The Man Inside ... Landry

Is Coach Tom Landry really the ice-veined mastermind he appears to be? His face conceals his thought and feelings. But how does he handle the pressure and the tension? Does he experience the same emotions about winning and losing as the other coaches, players and fans? Landry reveals what one of America's great coaches is really thinking about during a game. This book reflects the deep, emotional and personal side of one of the most misjudged figures in sports. Here's the full story of how Tom Landry rose from his boyhood in the dusty sandlots of Texas' Rio Grande Valley to defensive stardom and strategic genius with the New York Giants. Here's the story of how he became chief architect of the football dynasty conference champion that reached the playoffs thirteen out of the last fourteen years-and seems destined to keep on winning in the 1980's. You'll find out about the spiritual conversion that set Landry's life on its present course. Whether you share Landry's beliefs and experiences-you'll discover instructive insights into the making of a brilliant leader. To some casual observers the mind of Tom Landry runs like the computers he and his staff employ for their game and personnel evaluations. You'll find out how he reacts to crushing defeats, to playoff pressures, and to the moral and political changes during his three decades of national sports leadership. You'll also get a closeup view of his mind at work as the primary strategy innovator of modern football. He created the defensive alignments that have come to be accepted around the league. To counter his defenses, he designed the most successful offensive strategies. You'll come to see how much pro football is played according to Landry's rules. As a sports thriller for the fan, as an inspirational pick-me-up, as an education in the intricacies of strategy for the coach and player, no source is more comprehensive than Landry.