Gerry Faust's Tales from the Notre Dame Sideline

Book excerpt: From Joe Montana's heroics to Rudy's theatrics, Notre Dame football in the second half of the 20th century was always entertaining and more often than not successful. In Gerry Faust's Tales from the Notre Dame Sideline, former head coach Gerry Faust, Notre Dame sports information director John Heisler, and longtime beat writer Bob Logan combine to take readers where even a rare Notre Dame Stadium ticket cannot--into the locker room and onto the sideline of college football's most storied program. The tales begin with Notre Dame's return to prominence in the 1960s and '70s during the Era of Ara, when head coach Ara Parseghian boasted an .836 winning percentage while leading the Irish to two national championships. Then fans will read about Dan Devine picking up where Parseghian left off, winning another national title in 1977. The tales eventually turn to Faust's years under the dome, a period filled with great stories but no national championships. Then comes Lou Holtz, the ever-concerned sideline wizard who led the Irish to their last national title in 1988. Fans will also hear about the Bob Davie era and the team's first two seasons under new head coach Tyrone Willingham There are fascinating and humorous tales of some of the most famous players ever to strap on a gold-painted helmet, from Joe Theismann and Ross Browner to modern names like Montana, Chris Zorich, Tim Brown, Jerome Bettis, and Arnaz Battle. Gerry Faust's Tales from the Notre Dame Sideline is sure to be a fun read for anyone who has ever cheered for the Fighting Irish.