Reviews

The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football by S.C. Gwynne

Only show reviews with written explanations

notspacemanlee's review against another edition

5.0

I did not know this book existed until two weeks ago. I read it in five hours. Fabulous look at Hal Mumme's influence on the modern-day passing game - along with other memorable coaches (Lavell Edwards, Bill Walsh, Mouse Davis, etc.) whom Mumme took some ideas from to create the Air Raid offense... with some help from his assistant, Mike Leach.

I'm on the older side of the word "millennial," but it's truly amazing to consider the development of the passing game just in my lifetime. My college alma mater when I attended ran a very bland offense less than 20 years ago, and was still nationally ranked. 10 years later, they went to the Air Raid, and have put up some remarkable offensive performances ever since in a much tougher conference. I now live near a local middle school whose 6/7th JV team runs Air Raid concepts and throws 30-40 times a game.

When Gwynne talks Xs and Os and draws diagrams, he makes it very understandable for readers. As someone who loves to watch football, but never played a down in my life as I was a basketball player - I still comprehended everything.

Definitely 5 stars.

throgo3's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

American football is played much differently than just 20 years ago. The seeds of this change are told in this book.

a_garrett's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.75

An interesting, well-told, and underreported story about college football. Some of the early strategy-heavy chapters were a little over my head but as you watch Hal Mumme’s career unfold, they become more integrated with the overall narrative.