From Publishers Weekly
On November 22, 2003, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines faced each other on the gridiron for the 100th time in one of the most famous football rivalries. Over 100,000 fans attended the "celebration," proving their special devotion (or mania). Emmanuel (Extreme Encounters) focuses on the century-plus of heated battles between the two schools with a combination of humor and drama, frat-house intensity and more "mature" pride. The schools first tangled in 1897 and have been bashing each other yearly since (with a hiatus from 1913 to 1918). Some of the greatest coaches and players in college football, including Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Archie Griffin and Charles Woodson, made their names in these heated affairs. Michigan has a 57–37 margin (with six ties), thanks in part to victories in their first 15 meetings. Emmanuel does a marvelous job of conveying not only the competition between the athletes but the ancillary bits and pieces—the less-than-ideal game conditions, the spirit of the marching bands and, in particular, the loyalty of classmates and family—that go into making this a special competition. Most of the book is devoted to the fans, however, who bask in the reflected glory of their team's success. For the stats nuts, Emmanuel offers an appendix including the results of each of the 100 games. (Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Beyond the controversial bowl-game rankings, college football is defined by its rivalries. Near the top of the list is Ohio State versus Michigan. Both are perennial powers, they play in the same conference, and they share a border. Emmanuel traces the history of this storied rivalry back to its 1897 roots. The first 15 games were all won by Michigan, with the exception of two ties. The rivalry heated up through the next few decades and took on its current fervor until the late 1960s, when Michigan hired Bo Schembechler as head coach to counter Ohio State's legendary Woody Hayes. Emmanuel's research took him to newspaper and magazine accounts as well as interviews with former participants in what fans call "The Game." His play-by-play accounts are a bit lengthy, but he captures the drama inherent in each one by providing a context (conference title at stake, etc.) as well as a sense of the on-field player matchups. Carefully researched and written with panache. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"A rough-and-tumble pop-culture look at the history of this storied game.” (National Review Online, December 8, 2004)

Review
"A rough-and-tumble pop-culture look at the history of this storied game.” (National Review Online, December 8, 2004)

Book Description
"Go Bucks!" "Go Blue!" ESPN called it the number one sports rivalry of the century. It transcends the years, the standings, and all other distractions. And thanks to the countless remarkable football games between Michigan and Ohio State–and hundreds of thousands of devoted alumni and followers–the rivalry is now an enormous cultural event. The 100-Yard War showcases two great football teams who want nothing more than to beat each other, celebrating their storied history and going behind the scenes with the players and the fans to reveal the bitterness, the passion, and the pride surrounding the Game. "Emmanuel does a marvelous job of conveying not only the competition between the athletes but the less than ideal game conditions, the spirit of the marching bands and, in particular, the loyalty of classmates and family that go into making this a special competition." –Publishers Weekly

From the Inside Flap
On November 22, 2003, Michigan Stadium was bursting with over 112,000 people, officially the largest crowd to ever watch a football game on a college campus. The anticipation was palpable; the energy, intense. On this momentous day, the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State University Buckeyes squared off for the one-hundredth time in "the Game"–an annual contest so important that the conference championship, an invitation to the national championship game, and, most importantly, bragging rights for rabid fans were all on the line–once again. This is a rivalry so primal that ESPN branded it the greatest in sports history. And it is a contest so memorable that it could never be labeled as "just another football game"–it is a hundred-yard war. In this vibrant account, Greg Emmanuel brings to life more than a century of bitter competition between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. The 100-Yard War delves into the compelling history behind the legendary rivalry that began with the first UM—OSU game in 1897. From celebrated games such as the "Snow Bowl" of 1950, the unbelievable upset of 1969, and the controversial 10—10 tie of 1973 to the unforgettable matchups between two of the sport’s greatest (and most colorful) coaches, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, you’ll go behind the scenes as combatants on both sides relive the memories in their own words. Almost the only thing greater than the animosity between these two teams is the subculture of fanaticism that surrounds it. The passion for "the Game" has frequently boiled over and, on occasion, the results have been dangerous and destructive. Emmanuel explores the fierce devotion of the fans who have repeatedly packed the huge stadiums in Ann Arbor and Columbus to witness college football’s most famous grudge match. From the campus pre-game parties to the post-game celebrations (and riots), you’ll see how, on one particular Saturday near the end of November, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even lovers can find themselves enemies for a day. You’ll also experience the excitement and the tension of the 2003 season as the teams march toward the huge milestone of the one-hundredth game, described in thrilling detail from the coin toss to the final play. You’ll be there as the players meet again on the field to the cheers and jeers of an enormous crowd . . . and as the fans, with their hearts in their throats, sing the fight songs and fervently hope for yet another victory. Infused with the love of the game and the indomitable spirit of every Buckeye and Wolverine fan, The 100-Yard War is a testament to the legacy of every player who ever donned an Ohio State or Michigan jersey–and every person who ever cheered them on.

