"Commentators, coaches, and fans alike have long touted the diverse rosters of leagues like the NFL and MLB as sterling examples of a post-racial America. Yet decades after Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a display of Black power and pride, and years after Colin Kaepernick shocked the world by kneeling for the national anthem, the role Black athletes and coaches are expected to perform--both on and off the field--still can be determined as much by stereotype and old-fashion ideology as ability and performance. Whether it's the pre-game moments of resistance, the lack of diversity among coaching and managerial staff, or the consistent undervaluation of Black quarterbacks, racial politics impact every aspect of every sport being played--yet the gigantic salaries and glitzy lifestyles of pro athletes often disguise the ugly truths of how minority players are treated and discarded by their White bosses. John Feinstein crisscrossed the country to secure personal interviews with quarterbacks, coaches, and more, revealing the stories none of us have heard (but all of us should know). Seventy-five years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line, race is still a central and defining factor of America's professional sports leagues. With an encyclopedic knowledge of professional sports, and shrewd cultural criticism, bestselling and award-winning author John Feinstein uncovers not just why, but how, pro sports continue to perpetuate racial inequality."--

Award-winning, bestselling author John Feinstein chronicles a year inside Ivy League Football, unveiling the heart and soul of college football's oldest teams as they compete at an elite level in a conference that prizes tradition -- amid a rapidly changing and increasingly monetized collegiate sports world. The history of the Ivy League dates back to 1869 when Princeton played the first college football game against Rutgers. That storied history, however, is not what this book is about. Rather, The Ancient Eight explores Ivy League football today. Why? Because the conference is underrated. NFL rosters typically feature about a dozen former Ivy players. To play in the league, one must maintain the highest academic standards and be a great football player. The rivalries are as intense as in the SEC or the Big Ten, even if the linemen aren't quite as large. There are arcane rules forbidding participation in the NCAA postseason, not allowing eligible graduate students to play, and scheduling ten straight weeks without a bye. But there is also a genuine purity -- not one that's made up for marketing purposes -- in the Ivy League. Through intimate interviews with players, coaches, and key figures, Feinstein uncovers the unique culture that defines football on the Ivy League gridiron, offering unparalleled access to the remarkable coaching staffs and student-athletes who balance their academic ambitions with their passion for the game. The story of the 2023 season began tragically when longtime Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens suffered fatal injuries in a bicycle accident, and one of his players, Joshua Balara, died of cancer the same day. But Dartmouth would persist to shockingly win a share of the Ivy championship, along with both Harvard and Yale -- the result of a nail-biting 138th meeting of those two schools in The Game. On the field, inside the locker room, and around campus, The Ancient Eight reveals the phenomenal stories of the young men who play in today's Ivy League and those who coach them.