On Rocky Top/ Blood Sweat and Chalk

On Rocky Top, Blood Sweat and Chalk Austin Maher Book 3(s) Review

The two books that I read, On Rocky Top by Clay Travis, and Blood Sweat and Chalk by Tim Layden had similar common themes. Both focus on the history of football (and the transformation of teams and formations). One is focused on the college atmosphere, and the other is directed more towards the development of the NFL. The books both utilize some of the same examples, one being quarterback Tim Tebow and his ability to run the spread offense. In On Rocky Top, Clay Travis states, “His team is led by quarterback Tim Tebow, God’s answer to the question, “What is 21st-century physical perfection on the football field?” Tim Layden in Blood Sweat and Chalk writes about what Urban Meyer did with the spread offense in Florida, and how he revolutionized the NCAA.
On Rocky Top explains how as a Tennessee fan, you either hate Florida or Alabama. It’s just a matter of when you were born, whether you witnessed your team being killed by the Gators, or Crimson Tide. And if you were a dedicated fan in the mid to late 90’s you probably witnessed Tennessee losing to Gators, but not just losing to another team, losing to themselves. Even with legendary quarterback Peyton Manning in 1994 missing a wide open receiver for a touchdown. This highlights one common thing in the mind of a fan. Patience. Which is common in any professional sport, however in football it’s a tad more intertwined in the common everyday game. When you create a new formation it’s not immediately going to take effect. Patience is the key; because once it does work everyone thinks you are a genius.
As years go by most sports are affected by the change in technology. The days of you getting in trouble and people finding out a week later in the Sunday paper are long gone. Now when something happens all of a sudden people find out in less than an hour on any of the ESPN family of networks. In a way this could mess with your head a little bit, because as an athlete now you are expected to not make any mistakes because you have a commitment that is larger than life itself it seems. Along with media changing things, there are now also a lot of sports websites that keep you updated with things as small as a player getting a bruise on their left calf. As Clay Travis says in his writings in On Rocky Top “With their second by second updates, excessive reactions, and meltdowns, the Volquest message boards offer a searing look into the heart of the fan base”. In football change also comes with change in things like offenses and defenses, such as the Tampa 2, which was created by the Buccaneer’s in the early 2000’s and lead the 2006 Indianapolis Colts to a Lombardi trophy. Things that change in football are often because on one play, something different happened so everyone starts doing it. Then next thing you know “Change”.
To go along with change, you first need something to change. Such as a formation, offense or defense. In Blood Sweat and Chalk the story goes into detail about how Bill Walsh changed the way you play offense, with his West Coast style of an offense. This formation aloud the quarterback to get a quick drop back scan for his first option that would be running a post or corner route, such as a TE or a TE/WR hybrid. After this the quarterback looks to his 4-15 yard route that should be running underneath (Jerry Rice) and this aloud for the offense to minimize “wasted “downs. Mainly because if you didn’t have an option down the field or near the 1st down marker, the quarterback more than likely will have the check down route open. But the key to this offense is YAC, yards after catch. The offense must have players that can turn a 5 yard pass into a 20 yard gain. This is why the 49ers ran this offense with such perfection.
These two books were both great, both would be an overall of an A- or higher. However On Rocky Top gave the reader a better view from a fans perspective and allows you to think “hey, I’m pretty sure I have said that before.” Which makes the book a lot more interesting, plus On Rocky Top had more of a format to the writing so it created a better overall flow. Aside from that these books overlapped very nicely and allow the reader to realize what the most innovative ideas have been over time. Such as Tim Tebow and the spread offense or Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense or as some people call it the Cincinnati offense. Also the way you can really see how media affects a teamup close really makes you see how much players and coaches really hate Sportscenter at times. Not all change in football is good but when you apply it over time, and keep patience in the back of your mind, the advantage usually leans you way.

 

Book Talk

Book 2 Trailer

What does it take for a book to be considered Non-Fiction?

Austin Maher- What does it take for a book to be considered Non-Fiction?

