It was 1939. The Depression loosened its grip on America, yet World War II loomed. Meanwhile, high school football was cresting as one of the country’s most popular pastimes. In an era before big money and television engulfed sports, schoolboys shared newspaper headlines and glory with the pros and college players, and drew crowds in the tens of thousands.
A fascinating forgotten story ... Gola tells their story with respect and admiration ... Extremely well done. Impeccably researched, with writing that is warm and moving. This beautiful book deserves the broadest of audiences.
This book has a Friday Night Lights element to it ... Gola’s book is a vivid read, showing how high school football brought together communities during a troubled time.
... thoroughly researched and thoroughly engrossing ... [The book's] details flesh out the story while truly grounding City of Champions in its time and place. This is an excellent piece of sports writing, made even stronger by how it treats its characters.
