Ain't Nothin' But a Winner: Bear Bryant, the Goal Line Stand, and a Chance of a Lifetime

by Barry Krauss and Joe M. Moore

Book Overview

A rollicking memoir from the linebacker at the heart of the most famous Alabama football play of all time No university has won more football championships than Alabama, and Barry Krauss played a key... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0817315411
• ISBN13: 9780817315412
• Release Date: July 2006
• Publisher: University Alabama Press
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great motivational memoir!

Barry Krauss' memoir captured and held my attention throughout. I wouldn't compare Krauss in either the areas of memoir writing or sports writing to Mitch Albom, but I doubt Mr. Albom could participate head-on in a goal line stand and live to tell about it--much less write a book about it. So, after we take the likes of Mitch Albom out of the equation and look at Ain't Nothin' But a Winner on its own merit, I can easily say that I found it to be a well-written, compelling memoir. After all, it's not every football player (turned writer) who can come up with descriptions such as "Alabama again came within one single puff of Coach Bryant's unfiltered Chesterfield cigarette of winning two national championships...." That's nice imagery. That's writing that keeps me reading. Beyond looking at the book from a literary standpoint, the story and the message within the story make this book stand out. Krauss recounts his career in football with humor, with touching sensitivity, and with frank honesty. From high school through his years in professional football, Krauss gives the reader a rare inside view of that world. As he says, he lived the life many dream about and he's appreciative of the experience. I'm not an avid football fan, but this book pulled me into this life devoted to the team and the game. I felt the tug of the ups and downs players and fans rejoice in and suffer from. The highlight of the book, of course, is Krauss' recounting of his years playing for Paul "Bear" Bryant on the University of Alabama football team. The climax is the one play-- the Goal Line Stand, on January 1, 1979, in the Sugar Bowl game against Penn State--where Krauss stopped Penn State's Mike Gunman from scoring. Football enthusiasts will enjoy Krauss' description of the play that stopped time. While reading that section, I felt the crack of helmets and came away with a better understanding of football fanatics.... (reviewed by Lou Belcher, freelance writer and editor)