By Daniel Freer

Fantasy College Blitz

Well…since even the most hard-core college football fan can only muster six or seven viewings of The Express….or play endless rematches of Michigan’s 2008 season on xBox, Wii, or SegaGenesis….or watch the reruns of the World Poker Championships…you need some real, brain-stimulating diversions.

How about some interesting books?

Books?!?

Before you call me “geek” or “literature major”…hear me out. There are some good books on football out there. Books that are quite interesting to football fans. And, books that do not require a Ph.D to read.

Ever wonder what is was like to play with, or against, Jim Thorpe? (photo, thanks Oklahoma Historical Society) Ever wonder what football helmets looked like years ago? Ever wonder about the behind-the-scenes of some of the greatest college football rivalries?

Here are some books to pass the long offseason:

Sports Illustrated: The College Football Book - by the Sports Illustrated Editors (2008) - Lets start with an easy book to read….one of those “coffee-table” books. Yes, it has many awesome photos from college football, past and present. Also, The College Football Book contains some of the best articles from the pages of Sports Illustrated…especially the pre-1980 articles from SI’s heyday. Check out their special pull-out featuring caricatures of their all-time All-American team.

Carlisle vs Army: Jim Thorpe, Dwight Eisenhower, Pop Warner, and the Forgotten Story of Football’s Greatest Battle - by Lars Anderson (2008, Random House) - The legendary game from 1915 where future United States president (and Army back) Dwight Eisenhower faced arguably the greatest athlete of the era, Carlisle RB Jim Thorpe. Anderson does an incredible job setting up the meeting, and, a descriptive analysis of the game itself. Also, the book quashes some of the legend and lore pertaining to this game.

A Civil War: Army vs. Navy - A Year Inside Football’s Purest Rivalry - by John Feinstein (1997, Back Bay Books) - One of the most renowned sports-related authors of our time, Feinstein (who gained fame for his A Season on the Brink back in the 1980’s) gives an excellent summary of one season in service-academy football…on and off the field. Just think how much better the movie Annapolis would have been if Feinstein wrote that script.

The Game of the Century - Nebraska vs Oklahoma in College Football’s Ultimate Battle - by Michael Corcoran (2005, Bison Books) - The famous 1971 matchup between Nebraska and Oklahoma is chronicled by Corcoran in his book…and great games should be honored with great books. Probably the most interesting highlight of this book is learning about all the legendary football coaches (college and pro) who were the assistants to Nebraska’s Bob Devaney and Oklahoma’s Chuck Fairbanks…the head coaches in this epic battle.

Where Dreams Die Hard - by Carlton Sowers (2005, Da Capo Press) - Everyone has read…or at least heard of Friday Night Lights. In Carlton Sowers book, he takes FNL from big time Texas high school football to small-town six-man football….instead of Odessa Permian, its six-man Penelope high school. Unlike FNL, Sowers brings out a real moving story of a small Texas high school resuming football after a decades-long absence…without all the “quasi hit-piece” tone of the earlier FNL. Yes, in my opinion…Where Dreams Die Hard is a superior read compared to Friday Night Lights.

NOTE: These books are available at many of the major national bookstore chains, and can also be purchased on Amazon.com