From the Back Cover
"Go Bucks!" "Go Blue!" ESPN called it the number one sports rivalry of the century. It transcends the years, the standings, and all other distractions. And thanks to the countless remarkable football games between Michigan and Ohio State–and hundreds of thousands of devoted alumni and followers–the rivalry is now an enormous cultural event. The 100-Yard War showcases two great football teams who want nothing more than to beat each other, celebrating their storied history and going behind the scenes with the players and the fans to reveal the bitterness, the passion, and the pride surrounding the Game. "Emmanuel does a marvelous job of conveying not only the competition between the athletes but the less than ideal game conditions, the spirit of the marching bands and, in particular, the loyalty of classmates and family that go into making this a special competition." –Publishers Weekly

About the Author
GREG EMMANUEL is the author of Extreme Encounters: How It Feels to Be Drowned in Quicksand, Shredded by Piranhas, Swept Up in a Tornado, and Dozens of Other Unpleasant Experiences.He has written for ESPN the Magazine, GQ, Esquire, TV Guide, Time Out New York, FHM, Maxim, NYLON, and Stuff, as well as for MTV and VH1. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

ESPN called it the number one sports rivalry of the century. It transcends the years, the standings, and all other distractions. And thanks to the countless remarkable football games between Michigan and Ohio State -- and hundreds of thousands of devoted alumni and followers -- the rivalry is now an enormous cultural event. The 100-Yard War showcases two great football teams who want nothing more than to beat each other, celebrating their storied history and going behind the scenes with the players and the fans to reveal the bitterness, the passion, and the pride surrounding the Game.

On November 22, 2003, Michigan Stadium was bursting with over 112,000 people, officially the largest crowd to ever watch a football game on a college campus. The anticipation was palpable; the energy, intense. On this momentous day, the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State University Buckeyes squared off for the one-hundredth time in "the Game" -- an annual contest so important that the conference championship, an invitation to the national championship game, and, most importantly, bragging rights for rabid fans were all on the line -- once again. This is a rivalry so primal that ESPN branded it the greatest in sports history. And it is a contest so memorable that it could never be labeled as "just another football game" -- it is a hundred-yard war.

In this vibrant account, Greg Emmanuel brings to life more than a century of bitter competition between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. The 100-Yard War delves into the compelling history behind the legendary rivalry that began with the first UM-OSU game in 1897. From celebrated games such as the "Snow Bowl" of 1950, the unbelievable upset of 1969, and the controversial 10-10 tie of 1973 to the unforgettable matchups between two of the sport's greatest (and most colorful) coaches, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, you'll go behind the scenes as combatants on both sides relive the memories in their own words.

Almost the only thing greater than the animosity between these two teams is the subculture of fanaticism that surrounds it. The passion for "the Game" has frequently boiled over and, on occasion, the results have been dangerous and destructive. Emmanuel explores the fierce devotion of the fans who have repeatedly packed the huge stadiums in Ann Arbor and Columbus to witness college football's most famous grudge match. From the campus pregame parties to the post-game celebrations (and riots), you'll see how, on one particular Saturday near the end of November, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even lovers can find themselves enemies for a day.

You'll also experience the excitement and the tension of the 2003 season as the teams march toward the huge milestone of the one-hundredth game, described in thrilling detail from the coin toss to the final play. You'll be there as the players meet again on the field to the cheers and jeers of an enormous crowd ... and as the fans, with their hearts in their throats, sing the fight songs and fervently hope for yet another victory. Infused with the love of the game and the indomitable spirit of every Buckeye and Wolverine fan, The 100-Yard War is a testament to the legacy of every player who ever donned an Ohio State or Michigan jersey -- and every person who ever cheered them on.

SYNOPSIS

On November 22, 2003, Michigan Stadium was bursting with over 112,000 people, officially the largest crowd to ever watch a football game on a college campus. The anticipation was palpable; the energy, intense. On this momentous day, the University of Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State University Buckeyes squared off for the one-hundredth time in "the Game"—an annual contest so important that the conference championship, an invitation to the national championship game, and, most importantly, bragging rights for rabid fans were all on the line—once again. This is a rivalry so primal that ESPN branded it the greatest in sports history. And it is a contest so memorable that it could never be labeled as "just another football game"—it is a hundred-yard war.

In this vibrant account, Greg Emmanuel brings to life more than a century of bitter competition between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. The 100-Yard War delves into the compelling history behind the legendary rivalry that began with the first UM—OSU game in 1897. From celebrated games such as the "Snow Bowl" of 1950, the unbelievable upset of 1969, and the controversial 10—10 tie of 1973 to the unforgettable matchups between two of the sport’s greatest (and most colorful) coaches, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, you’ll go behind the scenes as combatants on both sides relive the memories in their own words.

Almost the only thing greater than the animosity between these two teams is the subculture of fanaticism that surrounds it. The passion for "the Game" has frequently boiled over and, on occasion, the results have been dangerous and destructive. Emmanuel explores the fierce devotion of the fans who have repeatedly packed the huge stadiums in Ann Arbor and Columbus to witness college football’s most famous grudge match. From the campus pre-game parties to the post-game celebrations (and riots), you’ll see how, on one particular Saturday near the end of November, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and even lovers can find themselves enemies for a day.

You’ll also experience the excitement and the tension of the 2003 season as the teams march toward the huge milestone of the one-hundredth game, described in thrilling detail from the coin toss to the final play. You’ll be there as the players meet again on the field to the cheers and jeers of an enormous crowd . . . and as the fans, with their hearts in their throats, sing the fight songs and fervently hope for yet another victory.

Infused with the love of the game and the indomitable spirit of every Buckeye and Wolverine fan, The 100-Yard War is a testament to the legacy of every player who ever donned an Ohio State or Michigan jersey—and every person who ever cheered them on.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly