The Perfect Season: How Penn State Came to Stop a Hurricane and Win a National Football Championship

The Perfect Season: How Penn State Came to Stop a Hurricane and Win a National Football Championship
by M. g. Missanelli

The Perfect Season: How Penn State Came to Stop a Hurricane and Win a National Football Championship
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Book Summary Information

Author: M. g. Missanelli
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-08-30
ISBN: 0271032820
Number of pages: 232
Publisher: Pennsylvania State Univ Pr

Book Reviews of The Perfect Season: How Penn State Came to Stop a Hurricane and Win a National Football Championship

Book Review: Man, what a book!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars

Man what a book!!!! Fortunately for me, I was a student at PSU when this game was played. Some of the players were in my classes and some of them I knew on a first name basis.

This book took me back to a time when life was simpler and simple satisfactions, like football, at the time meant little, but over time they mean a lot more.

The author takes you into the game. Not just what you saw on TV and how the announcers made it look, but really takes you into the pre-game, how the Fiesta Bowl people did what they did to get this game played on Jan 2.

He takes you on the field with each of the players 20 years later as they relive the greatest college game that they ever played. Even the insights from the Miami players makes this book totally complete.

I couldn't put it down and am glad I bought it. I gave it to my Brother and he read it in about 4 days.

Great book, great story

Summary of The Perfect Season: How Penn State Came to Stop a Hurricane and Win a National Football Championship

The 1987 NCAA championship football game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the University of Miami Hurricanes is often considered the most memorable championship game in all of college football history. Both teams were undefeated going into the game, but the Hurricanes were heavily favored, as they had demolished each of their opponents during the regular season. Penn State pulled off of the most surprising upsets on January 2, 1987, by handing the University of Miami team its only loss of the season. The Perfect Season, with help from the Penn State players involved, Missanelli retells the story not just of this championship game but also of Penn State's entire season.

Beginning with its Orange Bowl loss in 1985 (Penn State's only loss that year), Missanelli recounts the glorious 1986 season through the eyes of those Penn State athletes. The book also focuses on the media's buildup of the national championship, explaining why the University of Miami team was considered the villain in this battle. Numerous anecdotes stories are included, such as the incident where the University of Miami team arrived at the Fiesta Bowl wearing combat fatigues in an attempt to wage psychological war on its opponents. But such tactics appeared to have little effect the Penn State Nittany Lions, whose tenacity resulted in victory in the final minutes of the game.

Drawing on interviews as well as his own recollections, the author relates the vivid story of one of the most triumphant seasons in the history of Penn State football. Anyone interested in college football, the Nittany Lions, or Joe Paterno's legacy will find this book impossible to put down.

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