monday, icptember 24, 1979'
daily nefbrfiskan
'Big Eight Football' historical flop
By Ed McClymont
Because of the tucccsi ofTJJg Eight football In recent
yean, the Influx in the number of reading materials writ,
ten on the market having something to do with the sport
has been tremendous. Both good and bad material has
come with this development, and a new book Just pub.
lished, aptly named '.'Big Eight Football falls under the
category of bad.
The author of the book is John McCallum, a writer of
several football histories. His previous attempts, such as
"College Football, U.S.A. have met with favor from this
critic, but McCallum clearly has little knowledge of the
history of Big Eight football. At times, the reader wonders
if he is discussing the advantages of the single wing over
the T formation or Big Eight football. McCallum, with his
eastern background, would be much better of, writing
about the Ivy League.
The veracity of the book is questioned Immediately in
the first chapter when McCallum describes Nebraska as
being unbeaten until the Missouri game last season and
holding the riumber two position in national polls "for
much of the season.' In reality , Nebraska was beaten by
Alabama the first game of the year and achieved the lofty
number two ranking for only one week, after the victory
over Oklahoma.
THE FIRST PARAGRAPH of the book is ominous.
McCallum writes: ". . . down there in the old dirt-kicking
Big Eight terrority the natives think THEY invented foot
ball. . . Why, football out there is bigger than cowboys
boots and the Stetson hat -It's bigger than country music,
bigger even than girls.' From this excerpt, one conjures
up the image of New Yorker sitting behind his desk in
Manhattan trying to relate to "the natives as he writes.
This beginning gives little credibility to the author.
Throughout the book, McCallum quotes from news
papers, various players, and coaches, which, if used cor
rectly, could provide excellent insights into the game. The
number and lengths of these quotes Are entirely too many
and too long, however. One example is a three-page essay
by former Ail-American Jim Owens about his coach, Bud
Wilkinson. We all know Wilkinson was one Of the great all-
time coaches but three pages of hearing what a sweet guy
some coach is, regardless if it Is Wilklnsori or Bob Devan.
ey, can be nauseating. It is almost as if McCallum is trying
to fill space to cover up for his lack of knowledge on the
subject. ,
As McCallum begins the history of the conference,
he finds it necessary to first relate the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher'i feelings on college football In 1883, What this
has to do with Big Eight footbaU, past or present, Is
beyond me.
The book Is salvaged, in part, if you are a Nebraska or
Oklahoma fan, as most of it is devoted to those schools.
Nebraska gets most of the ink from the early years to the
40 a, when Oklahoma and Wilkinson take over Until the
50s, and then the two schools share the spotlight for the
rest of the book.
There is obviously more to Big Eight football than
Huskers and Sooners, but if you are looking for more, you
would be better off looking elsewhere. Iowa State,
Colorado, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State are hardly
mentioned until the last IS years of the league are dis
cussed. WHEN MCCALLUM discussed the football situation
during World War II, a reader wonders If he was writing a
history text book or a football story. The author manages
to list the top movies of the era (Room Service and Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs, to narrte two) as well as
popular Broadway musicals.
Several times in the book McCallum is redundant about
events. Twice he told the relatively same story on how
Bob Devaney became coach for Nebraska. Twice he
describes the 1978 season in the Big Eight. Twice he
describes Bud Wilkinsons appointment to the University
of Oklahoma.
The book is 310 pages long with 100 of these being
devoted to statistics, which are fairly relevant and worth
while In the 210 pages of copy there are several pictures,
which are another pitfall of the book. Most pictures are
Eress mugs and there are few action photos. A lover of
ebraska press guides Will notice two pictures from the
guide in McCallum's book. One is from the 1941 Rose
Bowl and the Other from the 1964 Orange Bowl. It
appears that any attempt to get some worthy pictures was
not made.
From cover to cover, "Big Eight Football ii of little
use to true Big Eight fans. The price is $1455 and that
money would do the reader much better in a piggy bank.
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