Book on Fielding Yost

Submitted by jrtboht on
I'm looking for a recommendation for a book about Fielding Yost.  I've seen "Big House" on amazon but I was looking for something that would encompass how Yost came to be a football coach.  Something more in depth than just records and a list of his best players but a book about Yost as a person.
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Michigan Football Fielding Yost

medals

August 25th, 2008 at 12:19 PM ^

I'm just about to finish up "The Big House" and can tell you that the book really does talk mostly about Yost, as a person, coach, businessman, etc.  It is a great read and I recommend it.  The book does not focus on his pre-Michigan years (which it seems like you are looking for), but I don't think that you will be disappointed with the Yost content.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 824

dex

August 25th, 2008 at 12:38 PM ^

Yost was a prolific author. If you look hard enough in the libraries, you can find some of his work. My personal favorite was "The Catholic Menace", but "Nazi Superman are our Superiors" was pretty good too.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1934

Blue Durham

August 25th, 2008 at 12:56 PM ^

"The Big House" is particularly insightful on Yost's vision for athletics for the entire University (including the IM building and athletics for women) and his dealings with the faculty and administration.  It is amazing how much of an impact he had on the campus beyond Michigan Stadium and Yost Field House.

For those of you that are interested in the real nuts and bolts of football back then, Yost himself wrote a book entitled "Football for Player and Spectator" in 1905; which was reprinted in 1992 with some introductions (yes, plural) by Wayne DeNeff. 

This book contains chapters:

  1. Football's Origin and Development
  2. Its prestige and popularity in American Colleges and High School Life
  3. What it does for the player
  4. From the Spectator's point of view
  5. Its varied Characteristics as Played in the Different Parts of the United States (Schools covered:  Princeton, Michigan, Harvard, Minnesota, Yale Wisconsin, Penn, Cicago, Army and Navy, Stanford and California)
  6. Preparing the Material [this is on the basics of "how to" passing, - which is covered first! -  blocking, tackling, drop kicking etc.]
  7. The Positions
  8. Training  [eeee, the first Barwis!?!?!?]
  9. Development of the Team
  10. The Evening's Work
  11. Requirements of the Individual
  12. Signals
  13. Team Play  [These 13 chapters total about 160 pages]
  14. Photographs of Formations and Diagrams of Plays  [over 70 pages]
  15. Generalship
  16. A Few "Hurry Ups"  [no kidding!]
  17. Foot Ball Rules

A lot of interesting stuff written by the man himself.

 

Joined: 06/30/2008

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