enjoyable from the start, but others took more time to grow. There were some pages and diagrams about football plays that went right over my head because I don’t play and never really paid much attention to football, but even with them it didn’t detract from the story.
Clean and recommended to anyone who enjoys sports stories.
Clean and recommended to anyone who enjoys sports stories.
August 29, 2016
Bee was the author of a series of books starring sports sensation Chip Hilton and his sports buddies. The series takes them through high school and college, in this one they are in their first year at State College and the story opens with football practice for the freshman team before classes have started.
Chip and his friends learn very quickly that athletics at the major university level is overrun with politics. Wealthy boosters pay their money and expect to get their way, whether that is in access, players remaining eligible or influence in determining who plays. In this case, there is a group of freshman players heavily backed by wealthy people that are considered the first string and then Chip and his group that are relegated to the second level.
Even though Chip’s group completely outplays the first string, they find it difficult to break through. The freshman coaches know that the best tackle on campus is Chip’s friend Biggie Cohen and the best quarterback is Chip Hilton. However, their jobs have been threatened, so the coaches reluctantly accept their situation.
Through it all, Chip stays positive, putting out all effort on the practice field and even playing for the dorm team when he and his friends are cut from the freshman squad. Finally, the positive forces come together and Chip and his group are able to win the critical game at the end of the season.
This book was first published in 1952, when freshman were not eligible for the varsity and the rules of booster involvement in athletics were much more lax. Therefore, even though this book deals more with the undue influence in sports rather than the sports themselves, it is fiction based on fact. The modern reader may not be aware of these facts.
Through it all, Chip and his group continue to be model students and athletes, never acting out of line and semi-patiently waiting for the situation to turn in their favor. Chip facing and overcoming adversity is a primary theme of this series and that lesson is repeated here.
Chip and his friends learn very quickly that athletics at the major university level is overrun with politics. Wealthy boosters pay their money and expect to get their way, whether that is in access, players remaining eligible or influence in determining who plays. In this case, there is a group of freshman players heavily backed by wealthy people that are considered the first string and then Chip and his group that are relegated to the second level.
Even though Chip’s group completely outplays the first string, they find it difficult to break through. The freshman coaches know that the best tackle on campus is Chip’s friend Biggie Cohen and the best quarterback is Chip Hilton. However, their jobs have been threatened, so the coaches reluctantly accept their situation.
Through it all, Chip stays positive, putting out all effort on the practice field and even playing for the dorm team when he and his friends are cut from the freshman squad. Finally, the positive forces come together and Chip and his group are able to win the critical game at the end of the season.
This book was first published in 1952, when freshman were not eligible for the varsity and the rules of booster involvement in athletics were much more lax. Therefore, even though this book deals more with the undue influence in sports rather than the sports themselves, it is fiction based on fact. The modern reader may not be aware of these facts.
Through it all, Chip and his group continue to be model students and athletes, never acting out of line and semi-patiently waiting for the situation to turn in their favor. Chip facing and overcoming adversity is a primary theme of this series and that lesson is repeated here.
September 13, 2015
"Freshman Quarterback" by Clair Bee. This is when Chip is the freshman QB at a state university. This book has lots of good football action in it which will make it interesting for kids or teens who enjoy football. It also can teach us good lessons in life and teaches us how to make better choices. Overall I really enjoyed this book and it is one of my favorite books from the Chip Hilton series.
December 15, 2022
It's a cool book about sports. For some reason, I can get involved in reading about a football game for ten minutes.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews