I Play to Win.

by Freddie. Steinmark

Illustrated with Photos - on December 6, 1969, milions of Americans were watching Freddie Steinmark play in one of the most hair raising hard fought games in the history of collegiate football...

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Alan Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a re-read for me. It was not on Kindle, and hard to find a copy of, but I'm so glad I got it and read it once more. It is a true story, both tragic and wonderful. This memoir was written by Freddie Steinmark, with help from Dallas columnist Blackie Sherrod. Steinmark was a fine young man who happened to love playing football on a National Championship college team for an iconic coach, Darrell Royal. One day he's playing in front of millions on TV and President Nixon in the crowd, days later he's having a leg amputated before a climactic game against Notre Dame. Another year and a half later, he lost his life to the cancer that had invaded his leg.

I read this book a long time ago when I was a kid who adored those Texas Longhorn football teams led by Coach Royal. (I had originally marked it as read in April of 1972. That's about right, because I was still in high school when Steinmark died.) I watched this guy play through his college career, as much as the late-60's allowed one to see a couple of games in person and maybe a couple on TV each year. Back then, you heard more on radio than saw on TV or in person. Since he was a critical defensive player, I remember wondering why he was coming out of the Arkansas game. Soon after that game, I was shocked along with everyone else when the news came out about the softball-sized tumor in his leg. I carried that book with me, first to 4 years at UT, then wherever I moved over the years before it was lost with everything else in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It took until this year, 2015, to find its replacement, and I've now returned it to holding a prominent spot on my shelf of hard-copy books.

Now, Freddie Steinmark's story is captured in the feature motion picture "My All American", made by the same folks that brought us "Rudy" and "Hoosiers" several years ago. I saw the movie on its opening weekend, and am happy to report it treats this wonderful story the way this young man's memory deserves. Every University of Texas alumnus knows this tale and will love the movie, and they'll want to share the movie with non-Longhorns who will enjoy it, too. May all enjoy the warm and strong spirit that was Freddie Steinmark. A remarkable young man who never wanted a spotlight, and then got it for a lousy reason.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring memoir by Freddie Steinmark, a member of the 1969 UT national championship team who had his leg amputated a few days after the Game of the Century. I've read the other biographies about Freddie Steinmark, and had to do some hunting to find this book, but this one is my favorite. His words read like a conversation with an old friend, and although he states more than once that he considers himself pessimistic, I beg to differ. His courage and faith are uplifting and motivating, even in the face of adversity. Being a Texas Ex, I had heard of Freddie Steinmark in passing over the years, but never truly took an interest until I heard a movie was being made about him. After everything I've read about him, Freddie Steinmark is now one of my heroes, and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie in a few weeks.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great autobiographical book book of Freddie Joe Steinmark. An undersized defensive back who stated every game during his thee years at the University of Texas. He played safety on the 1969 game of the century between UT and UA for the National Champion. One week after this game one leg was amputated at the hip because of bone cancer. This is his story and the padre who walked with him during this difficult time. Freddie was a devout Catholic who clung to God, family, and the padre as he faced death. Friends of mine were friends of Steinmark and the padre and ask me to read the book. It was well worth the read.

[Steve Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freddie's story told in his own words. From his rise to National Champion with the Texas Longhorns through his battle with cancer. A true inspirational story about a great young man taken too early by our Lord.