 

                I think that if you are going to say a book is non-fiction then that’s what it should be. If it is just sort of true, put that on the cover like movies do. And say “Based on a true story”. That way people can’t like almost revolt against your writing. Also I think you almost need more than one point of view or additional characters in your story. That way you can have multiple views or see how things affected them. I also don’t understand why people try and get away with lying in stories because of all the technologies we have available today. You aren’t going to get away with it. You can’t like yeah I was arrested 4 times in New York. Because all someone has to do is look in the criminal justice book of records for that area or state. And if you don’t show up you are busted.

                I think we do need lines between genres because that way you know if you are reading about something that really happened or something that was just created out of pure imagination. Having a good idea is one thing, but I think your writing gets better recognition if it was true. Because people and the press are like “hey! Let’s all go look this guy up and interview him and make a movie.” Like the story 127 hours if that was a made up story I don’t think the part when he cut his own arm off would have been as intense as it was because he actually had to do that in his journey.

Adaptation for World War Z

Adaption of the book World War Z

By: Austin Maher

 

For the adaptation for the book World War Z to work, you first need some really good special effects. And more than likely a very high budget, just because most of the scenes will be filled with explosions, zombies, and crashes exc. Also you need to keep the attitude of the soldiers, and normal civilians throughout. With the soldiers they have a mentality of just a little bit longer (which is a larger concept for everyone around the world at this point). As for the civilians, they seem to think this is all the governments fault, and everyone is turning against one another. Mainly because people will be like oh it’s just a scratch from a piece of metal when in reality it is actually a bite from a zombie and they are soon to become one of the living dead. So in this time trust is minimal.

A very simple and small scene to keep would be the very beginning of the story when they are talking about the “thought” of how the outbreak was started. Their idea was that somewhere in Africa while moon fishing a child went into the river and was bite by something and then later reanimated and that’s how it all started. But, I think this would be a good idea to place this scene at the end of the movie saying like 1 years before or something like that.

Around pages 50-120 they go into to detail about the army (Yonkers) who are there to kill the zombies, and contain them. This would be some good action to include in the movie, just because who doesn’t like to see someone snipe a zombie from the top of a business rooftop? Or a tank roll over a pile of discarded cars and fire a large shotgun like shell and blow 50 reanimated beings to kingdom-come? So this would be good in the middle of the movie and then towards the end to leave you sitting on the edge of your seat, only to see how it all “started” 1 year or so ago in Africa.

Around page 120-130 the book describes how people have the idea of moving north, because the zombies won’t be able to handle the winter. So as everyone is moving north and they arrive at their destination. At first everything is all nice and swell, but then people start to run out of food to find, such as fish or wild game around the surrounding area. So everyone gets very reclusive, and it turns into people killing one another. So it would be a good scene because in most movies they have the introduction, then it is followed by a problem which is fixed, then a larger issue occurs, and for the end everyone comes together and finished whatever it was off.

Two scenes that could be taken off I think is when they pan over to the other countries because it kind of throws you off. And it would be a lot easier to focus on maybe one country or specific area. Also the way the book is written as an interview, I feel like it should a view from a few people maybe like the son who is up north and a few soldiers, and not a reporter. Because you don’t really get a strong feel for any of the characters. Also when you pan around it disconnects you from the characters that you like in the one area, so then all you do is wait for them to return to the area that you did like.  

 

 

 

Book #1 Project

Book Project Number 1

Austin Maher

“The Horns Collectors Series and Experience”

With the grand opening of the replica foundry and disappearing tree house from the novel Horns we are hoping that people who haven’t even read the book will think “hey, that’s pretty cool”. The area will have the large Foundry that Ig stayed in for the last part of the book. To give the reader or soon to be reader a better idea of what it looked like. And what was located on the inside of it. Also in the back area where the chimney was located, more specifically where Terry was bite by the snake in the final battle of Ig, and Terry against Lee, and Eric. There will be a large cage (as you would see in a zoo) that displays the numerous snakes that followed Ig around. Once he became his devil like form. Mainly because people always seem to be interested in wildlife, so it will be a good way to get more visitors to come. And hopefully increase the book sales even more. Also a lot of times with books you get an image in your head of a location in the book, from somewhere that you have been before. So if you visit a replica, you may be able to build a stronger connection with those scenes in the book. While you are watching a movie (that was made from a book) you are always curious of who they will select to portray the characters from the story. So, just getting that visual will automatically create more interest for the book.

