Fields of Honor: The Golden Age of College Football and the Men Who Created It

After World War II, a small group of men returned to Ohio--some to coach football and some to play, the GI Bill paying their way. At Miami University of Ohio, these men, united in the belief that playing football could improve character, created the modern game of football. Sid Gillman, the originating strategist, coached Ara Parseghian and Paul Dietzel; Woody Hayes coached Bo Schembechler, Carm Cozza, and John Pont; John Pont coached Bill Mallory; Bo Schembechler coached Bill Mallory's sons.
With her unique access as John Pont's niece and daughter of fabled Yale coach Richard Pont, Sally Pont beautifully portrays the interconnections, affections, rivalries, innovations, weaknesses, and strengths of these men. Tracing the game from its brawling roots to its balletic peaks, Fields of Honor is the inspiring and entertaining history of the founding families of America's most popular game in a time when strategy and sportsmanship ruled the gridiron.

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Provides an intriguing study of the founding fathers of college football and the evolution of the modern game of football in the years following World War II at the Miami University of Ohio, documenting the contributions of such key figures as Sid Gillman, Woody Hayes, Ara Parseghian, John Pont, Bo Schembechler, Bill Mallory, and others. Reprint. 35,000 first printing.

Sally Pont holds an M.F.A. in writing from Penn State where she studied with Paul West. She teaches English at Moravian Academy, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where she is dean of students.