Turning of the Tide: How One Game Changed the South by Don Yaeger

Blurb Submitted by Landon H.
Turning of the Tide: How One Game Changed the South is nonfiction.

Turning of the Tide is a great book for any football fan, regardless of if you pull for Alabama or not. The author starts out by explaining how Paul Bear Bryant not only changed football at Alabama but how he changed it in the whole country and how his effects on the sport are still shown today. Paul Bear Bryant was known for his all-white football team, most of the teams in the South were primarily white but may have had 1 or 2 black players. This book goes on to tell about how Alabama would strictly not allow blacks to play, regardless of how much talent they had. Racism was alive and well in college football at this time until USC came to Tuscaloosa.

In 1970, the USC Trojans came to play Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Alabama was known nationwide for being the best team possibly ever. What made this game so big and publicized was that USC was starting all black players in their offensive backfield. Alabama came in highly favored and expecting a blowout. Arguably one of the best and most historic games in history, two former USC players help Yaeger tell the story of what happened before, during, and after the game. It was this game that changed the racial landscape of college football forever.

Using real examples and quotes from people that experienced this game and situation first hand, this book shares knowledge to any football fan. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the sport we love today, college football.