The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football

Written by S. C. Gwynne

Narrated by Santino Fontana

An “excellent sports history” (Publishers Weekly) in the tradition of Michael Lewis’s Moneyball, award-winning historian S.C. Gwynne tells the incredible story of how two unknown coaches revolutionized American football at every level, from high school to the NFL.

Hal Mumme spent fourteen mostly losing seasons coaching football before inventing a potent passing offense that would soon shock players, delight fans, and terrify opposing coaches. It all began at a tiny, overlooked college called Iowa Wesleyan, where Mumme was head coach and Mike Leach, a lawyer who had never played college football, was hired as his offensive line coach. In the cornfields of Iowa these two mad inventors, drawn together by a shared disregard for conventionalism and a love for Jimmy Buffett, began to engineer the purest, most extreme passing game in the 145-year history of football. Implementing their “Air Raid” offense, their teams—at Iowa Wesleyan and later at Valdosta State and the University of Kentucky—played blazingly fast—faster than any team ever had before, and they routinely beat teams with far more talented athletes. And Mumme and Leach did it all without even a playbook.

“A superb treat for all gridiron fans” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), The Perfect Pass S.C. Gwynne explores Mumme’s leading role in changing football from a run-dominated sport to a pass-dominated one, the game that tens of millions of Americans now watch every fall weekend. Whether you’re a casual or ravenous football fan, this is “a rousing tale of innovation” (Booklist), and “Gwynne’s book ably relates the story of that innovation and the successes of the man who devised it” (New York Journal of Books).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Sep 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781508211754

S. C. Gwynne

S.C. Gwynne is the author of His Majesty’s Airship, Hymns of the Republic, and the New York Times bestsellers Rebel Yell and Empire of the Summer Moon, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. He spent most of his career as a journalist, including stints with Time as bureau chief, national correspondent, and senior editor, and with Texas Monthly as executive editor. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife.

Reviews for The Perfect Pass

[James Matthews · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Phenomenal book for one of the best biographical authors of our time. A great look at the history of American Football through the lens of offense as well as the trials, tragedy, and triumphs of a very common but little understand position in sports: the football coach.

[mark rose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book for any football newbie’s or aficionados! Solid book!

[goatboy41 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic book

If you're at all interested in College Football this a great read or listen

I am addicted to listening so enjoyed the narrator and material in this.

It is as much a story of the evolution of passing in Football as a biography of the innovator's life, trials and tribulations as a head football Coach from High School, D11, D111 and finally FBS.

Don't worry about understanding the play diagrams as the Author reveals them with great clarity.

You get an ah hah moment when, while listening, the play unfolds in your imagination and you get it. I mean really get it.

Enjoy

[Leon Cyna · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best football books out there! Traces the career of a coach who helped revolutionize the passing game.