Beating Goliath - by Art Briles (Paperback)

About the Book

"Growing up in Rule, Texas, Art Briles learned at a young age the importance of hard work and faith from his parents. Soon that faith would be tested. On their way to see him play in a college football game, Brile's parents and aunt died in a car crash. This event shaped Briles into the man he is today. His father, Dennis, left him with a series of lessons. He taught his son that the world doesn't just hand you things, you have to earn them. And he taught him the influence that faith could have in his life.. Briles put these lessons to work as a football coach, where he establised his reputation for turning struggling teams into winners, from Stephensville High School, to Texas Tech, to the University of Houston. Hired to coach Baylor in 2007, he was faced with a familiar task. Within three years, Briles led the Bears to their first bowl game in 15 years."

Book Synopsis

Beating Goliath is a memoir about overcoming loss and keeping faith by the innovative former head coach of the top ranked Baylor Bears college football team.

Growing up in Rule, Texas, Art Briles learned at a young age the importance of hard work and faith from his parents. Soon that faith would be tested.

On their way to see him play in a college football game, Briles' parents and aunt died in a car crash. This event shaped Briles into the man he is today. His father, Dennis, left him with a series of lessons. He taught his son that the world doesn't just hand you things, you have to earn them. And he taught him the influence that faith could have in his life.

Briles put these lessons to work as a football coach, where he established his reputation for turning struggling teams into winners, from high school to the staff at Texas Tech to head coach at the University of Houston. Hired to coach Baylor in 2007, he was faced with a familiar task. Within three years, Briles led the Bears to their first bowl game in 15 years.

Today, he instills those same lessons into his young players, helping them find a reason to excel. There are plenty of excuses for failure but Briles surrounds himself with people who are fearless when it comes to chasing success. That is one of the many lessons he imparts to his readers in Beating Goliath, with chapters that include:

* God and the Teaching of Dennis Briles
* Finding Your Passion
* You Can Change Attitude, Not Talent
* Passing in the Land of Earl Campbell
* Everybody is a Captain

Filled with dramatic football stories and lessons learned, this book will inspire and entertain.

Review Quotes

"The best part of this work are when the author describes what makes his program different. In particular, he uses no playbook, rejects pregame stretching, and eschews overcoaching at practice." --Library Journal

"If you're looking for a great book centered on the love for pig-skin, Beating Goliath will keep you captivated. Or if you're looking for a book to inspire - this book is for you too! Coach Briles football strategies go beyond the field and can easily change a life." --BeliefNet

"Baylor's Briles is a down-home innovator. From high school to college, Baylor's Art Briles succeeds with the spread offense." --New York Times

"Baylor's Art Briles is built to last." --ESPN.com

About the Author

ART BRILES is the former head coach of the Baylor Bears football team. Born and raised in Texas, Briles is acknowledged as one of the most brilliant and innovative coaches in the game today.

DON YAEGER is a former associate editor for Sports Illustrated. He is the author of more than a dozen books and coauthor of five New York Times bestsellers, including George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring that Saved the American Revolution; I Beat the Odds: The Autobiography of Michael Oher; Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton; and Ya Gotta Believe!: The Autobiography of Tug McGraw.