Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen

by Joe Drape

An inspiring portrait of the extraordinary high-school football team whose quest for perfection sustains its hometown in the heartland The football team in Smith Center, Kansas, has won sixty-seven games in a row, the nation's longest high-school winning streak. They have done so by embracing a philosophy of life taught by their legendary coach, Roger "Respect each other, then learn to love each other and together we are champions." But as they embarked on a quest for a fifth consecutive title in the fall of 2008, they faced a potentially destabilizing the greatest senior class in school history had graduated, and Barta was contemplating retirement after three decades on the sidelines. In Smith 1,931--this changing of the guard was seismic. Hours removed from the nearest city, the town revolves around "our boys" in a way that goes to the heart of what America's heartland is today. Joe Drape, a Kansas City native and an award-winning sportswriter for The New York Times , moved his family to Smith Center to discover what makes the team and the town an inspiration even to those who live hundreds of miles away. His stories of the coaches, players, and parents reveal a community fighting to hold on to a way of life that is rich in value, even as its economic fortunes decline. Drape's moving portrait of Coach Barta and the impressive young men of Smith Center is sure to take its place among the more memorable American sports stories of recent years.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Football, History, Book Club, High School

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2009

About the author

Joe Drape is a reporter for The New York Times and the author of the New York Times Best Seller Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen. He also is the author of The Race for the Triple Crown and Black Maestro. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, he previously worked for The Dallas Morning News and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When he doesn’t live in Kansas, he lives in New York City with his wife and son

Reviews

[Joe Drape]

Obviously, I wrote Our Boys, which goes on sale today, so ignore the stars. They only reflect the fact that I wrote the book that I wanted to write. My family and I had a wondeful time in Smith Center, Kansas, where we reminded how love, patience and hard work are a rock solid foundation for all kinds of successes, especially when it comes to raising children. Please check out www.joedrape.com if you want more flavor of "Our Boys." ( )

[Kathy KS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had three main reasons for reading Our Boys:
1) This was a 2010 Kansas Notable Book about a town I've visited often in my career
2) My sons are (or have) coaching/recruiting football and are full of the type of football stats this book includes. They are considered by many to be specialists about high school/college football in a number of states. So I'm already familiar with the mindset.
3) A couple of the Smith Center high school seniors on the team are cousins of my children.

And I found that I enjoyed reading about this one year in the football life of the community and their their hopes for another state title.

But football isn't necessarily the message of this book. It's also about a philosophy of coaching/teaching young people to grow into truly fine individuals. Basically, Smith Center's adults adhere to the "it takes a village" perspective of child rearing. The story is inspiring. Coach Barta and his assistants, as well as school administrators and teachers, seem to work well together in this. Barta has coached about 30 years and this includes many of the football players' parents, so children grow up aspiring to the successes their school has enjoyed in sports and other activities.

City dwellers may not realize that small towns (Smith Center has fewer than 2000 residents) often revolve around the schools (and, often, churches). Adults attend school activities whether they have children or not. School colors become the community's colors, etc. Other activities in the town are scheduled around those institutions' schedules. While arranging another consulting trip, I once asked the single, middle-aged, female librarian about a certain week. "Well," she replied, "I'm not sure. After all, that's state football championships..." Yes, Smith Center's folks considered the town had other things to do that week, rather than worrying about consulting trips, etc! As a small town product myself, it wasn't a surprise, at all.

If readers enjoy sports with many play-by-play sections and statistics, then I think you'll enjoy this tale of a year in the life of a team that didn't seem to be that strong when following the successful seasons preceding. Will they be up to the challenge? Or will they finally be beaten after around 60 consecutive wins?

But those that understand small towns (or want to) and wanting an inspirational book about young people learning that winning is NOT the only thing in life and the effects of love will also find much food for thought. Author Joe Drape, a product of Kansas City and living in New York City, moved with his wife and young son for the year and found that they felt right at home in Smith Center.

Recommended to those it appeals to.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a student at K-State, I met and became friends with many, many kids from rural farms and small towns scattered across the Kansas plains, like Smith Center. (In fact, I may have known someone from Smith Center--it's hard to recall all the little hometowns of my "old" friends.) That was one of the things that I loved about Kansas State. For a large university, it really had a small-town feel--and that's coming from a city girl! Many of the students were from small, rural towns where everyone knew everyone, and the people were more friendly, more helpful, and approached life a little more thoughtfully and pragmatically, than "city folk." Like Joe Drape, I was always fascinated to hear their stories.

That's what makes this book a gem. It's a little peek behind the curtain at one of these towns and the kind of kids it breeds. This one has something extraordinary--a football coach who treats his players with the respect all people deserve. While Coach Barta may (sadly) be an anomaly, I believe the "takes a village" mentality is fairly universal in the small-town experience.

