Third Down and a War to Go captures football and service with the 1942 Wisconsin Badgers

​The 1942 Wisconsin Badgers football team 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.

       I can assure you that there are two givens in the sport of teenage male book selection.  Sports and war.  Between these two areas, we do a swift business in the high school library.  I have been given a request to put together a list of popular books that combine sports and war, and I will happily get to work on that.  In the meantime, a book order came in today, and title that had me completely stoked(stoked! how many librarians use the word "stoked" when talking about books!) was Third Down and a War To Go by Terry Frei.
      Like numerous other (smart) people across the country, I am a Badger fan.  Particularly endearing to all Badgers is the great history of the UW.  As a school that prides itself on civic engagement and activism, Badger athletes from throughout time have represented themselves not only as athletes, but dutiful citizens of the United States.  Frei's book explores the 1942 Badgers as not only loyal warriors on the football field, but loyal countrymen who understood their greater purpose beyond university life.   
       Author Terry Frei wrote the book in a quest to discover more about his father Jerry Frei, who was a guard on the team.  I think many Wisconsinites will find Frei's last chapter, Lives and Death, particularly fascinating.  Seeing a list of some of the athletes and their local hometowns is sure to spark some curiosity and perhaps inspire readers to further research hometown heroes and family ancestors.   
I can't wait to dig in!