Appalachian State Silences the Big House: Behind the Greatest Upset in College Football History

Wow. This account of one of the great underdog stories in sports history is impossible to put down. The authors put you right there, in the training rooms, locker rooms, on the field. The game is recounted with stunning detail. You can really tell this was a labor of love for two talented writers with a passion for sports. Chapters about key figures in this epic battle are spread throughout, adding a human dimension, giving the reader a window into the lives of the kids who were too small or too slow or too short or too light to make the team they eventually beat through a combination of hard work, heart and perhaps divine intervention. A must for any sports fan.

You don't have to be an App State fan to love this book. Its a great story all sports fans will enjoy. The story is told in a very exciting way, building from the pre-season work the players put in to the play by play of a truly remarkable sports moment. The personal stories of the key players are interspersed within the story and shows what a truly remarkable group of young men they were. Their stories are inspirational and show that you can indeed break out from very difficult circumstances and succeed in life if you make good decisions and work hard enough. Its a great read!

....although the Pitt - West Virginia game from that same year comes very close. A complete, behind the scenes look at the players and coaches who took part in the game that sent shockwaves through the college football world in September 2007. The authors had great access to the participants (especially the ASU side - it is understandable that Michigan players and coaches probably did not want to revisit a national humiliation). One branch from the Appalachian State coaching tree from that game is Shawn Elliott, who is now the head coach at Georgia State. The Panthers were a 26 point underdog and just shocked the CFB world with an upset of Tennessee in Knoxville.

This book is spellbinding…I couldn’t put it down.. I would read a page, then go to you tube and replay the game (yes,you can still watch it) exactly as described. App State certainly played with a Twelveth Man on the field…and you’ll find out why at the end!!! If you love App State, you must have/read this book!!!Once a Mountaineer, always a MountaineerCharles N.Bennett, Class of ‘65

The greatest upset in college football history was the defeat of big-time Michigan by Appalachian State.If you liked Boys in The Boat or the Sandy Kofax story of his Perfect Game or the Seabiscuit story or the Secretariat era, then this book is for you. It tells the story of the game through the eyes and background of the Appalachian State players. Very moving. Great read!

Loved the development of characters as the game was played. So many young men from such diversified backgrounds who formed a bond to play the most exciting football game of its time. Couldn't put it down! Can't wait for a movie to come out about this!

The book is well written, well researched, and provides tremendous amounts of additional information regarding players, coaches, and many events that even the most loyal App fan would not know. I learned so much from the book and are much more aware of the events that led up to the game and the aftermath that has lasted to this very day. A great read for all App fans that should be reread at intervals as a reminder of this great event in the life of App State. I have reread the book already.

This book is not just a book about a football game. It is about each of the guys on the team and their life story. I love stories about the underdog winning and that's what this book is about. It reminds me of the movie Rudy.

Grandioses Buch. Das Spiel selbst gilt nicht ohne Grund als ein historisches. Das Buch gewährt Einblicke wie Appalachian State die Sportwelt schocken konnte, lässt einen das Spiel nochmal nacherleben und bietet dabei auch 'mehrere Hintergrundgeschichten zu den Spielern. Etwas zu kurz kommt dabei zwar die taktische Analyse Michigans, dennoch kann es diese Schwäche durch die anderen Stärken dermaßen ausgleichen, dass ich es getrost als eines der besten Sportbücher aller Zeiten bezeichnen kann. Von mir für jeden Footballinteressierten der die englische Sprache beherrscht eine Kaufempfehlung.