article Summer Reading: 10 Books Every Kentucky High School Football Fan Should Own

1. Friday Night Lights- H.G. Bissinger

Friday Night Lights, 25th Anniversary Edition: A Town, a Team, and a Dream: H.G. Bissinger: 9783682421: Amazon.com: Books

The Word: Friday Night Lights is the "O.G." when it comes to High School Football Literature. It has successfully spun off a movie and a television series.

2. Must Win: A Season of Survival for a Town and Its Team- Drew Jubera

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Must Win: A Season of Survival for a Town and Its Team

The Word: Valdosta High School is the Country's Winningest program and this book delves deep into the History, Expectations, and Politics of a proud program reaching a crossroads.

3. Faith, Family, and Football- Philip Haywood

Faith, Family, and Football: Philip Haywood: 978166793282: Amazon.com: Books

The Word: Kentucky's Winningest Coach delves into his legacy as a Coach and in the process shares life lessons and the people who helped make him who he is today.

4. Muck City: Winning and Losing in Football's Forgotten Town- Bryan Mealer

Muck City: Winning and Losing in Football's Forgotten Town: Bryan Mealer: 97837888631: Amazon.com: Books

The Word: Follow for a season with the Glades Central High School Football Team on their quest for a Florida State Championship while also getting an introspective look at the Okeechobee Community that ranks among the nation's worst in violence, HIV, and unemployment.

5. Black Shoes and White Shoestrings- David Buchanan

Black Shoes and White ShoeStrings

The Word: A must for history buffs of Kentucky Football. Buchanan reflects on stories from his father and other legendary coaches from around the State and shares lessons learned from being around the game his entire life.

6. Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen- Joe Drape

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Boys-Perfect-Season-Plains/dp/0312662637

The Word: As a legendary Head Coach nears the end of his career he strives to finish his legacy with a special group. The book follows a small school in Rural Kansas as they give a town that is struggling to exist on a map a reason to be proud.

7. Meat Market: Inside the Smash-Mouth World of College Football Recruiting- Bruce Feldman

https://www.amazon.com/Meat-Market-Smash-Mouth-Football-Recruiting/dp/1933060395

The Word: An eye opening look into the world of Division 1 football recruiting. For parents with sons or daughters they hope to one day see strive a scholarship it is a must read as Feldman follows Ed Orgeron through the tangled web of a football season off the gridiron (now the coach at LSU)

8. Woodlawn. One Hope. One Dream. One Way.- Todd Gerelds

https://www.amazon.com/Woodlawn-One-Hope-Dream-Way/dp/1501118064

The Word: The story of former Running Back Tony Nathan as he faces racial tension and integration in Birmingham, Alabama. Woodlawn paints the picture that when a shared love of the game and unwavering faith collides; amazing things are possible.

9. Season of Life: A Football Star, a Boy, a Journey to Manhood- Jeffrey Marx

https://www.amazon.com/Season-Life-Football-Journey-Manhood/dp/0743269748

The Word: The author meets his childhood hero, a local football legend, who is now a volunteer coach. What he learns is a lesson in leadership and compassion he wasn't expecting to find.

10. The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork: Embrace Them and Empower Your Team- John Maxwell

https://www.amazon.com/17-Indisputable-Laws-Teamwork-Embrace/dp/1400204739

The Word: Though Not Football-centric like these other books, Maxwell's leadership book certainly has practical tie ins that any person could learn from. A must have book for coaches or anyone raising a child to be a better team mate.

"The Education of a Coach" is a great one.

"How good do you want to be"

I read the Haywood book when it was first released and absolutely loved it. I read the Friday Night Lights book before the movie came out. Once again the movie tended to change the way things really occurred. I wish they would quit using the phrase, "Based on a true story."