The Road to the Horseshoe and Beyond: How a Small-Town Athlete Benefited from Ohio State Football to Build a Life

by Rex Kern, Lee Caryer (With)

“Legendary stories about my dear friend Rex Kern abound. His heroics at Ohio State electrified crowds and inspired reverence from an entire generation of Buckeye fans. “I was there as his competitor and teammate, confidante and friend, as well as his occasional partner in mischief. Our brotherhood was forged by a common purpose and an unforgettable championship run. “Now Rex tells his story, and I was delighted to learn things about him that I didn’t know even after more than fifty years of close friendship. He wrote this as a gift to his sons and grandchildren, it is a gift to all of us. From a barbershop in Lancaster to a prayer breakfast at the White House to a College Football Hall of Fame ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria—and to the many doctor’s visits and surgeries in between—he walks us through a life always defined by humility, grace, and perseverance. His devotion to family, friendship, and faith in the midst of often debilitating pain is endlessly inspiring. “Rex Kern is not just a football legend, he is a champion at everything that matters in life.” — Ron Maciejowski, “Super Sub” of the “Super Sophs,” OSU 1968-69-70

360 pages, Hardcover

Published January 11, 2022

Reviews

[Christopher Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subtitled: How a Small-Town Athlete Benefited From Ohio State Football to Build a Life

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I used to collect football cards back in the 1970s. My baseball card collection is much larger because the stores in the small town where I grew up didn’t always get enough inventory of cards for non-baseball sports after the first half of the decade. Anyway, one of the player cards I remember from back in those days was for a cornerback with the Colts, who at that time hadn’t left Baltimore for Indianapolis yet. When I saw the listing on Net Galley for a book written by Kern, I couldn’t pass it up.


My normal expectations for a sports biography include a short section about the player’s childhood, a year-by-year detail of their career and stories about the players they played with and against, and some details about their life after retirement. This biography/memoir deviates from that model. Kern intends it as a compendium of advice for future generations of Kerns and a tribute to his family, his coaches and teammates, and others who have mentored him throughout his life.

Rex Kern is about twelve years older than I am, so although we didn’t grow up at exactly the same time, there are enough similarities between his childhood years and my own that I could identify with what he had to say about growing up in a small town. I recall several of his college teammates and opposing players from by football card collection as well. Kern had a lot to say about his relationship with long-time Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, faith, and other topics that were important enough to him to want to share with readers.

I gave The Road to the Horseshoe and Beyond four stars on Goodreads. It made me think about the advice I’d want to give my own descendants, even if it didn’t fit the normal structure of a sports biography.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

For much of this book, I could have given it five stars, especially the sections that dealt with Rex’s years as a great quarterback at Ohio State. Although I realize that Kern set out to relate stories for his family and many friends, far beyond his OSU career, I wanted to rush through those chapters and get to the part of his life to which I related. The book, overall, is well written, and I believe presents a balanced and insightful perspective on Woody Hayes. Rex is not blind to Woody’s flaws but neither is he without insight into Woody’s capabilities and shortcomings. If one reads the book as, perhaps, Rex intended it to be, as a way to thank the many people who helped him on his life path and not just the story of his incredible OSU career, you will not be disappointed. I’ve always admired Rex Kern and after reading this book, I admire him even more. Go, Bucks. And thanks to Ole #10.

[Janet Lipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I eagerly awaited the book The Road to the Horseshoe and Beyond by Rex Kern and Lee Caryer and I was not disappointed!!

Having lived in Ohio I knew about Ohio State football and basketball as if the players were family. But Rex and his teammates came alive in this biography/sport history. More importantly for me it illustrated the importance of family, honorable values, friendship, hard work and faith.

All of that is a lot to rave about coming from a U of M graduate!! But once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye.

Janet L.