Our biggest idea and hopefully the most successful will be for people who like to collect things, and who doesn’t like memorabilia, if no one did. Then no one would be trying to get ahold of an autographed football from Peyton Manning. And there is always that thought in the back of your mind about, this may be worth something someday. If, I keep it protected and in good condition. So, inside the limited edition Horns collectors’ box is will include: A mask( for the devil) a set of horns, a ring to place on someone’s finger that lets you know if they are lying, a walkie talkie like device that lets you throw your voice, and a gold cross necklace like the one Merrin Williams wore. The reason we decided on these objects is because we found that they played a big part in the story, and they are also the most recognizable things from this novel.

The Devil Mask- This is one of the biggest and most notable things from the book. This mask will remind you of the change that Ig went through. Also if you see it somewhere your first thought may jump straight to this book. If you have read it previously, and we will give it a different design then what you may think of as your stereotypical Devil like face. And above all, it is just a pretty cool thing overall, and the design that we would like to try and go off of would be something similar to what you may see in the movie Hellboy. Where he has the horns and the red face, but it’s a little different than normal.

The Horns- Besides the book being named Horns, these will look good with the Devil mask that was previously reviewed. And like what was said before it is a very recognizable piece of the book. “They weren’t much as horns went” this is when he first discovers them after his hangover. And right off the bat you are like well, why does he have, and or need the horns? So we agreed that this would be a nice touch in the series.

Magic Ring- The ring is more of just something that people could have fun with, and will probably be the most liked item out of the box. Just because of the uses of it. And this goes along with the power of the horns for people to tell you their deep untold truths. But since that really isn’t possible, we came out with this instead. “People keep telling me things, awful things” this is when he is talking to the doctor about what is going on with the horns.

Walkie Talkie Device- This relates to when he is disguising his voice (Ig as the Devil) and he tricks Lee into coming down to the foundry-Ig made his voice sound like their friend Glenna-. So this will also be a neat novelty that goes along with the Devil in the book.

The Gold cross Necklace- This was what the beginning of everything was in the entire story. “She had left her little gold cross” This was when Merrin left the cross necklace on the church pew, after she had been reflecting the light into Ig’s eye all service. And this was how he met her when he was 16. So, if it hadn’t been for the necklace none of this could have ever started up. In other words the necklace is the most important thing of all. And personally I think it would be a good idea to make some of them “special” so they can be worth more money in the future.

Between the Location visits and the collector’s series box, I think the popularity of this book would skyrocket. And create long time Joe Hill lovers and also create more people who would like to read this book for the first time.

What is a book?-Austin Maher

 A book is an experience, one that you can pass on to one of your friends, or family members. Also one that you can talk about with people. Because I mean everyone has gotten a book, and then about every 50 pages or so you tell someone about what is going down in your book. Or when something big happens you are like well this was happening and then all of a sudden, it just went crazy and completely flipped around! The person who I usually update about my books would have to be my Grandpa, whenever I see him. Or my dad, who is the one who takes me to the book store usually. But with my Grandpa he always passes his books onto me, and just lets me keep them, or pass them onto someone else. And what he always says is “I have enjoyed the book already, now someone else can enjoy it.”

                So that’s how I view actually having a book, not just getting something on an iPad, but actually going out to the bookstore and finding the book. And having that small experience. I’m not technologically challenged or anything, I just strongly prefer to have a book that I can look at on my shelf, and think back to when I went out and bought the book.  I think that Nancy Jo Sales relates to this topic the best when she says “the way it looks and feels and even smells.” It just goes back to having the book in your possession and being able to hand it one to someone else.

                I STRONGLY dislike the idea of an electronic book. And paying $90-200 for it and then also paying for the books again. If you want to read a book on an ipad or kindle fire, just go to google and read it for free. So there isn’t really any reason to buy one of those things. And it just takes away from the memories. As in haven’t your parents ever gotten out some of their old like 99 cent books that they had? You completely erase that experience once you go and download a book for 4.99 and just have it on there. And people say that they are tight on money so they just read on the kindle/ipad exc. Well if you were tight on money how did you spend $90-800 on something like that? Exactly case closed.