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Prelude to Greatness: Sooner Football in the 1990's | 
 enlarge | Authors: Jay Smith, William James Willis, David L. Boren
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Category: Book
Buy New: $19.95
New (6) Used (10) from $15.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 1639598
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 6.4 x 0.9
ISBN: 0806135204
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.332630976637
EAN: 9780806135205
ASIN: 0806135204
Publication Date: August 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new copy. In Mint Condition. Original Shrinkwrap. Ships immediately. Buy with confidence from sellers with five fully filled gold stars.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Book Description
Prelude to Greatness is an insider's story of life on a major college football team, focusing on the University of Oklahoma Sooners from 1994 to 1999. A rare source of insight for younger players who dream of playing college football, this book shows what they are in for: the range of experiences between failure and success, the elusive nature of any individual's dreams of glory, and the variety of motivations--good, bad, and ugly--prevalent in college football. Jay Smith is the only NCAA Division I football player to have played under four head coaches: Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger, John Blake, and Bob Stoops. A blue-chip offensive lineman from Arlington, Texas, he declined scholarships from virtually every other top team in the country to play with the Sooners in 1994 and follow a national championship dream. The dream did not materialize, and things went from bad to worse before the team showed progress in 1999 and the promise of a national championship to come in 2000. By that time, Smith had graduated and had to witness the victories from the sidelines. Instead of a national championship ring, Smith settled for knowing he had helped the team climb out of a deep hole. A compelling story that goes beyond headlines, outcomes, statistics, and recaps, this is a cautionary tale of how a young man's dreams can founder on the hard realities of big-time college football, where winning and losing sometimes has little to do with a player's dedication.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Greatness? He has no clue May 19, 2005
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This may be the biggest joke to college sports writing in history. The fact the book was published leaves me wondering about the whole industry. I know this guy personally from my years in college football and the problem with the book or any autobiography is the stories are told through the eyes of the writer. With Jay's case, as with most of us, he sees things COMPLETELY different than the rest of the world. He is so self indulged and disillusioned with his "football career" (I use that term loosely) he must write a book telling the lies he sees in his head. Jay Smith doesn't know the first thing about true college or team sports, so what qualifies him to write a book to influence others about his lies. If this book is read by a true Sooner fan, or someone who knows Jay, or even someone has the slightest clue about football, they will laugh at the audacity of his arrogance. In fact, save your money, save your time, and don't contribute to his or the publishing company that produced this disgrace of a book. If he truely wanted a book about the dark years of Sooner football, why didn't he acquire and use quotes from the various coaches, strength and conditioning staff, and athletic department? I will tell you why, they would not have anything to do with Jay, because his impact in the Sooner nation was less than the Watergirls. Yet another embarrasment to Oklahoma Football.
Players are not coaches! January 5, 2004
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have been around football my entire life, being that my dad is a coach, and has been for 18 years. I was amazed to read the perspective of this player who did not live up to "his" potential. He sounds like a bitter young man. Obviously he had more confidence in himself, than coaches who have been in the game for much longer than he has even been alive. Sometimes players don't understand the processing that coaches go through to put together a game plan, and then to carry it out. Yes, it is unfortunate that he had to have four coaches throughout his career, but at least he had the oppurtunity to play the game. There are many other young men who would have loved to at least get to play at the University of Oklahoma, or anywere else. So sometimes people should be greatful for their oppurtunities.
 Prelude to Greatness September 10, 2003
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Great read! Tremendous insight into college football from a players perspective. A must for any Sooner fan and for all high school football players considering playing for any NCAA Division IA football program. This is a book that will be discussed on the sports talk shows for some time to come, particularly if the Sooners continue at #1 in the college football rankings.
 Must read for Sooners fans! September 3, 2003
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Prelude to Greatness" finally tells the inside story of the mess that was Oklahoma football under head coaches Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake. Coach Blake's regime gets a surprisingly favorable review, while Smith puts the overwhelming share of the blame for OU's decline on Schnellenberger's shoulders. Those dark days, however, are behind us and I particularly enjoyed reading about the winning coaching style of current head coach Bob Stoops and his staff. Smith tells how an unfocused and unmotivated program filled with individuals is transformed into one unit, working to a common purpose and the book's most valuable lesson, for fans, students, businessmen or would-be athletes, is to be found here. The last chapter is written specifically for high school students considering an athletic career at the major college level, and Smith outlines the sacrifices that must be made to both play sports and succeed in the classroom. While football hindered his academic efforts, Smith is still solidly in favor of big-time athletics for the right student-athletes. Sports minded youth should be encouraged to read this important book.
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