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Sidelines and Bloodlines: A Father, His Sons, and Our Life in College Football
For ESPN’s Ryan McGee, football is a lifelong passion formed from growing up as the son of Dr. Jerry McGee, a man who wore stripes for decades as one of the most highly-decorated officials in college football history. In Sidelines and Bloodlines , Ryan McGee teams up with his father and brother to share lessons learned between the white lines, featuring a cast of characters that runs from no-name small college athletes and coaches to one-name legends such as Holtz, Paterno, Tebow, and Bo. The McGees provide a rare and often hilarious glimpse inside the lives of college officials, detailing how a love for the game convinces accomplished professionals from all walks of life to voluntarily endure ceaseless insults, public criticism, and the expressed goal of doing one’s job on a very public stage in a way that will hopefully NOT draw any attention to how that job is done. From hilarious stories of brawling high school referees and making awkward small talk with George Lucas and Darth Vader at the Rose Bowl to the heart-tugging story of young sons in the stands on a Saturday as a stream profanity-laden insults directed at their father drowns out the marching band, Sidelines and Bloodlines delivers laughs, tears, and a deeper understanding of a life in stripes.
- GenresSportsNonfictionFootball
288 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2020
28 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 3, 2020
To the average college football fan, there are two teams on the field every Saturday in the fall; they take turns on offense and defense, but the fans bleed orange, purple, crimson red, or even Maryland state-flag design. And every Saturday, those are the only two teams on the field, according to the average fan.
Ryan McGee is not your average fan.
McGee, a longtime ESPN journalist and host, makes the case that there's a third team on the field every Saturday, and while not too many people count themselves fans of this team, those that do bleed black and white stripes.
In "Sidelines and Bloodlines," McGee documents the almost forty years that his father, Dr. Jerry McGee, worked the sidelines as a college referee every Saturday, in locations wide and varied, but most at home in the ACC. With input from Dr. Jerry and Ryan's younger brother Sam, we get the full story of the McGee family's full-time immersion in college football from an earlier age (Sam even has a school picture from elementary school in one of his dad's black caps, which he refused to take off). Love of the game runs through the family bloodline, and with Jerry's decades-long "side hustle" as an official working the lines of dozens of college football games, his boys couldn't help but fall in love with every aspect of the game.
There are great stories here, like the time that Jerry became an unwilling part of a late hit on the field (the spin he took and the landing were so bad that Ryan, then working in the ESPN production truck, had to call his mom to let her know what had happened and that Jerry was okay). The book is a love letter to Jerry and to college football. To referee in any sport is almost always a risky adventure, but with the passionate fan base that college football attracts, especially in the South, is almost like running the bulls at Pamplona on a weekly basis. And Dr. McGee has heard it all, from legendary coaches who were perhaps "less than pleased" with the way he might call a play (but Jerry stands by his calls for the most part, save one or two he's sure he got wrong).
This is a fun, entertaining book, a great look at a family brought together by a shared love of football (and saved by it during the worst year of the family's life, 1999, when beloved matriarch Hannah McGee suddenly died and Jerry found solace working the sidelines that year). Sports has been in the spotlight this past year especially for not just giving us a break from COVID, but also for forcing us to pay attention to the wider world. "Sidelines and Bloodlines" helps make the case that sports can help make lives more meaningful and enjoyable, and they can also offer a respite from the stresses of everyday life and unspeakable tragedy.
Ryan McGee is not your average fan.
McGee, a longtime ESPN journalist and host, makes the case that there's a third team on the field every Saturday, and while not too many people count themselves fans of this team, those that do bleed black and white stripes.
In "Sidelines and Bloodlines," McGee documents the almost forty years that his father, Dr. Jerry McGee, worked the sidelines as a college referee every Saturday, in locations wide and varied, but most at home in the ACC. With input from Dr. Jerry and Ryan's younger brother Sam, we get the full story of the McGee family's full-time immersion in college football from an earlier age (Sam even has a school picture from elementary school in one of his dad's black caps, which he refused to take off). Love of the game runs through the family bloodline, and with Jerry's decades-long "side hustle" as an official working the lines of dozens of college football games, his boys couldn't help but fall in love with every aspect of the game.
