First of its kind book highlights greatest schools, greatest teams, greatest state record breakers and some of the greatest players who’ve ever played in the NFL from the Golden State. Major bookstores throughout the state should have them out today (Tuesday, Aug. 7) and we know that Amazon.com is beginning to ship pre-orders this week. To order on Amazon.com: CLICK HERE.
It’s about record-setters, trend-setters, and some of the most inspirational families and people you’ll ever meet.
Extending from the first published report of a game in 1873 to the present, this book presents high school football in a manner never done before. One of the many stories featured recounts how the late Charlie Wedemeyer, former coach at Los Gatos High who suffered from ALS, called plays by having his wife, Lucy, read his lips and then give the plays to assistant coach and later longtime Los Gatos head coach Butch Cattolico.
Cal-Hi Sports editor Mark Tennis mixes amazing anecdotes and interviews with many who’ve experienced California high school football from every imaginable angle.
The book has been sent to be previewed and read early by several prominent people connected to California prep football (both north and south).
Trevor Horn of the Bakersfield Californian just finished it and said:
“It’s a must-read for anyone that has interest in prep football, in or out of the state. The book has many ties and references to Kern County, including the opening chapter and throughout. But the storytelling of some of the greatest moments in the sport in the greatest state in the union is top-notch.”
Bob Ladouceur, the former head coach of seven-time national champion De La Salle (Concord), commented:
“If you like sports history, this is a must-read book. There are so many interesting facts and stories I didn’t know prior to reading. I have known Mark Tennis for 39 years. He is the consummate expert and historian of all high school sports, especially California. It’s perfect for your personal library.”
Other than the Wedemeyers and Cattolico, some of the other people featured in the book either through first person interviews or segments on their high school football careers in the state include:
Willie McGinest (Long Beach Poly)
Frank Gifford (Bakersfield)
Pete Saco (CIF state football)
J.T. Daniels (Santa Ana Mater Dei)
Bruce Rollinson (Santa Ana Mater Dei)
Dick Bass (Vallejo)
Maurice Jones-Drew (Concord De La Salle)
Jason Negro (Bellflower St. John Bosco)
Jack Ferrill (Stockton High & longtime Brentwood coach)
Pat Tillman (San Jose Leland)
Bruce McIntosh (South Pasadena)
Emma Baker (Temecula Rancho Christian)
Jake Browning (Folsom)
Kazmeir Allen (Tulare)
Matt Logan (Corona Centennial)
Santiago Alvarez (Los Angeles Franklin)
Frank Greene (Coronado)
Trent Dilfer (Aptos)
Tom Brady (San Mateo Serra)
Aaron Rodgers (Chico Pleasant Valley)
John Elway (Granada Hills)
Aldrick Rosas (Orland)
Bob Ladouceur (Concord De La Salle)
Tom Flores (Sanger)
Junior Seau (Oceanside)
Tyler Lewellen (Riverside Arlington)
Kevin Copeland (Los Angeles Dorsey)
Pete Morelli (Stockton St. Mary’s)
Armie Briones (Pico Rivera El Rancho)
Andy Bark (PV Estates Palos Verdes)
Bob Johnson (Mission Viejo)
Bret Johnson (Lake Forest El Toro)
Rob Johnson (Lake Forest El Toro)
Carson Palmer (Rancho SM Santa Margarita)
Dick Bruich (Fontana)
Kurt Bruich (Redlands East Valley)
Matthews Family (Arcadia & other schools)
Brandon Huffman (Ventura)
High School Football in California
Amazing Stories on the Gridiron from San Diego
To the Golden Gate and Everywhere in Between
By Mark Tennis
Skyhorse Publishing hardcover, also available as an ebook
On Sale: August 7, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68358-183-3 Price: $19.99
To request an excerpt, author interview, or additional copies:
Please contact Julie Ganz / (212) 643-6816 x 276 / jganz@skyhorsepublishing.com
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor New York, NY 10018 (212) 643-6816 www.skyhorsepublishing.com
6 Comments
Hi Mark,
Cannot wait to read the book. I’m going to purchase several copies for my colleagues.
One question and one comment:
— Unfortunately, there needs to be an asterisk next to Pat Tillman’s name as he is deceased.
— Do you ever plan to release another Statewide Record Book in the future? I think the last one was published in 2008?
All the best
Chuck Nan
Freelance Journalist
Thanks, Chuck.
Last printed record book was through 2007-08 school year and published in 2009.
We were with ESPN in those days so we didn’t have to pay for printing it.
It would take about 20K to do and I wouldn’t be able to do that without several major sponsors and selling ads is unfortunately not a strength.
Someday, maybe something could be worked out to print another one, but it also likely it would be separate books for separate sports.
That’s kind of the way the internet has carved out audiences.
Mark:
Can’t wait to get this book.
Best
Ron Siegel
Will buy a copy.
How many books is that for you guys now?
Can you buy any of those past books, including the national books anywhere?
It’s not a record book but there’s a few updated football record lists in the back.
We did seven previous published record books (all sports).
If you go to the home page of the site, there’s a module you can click so you could get more information on getting those publications.
The national books were done when we were with Student Sports and one of them has LeBron on the cover from a shoot done before his junior year of high school.
Mark,
Picked up your book. Looking forward to going through it.