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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: whspress@wisconsinhistory.org, 608-264-6465 Third Down and a War to Go
By Terry Frei "What a powerful piece of work ... a telling detail in the great portrait of America at war, young men and women who saw their duty and did it no matter how much it scared them." —Dave Kindred, "The Sporting News" The Wisconsin Historical Society Press announces the release of "Third Down and a War to Go" (Paperback $18.95; ISBN: 978-0-87020-384-8) by Terry Frei. This fully revised edition of the acclaimed hardcover tells the story of one of college football's most outstanding teams, the 1942 Wisconsin Badgers, whose record-breaking season brought them ever closer to service in World War II. On December 11, 1941, All-American and team captain Dave Schreiner wrote to his parents, "I'm not going to sit here snug as a bug, playing football, when others are giving their lives for their country. ... If everyone tried to stay out of it, what a fine country we'd have!" Schreiner didn't stay out of it. Neither did his Badger teammates, including friend and co-captain Mark "Had" Hoskins and standouts "Crazylegs" Hirsch and Pat Harder. After that legendary 1942 season, the Badgers scattered to serve, fight, and even die around the world; the circumstances of at least one battle death have been shrouded in mystery for six decades. At a time when our nation is again at war, "Third Down" reminds us that every soldier has an individual story. This edition features new findings and updates about many of the teammates, plus a new foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Maraniss. Readers and reviewers agree: Terry Frei's heart-wrenching story of Schreiner and his band of brothers is much more than one team's tale. It's an All-American story. Award-winning journalist Terry Frei writes for ESPN.com. He is the author of the acclaimed "Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming: Texas vs. Arkansas in Dixie's Last Stand." He lives in Denver. ***** Media: For more information, please contact Wisconsin Historical Society Press Phone: 608-264-6465/ Fax: 608-264-6486 / Email: whspress@wisconsinhistory.org. For author interview and more: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whspress/books/book.asp?book_id=318 The Wisconsin Historical Society Press, publishing since 1855, is the state's oldest publisher. ***** Coast-to-Coast Praise for Third Down and a War to Go "Tirelessly researched and relentlessly touching. The true allegory of football and war, minus the cliches." —Jay Greenberg, "The New York Post"
"What began as a sports book comes to resemble something akin to Band of Brothers. ... This is an inspiring book, full of pathos and heroism." —Dave Wood, past vice president, National Book Critics Circle "Terry Frei set out to learn more about his father. He wound up bringing to life a team, a cause and an era. Likewise, all that the young men of the 1942 Wisconsin Badgers set out to be was college students and football players. But circumstances called most of them to do something greater: Save the world. Impressively researched and powerfully written, "Third Down and a War to Go" will put you in the huddle, in the front lines and in a state of profound gratitude — not only to the Badgers and the hundreds of thousands of veterans like them, but to Terry Frei." —Neil Rubin, "The Detroit News"
"Brings to life, in shades of black, blue and blood red, the idea that certain things are worth fighting for." —Rick Morrissey, "Chicago Tribune" " ... the stories of players at war poignantly remind everyone of lives sacrificed for freedom." —"Midwest Living" magazine "A must read." —Andy Baggot, "Wisconsin State Journal" "Thoroughly researched and ardently objective. ... In stripping away patriotic embellishment from the group's obvious sacrifices, Frei created a work sure to register with history buffs and intrigue even those sports fans not typically mindful of a team whose highlights can't be bought on DVD ... [The book does] supreme justice to a group all too soon gone, all too easily forgotten." —Adam Mertz, "The Capital Times," Madison, Wisconsin "Touching." —Ron Bellamy, "The Register-Guard," Eugene, Oregon "A book that not only makes you keep reading, but makes you care." —Dwight Chapin, "San Francisco Chronicle" "Many times you hear athletes called heroes, their deeds and accomplishments characterized as courageous. ... After reading "Third Down and a War to Go" I am embarrassed to have ever been thought of as brave or courageous. ... Enjoy this adventure in history, life, and courage and take it from a so-called 'tough guy,' keep the hanky close by." —Dan Fouts, Hall of Fame quarterback and ABC-TV sportscaster
Winner of the Midwest Independent Publishers Association Merit Award
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