The Republic of Football
The Republic of Football
Legends of the Texas High School Game
Anywhere football is played, Texas is the force to reckon with. Its powerhouse programs produce the best football players in America. In The Republic of Football, Chad S. Conine vividly captures Texas’s impact on the game with action-filled stories about legendary high school players, coaches, and teams from around the state and across seven decades.
Drawing on dozens of interviews, Conine offers rare glimpses of the early days of some of football’s biggest stars. He reveals that some players took time to achieve greatness—LaDainian Tomlinson wasn’t even the featured running back on his high school team until a breakthrough game in his senior season vaulted him to the highest level of the sport—while others, like Colt McCoy, showed their first flashes of brilliance in middle school. In telling these and many other stories of players and coaches, including Hayden Fry, Spike Dykes, Bob McQueen, Lovie Smith, Art Briles, Lawrence Elkins, Warren McVea, Ray Rhodes, Dat Nguyen, Zach Thomas, Drew Brees, and Adrian Peterson, Conine spotlights the decisive moments when players caught fire and teams such as Celina, Southlake Carroll, and Converse Judson turned into Texas dynasties. Packed with never-before-told anecdotes, as well as fresh takes on the games everyone remembers, The Republic of Football is a must-read for all fans of Friday night lights.
[A] satisfying tour of some of Friday night’s most renowned games in places like Odessa, Brownwood, Palestine, Crawford, Mart, Temple and Waco . . . [Chad Conine] also relates in fascinating detail the back stories of the Texans who made them happen.
An incredible collection of accounts of legendary Texas high school football programs. If you like Texas high school football, you will love Chad Conine’s book—well written and full of great stories and memories.
For the devotee of Texas high school football, everything is here—legendary coaches and celebrated players, colorful history, high Friday night drama, and solid, thoughtful insight into the role the game has played in Texas culture. In virtually every chapter the reader is introduced to a young player who, in later years, became a household name in sports.
This is a wonderful, well-written book, full of compelling details and stories. A ‘must read’ for any Texas football fan.
- Introduction
- 1. Hamlin (1984): The Tie That Doomed the Pied Pipers
- 2. Odessa (1946): Hayden Fry Leads the Bronchos
- 3. Snyder (1952): Grant Teaff’s First Lessons
- 4. Brownwood (1960s): Gordon Wood’s Legacy Begins
- 5. San Antonio (1963): The One They Call “The Game”
- 6. Lubbock (1968): The Estacado Matadors’ Phenomenal Debut
- 7. Mexia (1968): Blackcats Roll with the Changes
- 8. Celina (1974): The Birth of the 10-1 Defense
- 9. Big Sandy (1974): The Wildcats Kiss Their Sisters
- 10. Temple (1975): Bob McQueen Adds It Up
- 11. Midland (1983): Lee Rebels Pull Off Historic Double
- 12. Daingerfield (1983): The Tigers’ Amazing Shutout Streak
- 13. Corpus Christi (1985): Calallen Builds a Winner
- 14. West Orange (1986–1987): Kevin Smith Leads Stark to Title
- 15. Idalou (1988): South Plains Superman
- 16. White Deer (1988): Bucks Ride Swinging Gate to Glory
- 17. Rockport-Fulton (1992): Dat Nguyen’s Pirates Raid Homecoming
- 18. Converse (1992–1993): Judson Rockets Blast Off
- 19. Tyler (1994): John Tyler’s Lions Knew How to Finish
- 20. Sealy (1994): Tigers’ Dynasty Rises Up
- 21. Galena Park (1994): North Shore Lays Its Foundation
- 22. Wortham (1996): The Bulldogs Grow into Champions
- 23. Waco (1996): University’s LT Runs into Spotlight
- 24. Austin (1996): Westlake Breaks Through
- 25. New Braunfels (1997): Father and Son Build a Winner
- 26. Katy (1997): Tigers Pound Their Way to a Title
- 27. Mart (1999): “Cosby Show” Panthers Thrive in Prime Time
- 28. Everman (2001–2002): Bulldogs Unleash Dominant Streak
- 29. Ennis (2001): Harrells’ Lions Come Roaring Back
- 30. Palestine (2002): The Call That Changed Adrian Peterson’s Path
- 31. Georgetown (2002): Mason Crosby Kicks His Way to the Top
- 32. Southlake (2002): The Carroll Dragons’ Ascent
- 33. Tuscola (2003): McCoys Lead Jim Ned to the Brink
- 34. Crawford (2004): Pirates Put the President On Hold
- 35. Abilene (2004): Wylie Wins First Crown on Final Play
- 36. Highland Park (2005): Scots Prevail in Epic Battle
- 37. Copperas Cove (2007): RG3, Bulldawgs Come Alive
- 38. Brenham (2009): Cubs Advance with Improbable Rally
- 39. Aledo (2008–2011): Johnathan Gray Runs into the Record Book
- 40. Fort Worth (1983–1984): Trimble Tech’s Glory Days
- 41. Denton (2002): Ryan Raiders Swipe Semifinal Victory from Ennis
- Further Reading
- Acknowledgments
- Index
Friday Night Lives
Photos from the Town, the Team, and After
By Robert Clark; Introduction by Hanif Abdurraqib
