Examines the pride, humor, politics, and traditions of the South, as reflected in the football rivalry between Auburn and the University of Alabama

Examines the pride, humor, politics, and traditions of the South, as reflected in the football rivalry between Auburn and the University of Alabama

Engaging a medley of perspectives and methodologies, The Sporting World of the Modern South examines how sports map the social, political, and cultural landscapes of the modern South. In essays on the "backcountry" fighter stereotypes portrayed in modern professional wrestling and the significance of Crimson Tide coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant for white Alabamians, contributors explore the symbols that have shaped southern regional identities since the Civil War. Other essays tackle gender and race relations in intercollegiate athletics, uncover the roles athletic competitions played in desegregating the South, and address the popularity of NASCAR in the southern states. Pairing the action and anecdotes of good sports writing with rock-solid scholarship, The Sporting World of the Modern South adds historical and anthropological perspectives to legends and lore from the gridiron to the racetrack. This collection, with its innovative attention to the interplay between athletics and regional identity, is an insightful and compelling contribution to southern and sports history.

On June 19, 1864, the Confederate cruiser Alabama and the USS Kearsarge faced off in the English Channel outside the French port of Cherbourg. About an hour after the Alabama fired the first shot, it began to sink, and its crew was forced to wave the white flag of surrender. Working with personal papers and diaries and contemporary reports, historian William Marvel interweaves the stories of these two celebrated Civil War warships, from their construction to their climactic encounter off Cherbourg. Just as importantly, he illuminates the day-to-day experiences of their crews. From cabin boys to officers, sailors have been one of the most ignored groups of the Civil War. The sailors' lot was one of constant discomfort and monotony, interspersed with riotous frolics ashore and, occasionally, a few minutes of intense excitement and danger. Housed in damp, crowded quarters, their wartime mortality rate did not reach that of their army counterparts, but service-connected diseases shortened their postwar lives disproportionately. Most of the crewmen ended their lives in nameless obscurity, and their story has remained unwritten until now.

Now with a new afterword, the Pulitzer Prize-winning dramatic account of the civil rights era’s climactic battle in Birmingham as the movement, led by Martin Luther King, Jr., brought down the institutions of segregation. "The Year of Birmingham," 1963, was a cataclysmic turning point in America’s long civil rights struggle. Child demonstrators faced down police dogs and fire hoses in huge nonviolent marches against segregation. Ku Klux Klansmen retaliated by bombing the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, killing four young black girls. Diane McWhorter, daughter of a prominent Birmingham family, weaves together police and FBI records, archival documents, interviews with black activists and Klansmen, and personal memories into an extraordinary narrative of the personalities and events that brought about America’s second emancipation. In a new afterword—reporting last encounters with hero Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and describing the current drastic anti-immigration laws in Alabama—the author demonstrates that Alabama remains a civil rights crucible.

The ultimate University of Alabama fan guide to the passionate and historic rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and the Crimson Tide, this book is presented in a unique reversible-book format. Full of interesting trivia, hilarious history, and inside scoops, the book relates the fantastic stories of legendary 'Bama coaches and star players, as well as the numerous villains and their even worse fans who have represented the Tigers over the years. Like two books in one, this completely biased account of the rivalry shows there really is no fine line between love and hate; rather, it's as wide as the drive from Tuscaloosa to Auburn. This is the defining book on the Alabama&–Auburn rivalry and is a must-read for every true Crimson Tide fan.

Top Dawgs is the complete story of Georgia's unforgettable 2021 football season and first national championship since 1980. This commemorative book features stunning action photography, stories and analysis from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and DawgNation.There was no holding back the Bulldogs in 2021. Georgia's victory over SEC rival Alabama at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis capped a magical 14-1 season. Anchored by a historically great defense, coach Kirby Smart's team dominated conference opponents throughout the fall and quickly emerged as one of the nation's top teams with statement wins over Clemson and Auburn. A decisive triumph over Michigan at the Orange Bowl set up the highly anticipated re-match with the Crimson Tide, where Georgia ended their national championship drought and truly attained the status of “Top Dawgs.”The perfect souvenir for any UGA fan who wants to relive a remarkable journey, Top Dawgs also includes profiles of Stetson Bennett, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, Brock Bowers, Coach Smart and more. It's great to be a Georgia