Jay Greenberg, NY Post
Tirelessly researched and relentlessly touching. The true allegory of football and war, minus the cliches.

Rick Morrissey, Chicago Tribune
Brings to life, in shades of black, blue and blood red, the idea that certain things are worth fighting for.

Dwight Chapin, San Francisco Chronicle
...a book that not only makes you keep reading, but makes you care...

Ron Bellamy, Eugene Register-Guard
A touching book (and) a compelling story.

Neal Rubin, Detroit News
Impressively researched and reported and powerfully written.

Book Description
The famous football season of 1942 was a thrilling final fling--the Wisconsin Badgers triumphed on the gridiron, but soon after would be serving their country in Okinawa, at the Battle of the Bulge, in aerial dogfights, and in POW camps. Not all of them came home. Wisconsin had a host of star players, including Pat "Hit 'Em Again" Harder, Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, and two-time All-American Dave Schreiner, and they were coached by Harry Stuhldreyer (one of Notre Dame's legendary "Four Horsemen"). They won one version of the national championship, awarded by the Helms Foundation. Through extensive research and interviews, Terry Frei tells the stories of the 1942 Badgers with insight, humor, and respect.

From the Publisher
Like Terry Frei's previous book, "Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming," his latest is a mix of history, storytelling, narrative journalism and sports. So it isn't easily typecast. But his exhaustive quest to find about his father's 1942 football team yielded a book that, while perhaps most resonant for readers with Wisconsin ties, will have an appeal that reaches far beyond those borders and affinities. This is about America in a time that has been deeply examined in our overdue renewed appreciation for a generation we are losing, but this tale of one football team-stars and famous, scrubs and relatively anonymous on one of college football's best teams of its era- works on its own as a new, deeply researched and well-told tale. In particular, the climactic material about the Battle of Okinawa and the role of several Badgers in it should tug at hearts.

From the Inside Flap
"The 1942 Wisconsin Badgers were a terrific football team. As young men of that era, they were extraordinary, yet typical. Among other reasons, that's why theirs is an All-American story. "The '42 Badgers had a host of individual stars, including two-time All-American end Dave Schreiner, fullback Pat Harder, and halfback Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch. Their coach was the stubborn and respected Harry Stuhldreher, best known as the one-time quarterback of Notre Dame's Four Horsemen. In the final-fling atmosphere typical on college campuses as the first year of U.S. involvement in World War II was winding down, the Badgers climbed their way up the rankings and ultimately became one of the greatest college football teams of all time. "Stars and benchwarmers alike knew that each game brought them closer to military service. The Badgers scattered into the various branches and around the world shortly after the season. Not all were asked to be heroic in battle, but many were, and they answered the challenge. Not all of them returned, and the circumstances of at least one battle death have been shrouded in mystery for six decades. "Author Terry Frei is the son of 1942 Badgers guard Jerry Frei, a decorated P-38 fighter pilot who went on to a long career in college football and the National Football League. After Jerry Frei's 2001 death, his son set out on a mission of discovery, wanting to learn about the men in the team picture that hung in a place of honor in his father's den. Through exhaustive research and interviews with the remaining Badgers, their families, and combat comrades, Terry Frei tells the often heart-wrenching story of this band of brothers, describing their successes and losses both on the football field and in service to their country."

From the Back Cover
"Third Down and a War to Go will put you in the huddle, on 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 for telling their story."--Neal Rubin, Detroit News

About the Author
Terry Frei spent his early years in Eugene, Oregon, and moved to the Denver area as a high school junior. He is a graduate of Wheat Ridge High School and of the University of Colorado, with degrees in history and journalism. Terry wrote for both Denver newspapers and then The Oregonian in Portland before joining The Sporting News in 1993. His TSN cover stories included pieces on Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Thurman Thomas and Shaquille O'Neal. He returned to The Denver Post in 1995, and also began writing columns for ESPN.com in 2000. Though he remains known for his football writing and has covered all major sports as a reporter and columnist, his newspaper and ESPN.com focus often is the National Hockey League, which he began covering as a young beat writer in 1977. In the wake of "Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming" and "Third Down and a War to Go," Terry is working on other projects. However, he still tells anyone who will listen – and some who won’t – that his unpublished novel, "The Witch’s Season," still is his best book. And, yes, he is the (younger) brother of author ("The Angel By My Side") and television commentator David Frei.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Like Terry Frei's previous book, "Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming," his latest is a mix of history, storytelling, narrative journalism and sports. So it isn't easily typecast. But his exhaustive quest to find about his father's 1942 football team yielded a book that, while perhaps most resonant for readers with Wisconsin ties, will have an appeal that reaches far beyond those borders and affinities. This is about America in a time that has been deeply examined in our overdue renewed appreciation for a generation we are losing, but this tale of one football team-stars and famous, scrubs and relatively anonymous on one of college football's best teams of its era- works on its own as a new, deeply researched and well-told tale. In particular, the climactic material about the Battle of Okinawa and the role of several Badgers in it should tug at hearts.

SYNOPSIS

The 1942 Wisconsin Badgers were a terrific football team. As young men of that era, they were extraordinary, yet typical. Among other reasons, that￯﾿ﾽs why theirs is an All-American story. The ￯﾿ﾽ42 Badgers had a host of individual stars, including two-time All-American end Dave Schreiner, fullback Pat Harder, and halfback Elroy ￯﾿ﾽCrazylegs￯﾿ﾽ Hirsch. Their coach was the stubborn and respected Harry Stuhldreher, best known as the one-time quarterback of Notre Dame￯﾿ﾽs Four Horsemen. In the final-fling atmosphere typical on college campuses as the first year of U.S. involvement in World War II was winding down, the Badgers climbed their way up the rankings and ultimately became one of the greatest college football teams of all time. Stars and benchwarmers alike knew that each game brought them closer to military service. The Badgers scattered into the various branches and around the world shortly after the season. Not all were asked to be heroic in battle, but many were, and they answered the challenge. Not all of them returned, and the circumstances of at least one battle death have been shrouded in mystery for six decades. Author Terry Frei is the son of 1942 Badgers guard Jerry Frei, a decorated P-38 fighter pilot who went on to a long career in college football and the National Football League. After Jerry Frei￯﾿ﾽs 2001 death, his son set out on a mission of discovery, wanting to learn about the men in the team picture that hung in a place of honor in his father￯﾿ﾽs den. Through exhaustive research and interviews with the remaining Badgers, their families, and combat comrades, Terry Frei tells the often heart-wrenching story of this band of brothers, describing their successes and losses both on the football field and in service to their country.

FROM THE CRITICS

Jay Greenberg - New York Post

Tirelessly researched and relentlessly touching. The true allegory of football and war, minus the cliches.

Robert B. Rennebohm - Wisconsin end (1942, 46-47), Marine lieutenant (1943-45), and long-time head of the University of Wisconsin Foundation

Terry Frei has done a superb job of researching and writing to bring us the true spirit and similarity of our military services, particularly the U.S. Marines, and college football. He vividly follows the 1942 Wisconsin Badgers, who so soon after their gridiron exploits were the losers of life and limb. Events of over sixty years ago seem to have been frozen in time as Frei takes us back to the glory days of so many young Americans.

Rick Morrissey - Chicago Tribune

Terry Frei has captured the spirit of a different time in this country, a time of faith in school and in country, a time of intense loyalty to teammate and fellow soldier. Third Down and a War to Go tells the story of one University of Wisconsin football team during World War II. But to limit the tale to that is like saying Angela's Ashes is about Ireland. This book brings to life, in shades of black and blue and blood red, the idea that certain things are worth fighting for.

ACCREDITATION