Brian Curtis - Every Week a Season: A Journey Inside Big-Time College Football

Table of Contents

To Tamara, My one and only

To Mom, Dad, Greg, and Mike, My loving family

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

As you might imagine, putting together this journey was not an easy task, and the trip and the resulting book would never have been possible without the guidance, support, and graciousness of many individuals. From the spring of 2003 when I first conceived of the idea to the unbelievable fall season to the writing of the book in early 2004, the people I met along the way and those I have known for many years made this a reality. It is hard to thank everyone, so anyone Ive forgotten, please accept my appreciation.

First, I must express my gratitude and sincere appreciation to the nine exceptional men who allowed me into their inner circles. They accepted me without conditions and held true to their word, opening up their offices, locker rooms, and homes, so I could get a look into their world. They trusted me when they didnt have to. They answered my questions and took the time to explain things. Their cooperation was beyond my expectations. My thanks go out to Sonny Lubick, Mark Richt, Tom OBrien, Phillip Fulmer, Ralph Friedgen, Barry Alvarez, Nick Saban, Bobby Bowden, and Dirk Koetter. Of course, their assistant coaches and staffs, too numerous to list here, were candid, welcoming, and helpful throughout my visits, and I know many of them will one day be head coaches themselves. I would be remiss if I also did not thank the coaches wives and families, who were gracious in welcoming me as well.

The sports information personnel at all nine schools who helped arrange my visits and made sure they all went smoothly: Gary Ozzello, Claude Felton, Chris Cameron, John Painter, Greg Creese, Justin Doherty, Michael Bonnette, Rob Wilson, and Mark Brand. To all of you and your staffs, my gratitude and praise, as you are among the best at what you do. To the administrative assistants to the head coaches who eased the process along: Lora Borup, Mary Jo Fox, Jill Hegarty, Karyl Henry, Sharon Hudgins, Linda Krier, Yael Lofton, Lisa Powell, and Staci Wilkshire.

There are so many wonderful people that I met along the way. Passionate fans, wonderful administrators, and students and alumni from around the nation. A special thanks to Jack Marucci, John Burn-side, Ken Robbins, Megan Maciejowski, John Schropp, and Hamed Jones for their help.

I could not ask for a better editor and friend than Mark Tavani at Ballantine Books. He believed in this project from the start and I am grateful that he could share the journey with me. His professionalism, character, and talent set him apart from the pack. To Gina Centrello and Nancy Miller, thank you for giving me the chance. To Kimberly Hovey, Christine Cabello, Avideh Bashirrad, Fleetwood Robbins, Heather Smith, and the publicity and marketing staff at Random House, my many thanks for helping get the word out.

Sam Goldfeder, you have helped me achieve my goals and have been so much more to me than simply an agent. You are a good friend and a wonderful person and I look forward to working together and celebrating life together in the future.

To my wonderful family: my parents, Marty and Shelly Mand, brothers Mike and Greg, Erin, Jeff, and my in-laws, Don and Claire Marks. Your love and support have been incredible and sharing my journey with you makes it all worthwhile. To my wife, Tamara, who unconditionally gave her support to this project, knowing that it would take me away for such a long time. Your belief in me has never waivered. You are my best friend and the world is a better place because of you.

Finally, my appreciation to all of the college football fans around the country, whose passion and support make every week a journey unto itself.

Brian Curtis
Los Angeles
April 2004

FOREWORD

Since December 25, 1951, when a beloved aunt gave me a Voit football for Christmas, my life has been almost continuously intertwined with this great American game. It has been a source of some of my lifes greatest moments and biggest disappointments. It has also been responsible for many invaluable lessons that could only have been learned on the fields of friendly strife.

Like thousands and thousands of men in this country, this game afforded me the opportunity to earn a college degree, and for that I am forever grateful. And like the vast majority of those people who have played high school and college football, I have benefited from its greatest gifts. I have learned the humility that sooner or later this game teaches to almost every participant, and I have formed some lifelong friendships and relationships that have enriched and changed my life for the better.

At Riverview High School in Riverview, Michigan, I played for Coach Bud McCourta man we feared and respected and tried to please. Bill McCartney, who would later win a National Championship at Colorado, was there and so was Woody Widenhofer, who would become the head coach at Missouri and Vanderbilt. Rollie Dotsch was my head coach at Northern Michigan University and, had not cancer cut his life short, every football fan would know his name.

After college I was a high school teacher and coach for seven years and I loved every minute of it. But in 1976 I was offered an assistant coaching job at Eastern Michigan University, which I accepted. Two seasons later I was hired by Gary Moeller at Illinois. Then in March of 1980, the legendary Bo Schembechler hired me at Michigan. It was the greatest break of my career.

My guess is that my coaching career is similar in many ways to those of my peers. I have had some success. I have been to the summit and I know the abyss that is part of being fired. I know the incredible highs of last-second victories that are part of championship seasons, and I know the gut-wrenching despair that comes with last-second losses that end championship dreams. I know about the pressure of unrealistic expectations, and I know about the criticism that comes when things dont go well. I am also acutely aware of those critics who charge that we have lost our way in intercollegiate athletics, that we make too much money, that we have sold out to the shoe companies and the corporate influence, that we do not care about the academic mission of the universities we represent, and that we do not care about the young people we spend our lives coaching. This is the arena in which we live and work and compete, and to the degree that the arena is a negative one, some of that negativity is of our own making. Regardless, most coaches would agree, I think, that the greatest reward in coaching is watching young men struggle, grow, persevere, and mature while competing in a game that requires even the most talented to give their best effort on a consistent basis. The coachs job is ultimately to mold all of these people from all these various backgrounds into a winning team. He knowseveryone knowsthat he must win, because if he fails to win, he will be replaced.

I have been in college football for a long time and I have seen the game and the world around it change dramatically. These young athletes are bigger, stronger, faster; the recruiting is never-ending; the media has become a part of our daily lives even in the off-season; and the revenue generated and the costs associated with football programs have grown to levels that are barely comprehensible.

Every Week a Season is the most accurate and compelling picture of what goes on in major college football that I have read over the years. Not only does Brian Curtis capture the rhythm of practice weeks, the logic of planning and strategy sessions, and the intensity of games, he also paints a picture of the human side of the sport. Coaches have wives and children, and some of us are blessed with grandchildren. We have a life away from the game, even if some days it doesnt seem like it.