Neyland: The Gridiron General

by Bob Gilbert

Gilbert, Robert

Genres: Sports

266 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1990

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

For anyone who is a fan of University of Tennessee football, or even the history of collegiate football in the US, this is a very interesting read. It's certainly not a page-turner, but it does shed a lot of light on how the game was played in the early to mid 20th century. it also describes the enormous influence that General Robert Neyland had on not only Tennessee football, but on the college game as a whole. The modem game is so vastly different from the game in Neyland's era that he would probably not recognize it (and almost certainly would not approve). The historical perspective on the game and the recounting of the life of an amazing and influential man make this book a good read for anyone who loves college football.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neyland: The Gridiron General by Bob Gilbert (Golden Coast Publishing Company 1990) (Biography). This is a biography of General Robert R. Neyland. Neyland was the football coach at the University of Tennessee in the early to mid 1900's; he was at various times active duty military, on leave, and later a retired General Officer in the US Army. He is universally regarded as the most famous name in UT sports. The 104,000 seat stadium on the UT campus is known as “Neyland Stadium.” This book certainly glosses over the General's personal foibles; the book makes scant reference to the General's widely-known predilection for alcohol. Oh well, certain legendary characters often are rewarded by having their personal sins brushed under the rug, aren't they? If anyone deserves such treatment, it may well be the hallowed General. My rating: 7/10, finished 10/21/14.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

7 out of 10.