This book is total-immersion football and boys, which got a little dry at times for me, but it was a light, fast read that left me feeling warm and fuzzy, like my memories of my days at K-State!

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this book doesn't make you want to put your McMansion up for sale and load up your spoiled Johnson County children and head to Western Kansas for a slice of real life well I don't know what will. Yes, A Perfect Season is about high school football, some of the best in the state. But truly it is the story of a community of men and women, teachers, coaches, lunch ladies, everyone in fact loving, guiding and supporting the children, whether or not they play football for the legendary Redmen. It also is about kids who are made to work and to be held accountable for their actions.. No namby-pamby children here, texting their mommies cause their credit card didn't clear at the mall. No angry parents looking to blame someone cause Jr. got a MIP (that's minor in possession) at some hot-tub party. After reading this book you'll want to go home and write up the most bad-assed chore list for summer your kids have ever seen!

[Joe Drape]

We are out in paperback with new chapter, new cover and extensive reading group materials. I appreciate the support and feedback I've gotten here. With football season upon us, especially high school footbal, keep Our Boys in mind.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice look at a small town and its relationship with the local high school football fortunes. Although the author is a "big-time New York reporter," (my description, not his), Drape is a mid-westerner who works hard to become one of the townsfolk and seems to have succeeded -- no doubt because he approached the task humbly and because the people of Smith Center, Kansas, are themselves humble and welcoming.

One is tempted to compare this book with Friday Night Lights -- they both are about successful high-school football programs, are they not? But there's a world of difference between Smith Center and Odessa, Texas, and the kids (and adults) involved.

While the author wouldn't have made the trek from New York and pitched camp in Western Kansas if the Smith Center Redmen weren't working on a record winning streak (both consecutive games won and state championships garnered), this book really is about the people involved more than it is about football. Drape focused on the seniors and the coaches, but he gives us a good look at many, many members of the community. It's really almost small-town anthropology!

A surprising bonus for me: the book has several pages about the Smith Center and Kansas State alum and long-time NFL star Mark Simoneau and shows Simoneau's graciousness to the town and football players. Now Simoneau is the head football coach at Shawnee Mission East High School in suburban Kansas City -- my alma mater and blocks from my home -- and my daughter works with Simoneau's wife at a local elementary school. Small world.

[Victor Melendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you really enjoy football then you should read this book,its a very inspiring book .The football team is one of the best teams ever and the book tells you everything that they have been through to stay undefeated for. such a long time.THe book is filled with emotion,love and inspiration to become the best team in high school history

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a former high school coach and current athletic administrator, I am fascinated by the impact, both positive and negative, that co-curricular athletics can have on small communities. I was hoping that Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen, by Joe Drape, would meet the high expectations set by Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights. I believe F.N.L. is the consummate story on the powers (or poisons) that a community can enshrine on its athletes. Fortunately, with another fall season around the corner, I get the impression that this is not another frightening social commentary like the story from Odessa, Texas. The opening quote by Coach Roger Barta states, “None of this is really about football...What I hope we’re doing is sending kids into life who know that every day means something.” Very promising.

Drape begins his story by describing his desire to reconnect with his Midwestern roots and proceeds to introduce the reader to the coaching staff and several members of the incoming senior class. The team is pursuing a record-setting sixty-seven game winning streak set several years ago. It is a classic setting that could be created by a novelist. The town of Smith Center is isolated from big-city influences (the nearest McDonald’s is 90 miles away) and never fully recovered from the tragic dust bowls of the 1930’s. The average per capita income in this politically conservative county is under $15,000 and few jobs exist outside of agriculture and the public school districts. The student-athletes’ discipline appears to begin at home and is reinforced by Banta’s compassionate, yet stern, leadership. In an era in which some tend to laud a coach for over-bearing authority, Banta tells his players to call him directly if they are going to miss a practice because if they don’t show up “I get worried. I wonder if (you) are hurt, or if something has happened to (your) family. I may not agree with why (you miss practice), but I’m going to let you go. We’re a team. We look after one another.” Isn’t this what we want from the people leading our students? This being said, Banta does not receive a free pass from Drape regarding some questionable scores that his team has run up on opponents. Most noticeable is the shocking record 72-0 opening quarter that led many to criticize coaching decisions. He mildly defends himself by stating that it happened very quickly and the opponent was virtually unable to stop a single play from resulting in a touchdown. While this may have been the case, it is difficult to accept such an excuse without further questioning a coach’s motives.

Drape chose to maintain a positive focus throughout the story. He casually describes his relationships with many of the down-to-earth folks he meets during his stay. I think one of his greatest successes in this book is how he describes the student-athletes critically, yet with a great deal of restraint. Although he touches on them, he avoided the temptation to glamorize academic struggles or emotional outbursts from these young men. When writing about teenagers, there is an inherent risk of creating mini-celebrities and I believe the parents of these boys would approve of the way their children were described.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. It was smooth and flowed very effortlessly. If you are a reader that finds interest in hearing about very average teenagers searching for a purpose and working to achieve goals, take a couple of days and relax with Our Boys. If you have experienced a football season as a player, parent or coach, you will connect with this team and coaching staff thanks to Drape's casual style. High school football can be a great experience for all involved when the priorities are in order. This book seems to justify that.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Smith County Redmen set a Kansas state playoff record for the most points scored in one quarter, the team caught the interest of the national media, including New York Times reporter Joe Drape.

But after the story calmed down a bit, Drape began to dig a little deeper into the history, tradition and story of the Smith Center Redmen and their long-time coach, Roger Barta, Drape found there was more to the story than just one of the most dominant high school teams in the history of the state of Kansas. The team had won four straight championships and looked poised to make a run at a fifth. If they could make it through the 2008 season undefeated they'd not only have a fifth title but a state record for the most games won in a row.

And yet the team was facing some questions going into the season, including whether or not the team would gel on the field.

"Our Boys" is the account of the events leading up to the season and the season itself. But it's about a lot more than that. It's the story of the impact one man can have on his team--in this case, it's Coach Bafta. It's about how Bafta works to instill on his team the virtues they will need to be successful on the football field and, more importantly, in life beyond football. It's the story of how a town finds its sense of community from the team and what it represents to the faithful who gather each Friday evening to watch their team play. It's about the pressure placed on the team not only by themselves but the outside world as they make the run. It's about the sport of football and how it can bring people together in a positive way.

I've seen this book compared to "Friday Night Lights" and while I can see the similarities, the two are very different beasts. Both are good, but "Our Boys" is a far more inspiring tale about what can happen when the emphasis in football isn't entirely all about winning but instead being part of something bigger than yourself--whether it be the football team or the community. Both a good books and a must read for any football fan, but they're both very different books.

[JoAnn/QuAppelle Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to know the many characters in this book better...maybe that is why it was just an okay read for me. The author tried to cover too many people and thus not many of them were fully described enough for me.

Also, despite my own inner admonition not to do so, I kept comparing this book to "Friday Night Lights" and to another lesser-known book entitled "in These Girls, Hope is a Muscle". Both of those books were exciting, written with style and a lot of passion, and read like novels. Lots of natural dramatic tension with many imperfect characters and situations. I just never felt wrapped up or totally involved in "Our Boys".

Yes, I appreciated the work ethic in Smith Center, Drape's descriptions of small-town life, and the philosophy of Coach Barta, how fair and equitably he treated his team. Especially how he encouraged his boys to get better every day. But...I found all of the play-by-play stuff to be a bit too much for me.

There were two things in the book that shocked me, and not in a good way.....when the coach allowed his team to score 72 points...why didn't he pull first-string players out and let some of the others play? And the number of assistants Barta had! Just too much, too many!!!

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting a updated version of Friday Night Lights, which would not be entirely bad since I for some reason have a fascination with small town high school football. However, this book showed that, unlike the portrayal in Friday Night Lights, some coaches still care not only about the star player, but about all of the students on his team.

Smith Center, Kansas is everything that Odessa, Texas was not. Sure, they both love their high school football, but I feel that this is where the similarities end. Whereas the Permian team could give two craps about their star running back once his knee is blown out, Smith Center would never do such a thing. The players from Smith Center, just about all of them, know that they will never play college football, let alone in the NFL. And they, along with the town, are ok with this. What they focus on more is using football to make them better citizens, athletes, and men.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks Joe! I LOVED this book. Drape lovingly tells the story of a Kansas high school football team. He goes beyond the drills, touchdowns & victories and delves into the impact of the team on each player, coach & community member. As a teacher, it was refreshing to read a book showing the power coaches & teachers have to motivate and assist young people as they grow up. I'm so ready for football season to begin!

[Nic Germano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I wouldn't normally pick up a book about high school football, Joe is a great friend and I wanted to support him so I picked it up on Tuesday. I'm only 35 pages into it but am instantly reminded of my own experience at a high school athlete, I also dated a high school football player. Ahhh the good times.....I definately reccommend it to everyone. Looking forward to finshing it. Thanks Joe!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story. Very down to earth, and well put together. It was ideal that I have a brother with a love of football, it helped me understand the anatomy behind this novel, but this book would have been crystal clear if you had never even heard of football. This novel was more about what was underneath the football. The raw emotions about living in a small town.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The one problem with my e-reader is that I can't just lend this book to each of my brothers. :-)

My favorite quote from Coach Barta is:

"Life is basically doing the same thing every day, fulfilling lives come with doing those things with passion, working constantly on the details that no one but you really sees."

[Dbenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for all high school football coaches and parents. If you ever played high school football, or any high school sport, there is something in this book for you. Enjoyed it immensely.

[Betsy Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this book I found myself smiling, remembering how it felt to spend Friday nights with the entire town at the football field. A wonderful story about rural Kansas. Made me feel like I was back home.

[Ralph stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe paints a great picture of smalltown life and their commitment to the hs football team. You feel like you know everybody at the local coffee shop.

[Kevin]

I won this book through Goodreads' giveaway program. As an educator in Kansas, it will be interesting to see if I find this engaging - it's not my usual genre.

[Drew- Pickleball Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect look into small town football! I found Coach Barta to be an inspiration. Every football player at all levels should read this.

[Max Moilanen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in a noticeably different social environment than the setting of this book, and having played football up until junior college, I was drawn to this novel to help paint a clearer picture about how simple and fulfilling, unadulterated American life can be, backed by the structure of team athletics, adolescence and small-town life.

Joe Drape engulfed himself in everyday life within Smith Center, Kansas, and even brought his family along, to learn about the values Coach Barta, head-coach of the highschool football team, was instilling upon the young men who played under him. I enjoyed learned the individual stories of the players Drape had became close with throughout the book and it gave great insight into rural America.

The work ethic and moral guidance surrounding the community is something that was interesting to read about, especially how every neighbor looked out for one another, helped each other in times of need; comparing it to my hometown of Palos Verdes, it definitely opened my eyes.

An enjoyable read and would highly recommend even if you are not a big fan of sports.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my summer reading Lolapalooza, one of the books I read was "Our Boys," by Joe Drape. This was a great book that told the story of a high school football team in Smith Center, Kansas, that was on a winning streak that stretched over 5 years. Joe Drape moves to this small town, where an undefeated season the following year would break the state record for consecutive wins. The whole town, regardless of who they are, goes on Friday night to support their team. This Redmen team was not as good on paper at the start of the new campaign as other Redmen teams, but by the end they showed how hard they could work and blew the competition out of the water. Eventually the winning streak would end at 67.
I would certainly recommend this book, as it is not only a great documentary of that season but it also has many different lessons to be learned. Joe Drape does a stunning job on showing what the Redmen are all about.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a guy who grew up playing high school football in Kansas, this book resonated in a special way. It didn’t have the drama that “Friday Night Lights” had, but it was still a well-written story about a small town and their love for the local team. The best part of this story was the characters, specifically Coach Barta and his philosophy of getting better each day, not only in football but in whatever you do. It also paints a beautiful portrait of a unglamorous but loving and tightly-knit town. I absolutely loved this book.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Bissinger's Friday Night Lights was the 'dark side' of high school football then Drape's Our Boys is of considerably lighter and more positive tone. Set during the 2008 season, it follows a small north-central Kansas town's beloved team during their quest to maintain a historic winning streak. Coaches, parents, and various townsfolk are also prominently featured in a story that extols the virtues of hard work and positive thinking in a Heartland community.

[Blake Knudsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading this while driving through the flat plains of Kansas and have to say this one of the most heart felt sports stories I have read. It's not at all about football, but teaches the life lesson of being a person that strives to get better day by day as a PERSON. Strongly suggest taking time to read this!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story. Very down to earth, and well put together. It was ideal that I have a brother with a love of football, it helped me understand the anatomy behind this novel, but this book would have been crystal clear if you had never even heard of football. This novel was more about what was underneath the football. The raw emotions about living in a small town.

[John Riedel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a student at Ellis High School in the late’80s and early ‘90s and was fascinated by the success of Smith Center football team during those years and beyond. It was really interesting to learn the backstory of the Redman dynasty, and it brought back fond memories of growing up in a small Western Kansas town.

[Ky]

The inverse of Friday Night Lights. An endearing story that's less about football than it is about the strength of community. Let yourself be charmed by Smith Center and the people that make the community so special.

[Marcus Scheer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about a football team that did a lot of winning. But like any good coach (or sports story), it is a lot more than winning or losing.

A quote from the coach: "None of this is really about football... what I hope we're doing is sending kids into life who know that every day means something."

[Casey O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read about a small town and it's high school football team and their record winning streak. Highly recommended for sports lovers and a quick book.