Sunday, January 11, 2009
Chic: The Extraordinary Rise of Ohio State Football and the Tragic Schoolboy Athlete Who Made It Happen
Chic: The Extraordinary Rise of Ohio State Football and the Tragic Schoolboy Athlete Who Made It Happen
Bob Hunter's Chic is the untold story of the unassuming schoolboy who laid the groundwork for Ohio stadium, as well as the story of the building of America's greatest athletic institution, the OSU program.It's a near cinematic tale of how it all began, how mighty Michigan was first put in its place by the Buckeye upstarts. It is a story of the game itself creating its first modern identity, and into it all is woven the story of a boy whose prowess matched the vibrant passage of a city and a university reaching for their own potential.
Finally, it is a love story. In all its odd and mysterious turnings, neither the city nor the university ever forgot the schoolboy. Almost half a century afterward, Chic Harley returned to Columbus and a third of the city lined the downtown streets in the rain to cheer him.
Chic Harley is the ghost in the program, a tragic figure who through the life of Ohio Stadium gave as much sustained pleasure to as many people as any athlete of all time.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Bob Hunter's book Chic Harley is terrific. Born and raised on the legends of Archie Griffin and Woody Hayes, this OSU alumni didn't even know about Chic Harley until he bought a home one street over from where the East High football star lived in the Old Oaks District of Columbus. Bob brings Chic, as well as the spirit of Good Old Columbus Town and OSU of the teens, twenties and thirties to vivid life. If you have an interest in OSU football or know someone that does this is a must-read. Chic Harley is also an important addition to the canon of Columbus and OSU athletic history. His telling of the cinematic tale of Chic's life is sensitive and compelling. He draws the reader willingly into the rarified world of living legend that Chic inhabited with a very readable style of prose that keeps you wanting to turn the page. --Doug Motz -President Columbus Historical Society
About the Author
Bob Hunter has authored five sports books in addition to this one and has been a sports columnist for the Columbus Dispatch since 1993. Prior to becoming a columnist, he covered Ohio State football and basketball, the Cincinnati Reds and Ohio high school sports. Before going to Columbus, he worked for his hometown Hamilton Journal-News.
Customer Reviews
How Chic Harley Changed Ohio State Football
This is a moving story of a young man endowed with enormous physical ability and a heart to match. Chic Harley put OSU football on the course that would make it a powerhouse many years later. Columbus may have forgotten this long lost son but Bob Hunter's book does a great job resurecting Chic and the times in which he lived. It's not just a great story about football but a great story about the rise and fall of a hero. I recommend this to any fan of football.
Whether you're a Michigan fan or a Buckeye fan, this book is a must read.
This book was a gift from my sister and I almost finished it before my return flight landed at home. If you think you know everything about OSU football, you may learn a lot from this book. If you're a Michigan fan, this is the book to read to gain an insight to how the rivalry began. If you like a story with a twist in the middle taking you to the unexpected, this is your sports read for the year.
Without giving too much away, I always thought OSU football was always like it is today. I always thought the biggest names were all the history there was, but the author shows us that Buckeye football has evolved into the dynasty it is today.
This is a book you could read every August to get ready for another great year of football.
Enjoy!
A Forgotten Legend Comes To Life
For many college football fans the name Chic Harley may mean next to nothing, but he is one of the greatest players ever for Ohio State and propelled the football program into a national prominence that continues nearly 90 years after he last suited up for the Buckeyes.
Author Bob Hunter brings this legend to life in a biography of triumph and tragedy. Harley was a superstar from 1916-1917, 1919, whose gridiron exploits made the small Ohio Field obsolete and sparked the construction of the massive Ohio Stadium - still used today - which is dubbed, "The House That Harley Built."
A collegiate letterman in football, baseball, basketball and track, Harley was a top prep athlete at East High School (Columbus) and - for OSU - was the first consensus first-team All-American and first three-time All-American selection.
In 1918, Harley left Ohio State to serve the nation as a pilot for the U.S Army Air Service in World War I.
After his college playing days, Harley was poised to sign an amazing pro contract that was going to give him 33-percent ownership in the Chicago Staleys (Bears). But a physical found that Harley had severe health impairments from the war. The health problems prohibited Harley from ever playing the game again and would plague him for the rest of his life.
A charter inductee (1951) in the College Football Hall of Fame, Harley is a pivotal player in the rich history of college football. Hunter provides the spotlight on the stadium turf for Harley to be appreciated by those who follow this great game.
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