When Marques Tuiasosopo entered his senior season at the University of Washington, his dream was to quarterback the Huskies to the Rose Bowl. Surrounding him was a cast of colorful characters possessing marginal talent. When Washington beat powerhouse Miami and pulled out a series of fourth quarter comebacks, it seemed every deficit could be overcome. But in late October, when an on-field collision paralyzed safety Curtis Williams, football fell to irrelevancy as the team reeled into despair. Out of that tragedy sprung an epic story of brotherly love and inspired leadership. The Washington Huskies came together and confronted their deepest fears to win the Rose Bowl for their fallen teammate. Derek Johnson weaves together a theater of voices so immediate you'll feel like you're in the huddle. You'll also admire the personalities of the players and coaches who lived through it-from Head Coach Rick Neuheisel, Willie Hurst, Hakim Akbar and Matt Rogers of American Idol. The Dawgs of War: a Remembrance provides inspirational armchair reading.

The Dawgs of War: Marques Tuiasosopo's Rose Bowl Season

Sports & Outdoors

Derek Johnson

Football (American)

Derek Johnson Books, LLC

Tyrone Willingham was, at every turn, one man everybody could look at to make themselves feel good. In 2002, when he led Notre Dame football to a 10-3 record, the national media anointed him as an icon of impeccable integrity, discipline and class, the legendary Molder of Men. For black Americans in particular, Willingham represented one of their own, rising to prominence in a high-profile position usually held by middle-aged white men. Following his controversial firing at Notre Dame, Willingham came to Washington in 2005 under great fanfare as UW's first-ever black head football coach. At the initial press conference, Willingham stated his purpose: `It is time for the University of Washington to return to being the Dawgs. And it is my understanding that a dawg is a vicious animal.' But from the moment Willingham got behind closed doors with his new team, a disturbing side of his personality emerged. In this ground-breaking book, Derek Johnson presents a shocking side of Tyrone Willingham only seen by the Washington Huskies players. Many of them quickly grew to loathe him and the game of football, while watching in dismay as the public idolized the media's lofty image of Willingham. By December 2007, crushing defeat after crushing defeat eroded Washington's legacy as a powerhouse. Despite warning signs of incompetence, many fans, sportswriters, pundits and even the NAACP still rushed to Willingham's defense. With regional tensions running high, UW President Mark Emmert rendered his decision to retain Willingham for a fourth year. The resulting fallout blemished the face of Husky Football forever, while raising questions about the true nature of race relations in America.

Bow Down to Willingham: How White Guilt Enabled a Secretly Malicious Coach to Destroy the Once-Mighty Washington Huskies

As a football-crazed boy growing up in Texas, Dave Hoffmann discovered within himself a burning intensity and ferocious hitting ability that few others possessed. As a prep player in San Jose, California, he battled with a stuttering problem while developing into a talented linebacker under the mentorship of a former NFL player. When he arrived at the University of Washington in 1988, he played a central role amid an incoming recruiting class that banded together and vowed to take the mediocre Huskies to the top of the college football world. Over the next five seasons, Hoffmann became an All-American linebacker whose teams played in three consecutive Rose Bowls, won a National Championship and were regarded by many as the greatest defense in college football history. Written with author Derek Johnson, The Husky Hitman presents Hoffmann's voice - earnest, vigorous, plainspoken, insightful, and funny - along with the voices of those who knew him best, including Don James, Jim Lambright, Mark Brunell, Steve Emtman, James Clifford, Chico Fraley, Ed Cunningham and others. Says Hoffmann: I always thrilled at expending every ounce of energy I had on the field. Going into battle and winning championships. Hitting guys so hard that my helmet would dig into my forehead, causing rivulets of blood to trickle down my face. That was a special feeling for me - tangible evidence that I was doing a good job out there... that I was bringing intensity and violence to the opponent and they were feeling it. I appreciate those days and more importantly the people I was blessed to be surrounded by. We truly were a band of brothers, giving all we had and backing each other on and off the field. Our accomplishments were just evidence of the love we had for each other and for the game of football.

The Husky Hitman: The Life and Times of a Linebacker in the Golden Age of Washington Football

Dave Hoffmann

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Books by Derek Johnson Books, LLC

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Derek Johnson Books, LLC publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Dawgs of War: Marques Tuiasosopo's Rose Bowl Season

Bow Down to Willingham: How White Guilt Enabled a Secretly Malicious Coach to Destroy the Once-Mighty Washington Huskies

The Husky Hitman: The Life and Times of a Linebacker in the Golden Age of Washington Football