There are great stories here, like the time that Jerry became an unwilling part of a late hit on the field (the spin he took and the landing were so bad that Ryan, then working in the ESPN production truck, had to call his mom to let her know what had happened and that Jerry was okay). The book is a love letter to Jerry and to college football. To referee in any sport is almost always a risky adventure, but with the passionate fan base that college football attracts, especially in the South, is almost like running the bulls at Pamplona on a weekly basis. And Dr. McGee has heard it all, from legendary coaches who were perhaps "less than pleased" with the way he might call a play (but Jerry stands by his calls for the most part, save one or two he's sure he got wrong).
This is a fun, entertaining book, a great look at a family brought together by a shared love of football (and saved by it during the worst year of the family's life, 1999, when beloved matriarch Hannah McGee suddenly died and Jerry found solace working the sidelines that year). Sports has been in the spotlight this past year especially for not just giving us a break from COVID, but also for forcing us to pay attention to the wider world. "Sidelines and Bloodlines" helps make the case that sports can help make lives more meaningful and enjoyable, and they can also offer a respite from the stresses of everyday life and unspeakable tragedy.
August 17, 2022
First, this is NOT the type of book I normally read; I'm not a huge sports fan. But Dr. Jerry McGee was the president of my university and I know his sons, so I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It does have a lot of sports talk - if you don't personally know the people involved, it might be a bit boring if you aren't into sports. But it's a great look at father/son relationships and the long-term impacts our childhood experiences can have on us. Lots of great stories and some laugh-out-loud ones!
May 16, 2023
I think is this is probably the first book I have read about a football official, Dr. Jerry McGee, and it’s written from the viewpoints of him and his two sons, Ryan and Sam.
I enjoyed learning about how Dr. Jerry Mcgee got started, his stories, and especially his memories of games and players, and certain plays that have been discussed about for a long time.
I also liked how the book was presented as it was easy to see who was talking.
I enjoyed learning about how Dr. Jerry Mcgee got started, his stories, and especially his memories of games and players, and certain plays that have been discussed about for a long time.
I also liked how the book was presented as it was easy to see who was talking.
September 20, 2021
A great book. A must read for any football fan. The view of the game from the referees view. Also a great story of a family and their interactions. Many good stories. It is well written easy to read story. Ryan wrote the book but there are inputs from his father and brother that add to the stories.
January 9, 2022
This book was absolutely a terrific read. The McGee’s and I shared some stadium space in 80s and 90s, I can guarantee I yelled at dr McGee and his crew….the stories were terrific and the end was perfect
February 3, 2023
Officials are people too!
McGee family thanks for detailing and explaining what officials feel and why we do it. Although never reaching your father’s heights, your words describe my weekend life for over 20 years. Thanks for letting everyone know officials are people too!
McGee family thanks for detailing and explaining what officials feel and why we do it. Although never reaching your father’s heights, your words describe my weekend life for over 20 years. Thanks for letting everyone know officials are people too!
October 11, 2020
Great read
This book as extremely entertaining. It told more than a referees story, it was a masterpiece about a father and his relationships with his two boys!
This book as extremely entertaining. It told more than a referees story, it was a masterpiece about a father and his relationships with his two boys!
December 8, 2020
Required reading
Every football fan
Should
Read this book.Refs are major part of game.Thank you McGee family.I really enjoyed learning about the life of a referee.
Every football fan
Should
Read this book.Refs are major part of game.Thank you McGee family.I really enjoyed learning about the life of a referee.
June 18, 2021
I found this book very interesting. It tells the side of college football games from the officials side of it. next time I watch a game I will watch the officials more closer.
January 3, 2022
A great read about the intersection of college football and family; great stories from both home and on the field. There’s a reason the author had five hometowns during his life…
February 9, 2022
Dooley and Dooley!!
Great read from a perspective most never know! Ryan has introduced us to a world mostly unknown.
Give it a read
Great read from a perspective most never know! Ryan has introduced us to a world mostly unknown.
Give it a read
April 6, 2022
Wonderful stories of a dedicated career. I officiated football for 25 years, and the adventures, humor, stress, and excitement in this book reminded me of the good times and not so good.
July 26, 2023
Outstanding book. An insider's glimpse into a world 99% of fans and athletes alike have no real understanding of. The humor and love that shines through this book made it hard to put down.
July 31, 2023
A great book about college football officiating.
October 30, 2023
This was a fun read but then I love college football. So it was great to read about the games from the officiating angle. Quick and easy to read. Would recommend for sports fans.
January 7, 2024
Brought me a newfound respect and opinion of sports officials.
January 6, 2024
I got this as a birthday present and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I appreciate the insight into the ref world, when you're used to them being the enemy.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews