Where Dreams Die Hard: A Small American Town and Its Six-Man Football Team

by Carlton Stowers

Down Farm Road 308, an hour's drive south of Dallas, amidst sprawling fields of cotton lies a small community--Penelope, Texas (population 211). Here, where the only thriving businesses are the granary and the post office, unless you count the soft-drink machine in front of the fire station, two-time Edgar Award-winning writer Carlton Stowers discovered a special town that came together, not only to support their six-man highschool football team--the Penelope Wolverines--through thick and a lot of thin, but also, and more importantly, each other. Where Dreams Die Hard is a warm and revealing portrait of the American heartland--and of one small town's love affair with the team that unites it. "Through his unforgettable depiction of innocence, goodness, loyalty, and friendship...Carlton Stowers gives us a moving portrait of a community that, in the words of one of the Penelope faithful, is like 'stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting.'" (Billie Letts, author of Where the Heart Is) "High school football in Texas is both sport and religion, and Stowers brilliantly brings this to light in Where Dreams Die Hard." (Jim Dent, author of The Junction Boys)

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2005

Reviews

[A.M. Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much a quick primer of the history of six-man football (which I'd never heard of) as it is a glimpse into the life of a tiny Texas town still clinging to itself, it read a bit more like a collection of memories than a direct narrative, which I enjoyed. Despite the reporter/author slipping in a few of his own political biases, I enjoyed the overall story about perseverance and not letting each individual defeat keep you mired down.

[Parker C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains what is good about average American people. I wish I could hand out copies to foreign friends whose knowledge of the American way of life is based on Hollywood films, TV and our elected politicians. It's well-written and about much more than football as a sport; it's football as a way of life in a small town.

[Andrew Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it 3 stars because it was an easy book to read and could've used more detail. Although it kept me intrigued throughout the book it could've been a lot better with a few more little things. I would recommend this book to kids in 7th to 9th grade.

[Steven B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In tiny Penelope, Texas, population 211, they practice a sport called six man football. The game is a lesser version regular football, originally designed in the 1930s by a Nebraska coach who wanted small, rural schools to be able to have football teams. six-man football thrives in small Texas communities, where it's played among high schools that have fewer than 99 students. Stowers, a Texas journalist, went to Penelope to observe the world of small-town, small-team football. he observes the football practices and interviews various members of the community, he writes wat he learns in this book. the penelope wolverines is a team with few players, and the town is in the middle of know where..... they had football years ago, but the population moved to more rural areas. the students want to start football back up and so they borrowed equipment from other teams and played on other schools fields...they failed at winning any games the first year won two the next and the year after that wins a championship.....if you enjoy football, u shuld read this book to find out the rules, and agility, and concentration this six man football takes, and learn how the Penelope wolverines dreams come true.

[Timmy Reed]

I thought it was really interesting because I had never heard of six-man football.

The first football game of the season is about to happen. They are playing the town where George Bushs' Ranch is. I think that. They talk more about how small and winless the football program is.

I think it is interesting how small it is in this part of Texas. It is also interesting how 6 man football is so different then regular football.

[CYNTHIA · Rating 3 out of 5]

2012 One Book - One Waco. Two-time Edgar Award-winning writer Carlton Stowers (author of Careless Whispers) discovered a special town that came together, not only to support their six-man highschool football team--the Penelope Wolverines--through thick and a lot of thin, but also, and more importantly, each other. Where Dreams Die Hard is a warm and revealing portrait of the American heartland--and of one small town's love affair with the team that unites it.

[Larkin Tackett · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend gave me this book as he prepared to watch his first six-man football game west of Austin. This book makes me want to go watch one. Although not the best written or well-researched book, it captured the setting of six-man football in small-town America. Set in Penelope, TX (population 211), what the book lacked in compelling, play-by-play storytelling, it more than made up in the reminder of the kind and generous communities in rural places.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story about the Penelope Wolverines playing 6-man football. It is not about a "cinderella team", yet one about a team that has to learn to deal with all the adversity that is handed to them. The description of 6-man football is very interesting - how they run their plays, score and how the score is determined. Main goal for most six-man teams is: Don't let them 45 point you!

[Catherine Valentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

what does it take to survive in a small town - what dedication does it take to teach there - really admire the teachers who make a difference for all the kids who live in those towns.
I grew up in Brooklyn NY - everything was easy to reach by bus or train. The isolation of these small towns is what really gets to me.

[Carin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well-written book about small-town Texas football. The author never really gets into the players' or coaches' heads like Friday Night Lights does, but he still does a great job conveying the heart everyone involved has, and the dedication.

[Greg Slaughter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an excellent little book about a small Texas town that rallied around its school and all its activities. The students and town members set into action the events that led to the re-establishment of their long-dead football program. " A kinder, but gentler Friday Night Lights"

[Kin Pier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about small town Texas and the people that live there. I am a six-man football fan and truly enjoyed this work. I have followed Carlton's work since he and I were sports writers on The Daily Texas at the University of Texas in the early 1960's. He never disappoints in his work.

[Dale Stonehouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fantastic that a book was written on such an obscure topic. Not quite as much depth as I would prefer, but a nice portrait of life in the smallest of small towns and the school that keeps it going.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story ... so Texan. Makes you want to go to watch six-man football. Can't wait for fall.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great story about a dedication to football I never really new exhisted.