The newspaper industry provided me a four-decade career experiencing inspiration, dedication and just plain fun. The start of my career covering the Chargers, college, high school sports and Olympic athletes came full circle with Don Coryell’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction on August 5 in Canton, Ohio. I helped Hall of Famer Dan Fouts with research on Coryell’s remarkable record of first-time Pro Bowlers with the SAN DIEGO Chargers and Cardinal for Fouts’ presentation to the voters
PHOTO (News & Observer): Clayton High dual-threat quarterback John Montague.
Visit my website homepage, TomShanahan.Report
By TOM SHANAHAN
CLAYTON — Urban sprawl can cost a small town its Mayberry charm. Another price to pay is the singular identity that rallies a community around its lone high school — particularly on football Friday nights.
Clayton is one of those rapidly growing towns in Johnston County, just across the Raleigh/Wake County border. Clayton High opened in 1901, and for more than a century the Comets were the only game in town. By 2010, though, expanding population opened Cleveland High. Town loyalties were split between the old and new.
But instead of disconnected apathy, Clayton’s two fan bases are holding back the tide of time, defying a common socio-economic trend. Clayton High quarterback John Montague is a senior transfer and has thus viewed his adopted hometown’s support as part insider, part outsider.
“The atmosphere is great here,” Montague said. “The stands are packed for our home games. The fans are great. They cheer us on.”
Read the remainder of my story here
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Previous weekly features this season:
— October 20, Durham Jordan’s Amarion Blue, junior gaining attention
— October 13, Garner’s Isaiah Dawson, Richmond commit
— October 6, Cardinal Gibbons’ Whitt Newbauer, Furman commit
— September 29, Fuquay-Varina’s Malcolm Ziglar, North Carolina commit
— September 22, Wake Forest’s Zane Williams, North Carolina State commit
— September 15, South Garner’s Nnamdi Ogboko, Georgia commit
— September 8, Southeast Raleigh’s Chase Robinson, underrated prospect.
— September 1, Southern Durham’s Isaiah Campbell, 30-plus offers.
— August 25, Rolesville’s Isiah Jones, committed to NC State
— August 18, Millbrook’s Mason Fortune, underrated prospect.
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I invite you to follow me on Twitter @shanny4055
Below are links click on to purchase my books focused.
My books tell the true story of college football integration in the 1960s and address the myths and fiction that allowed a false narrative surrounding the 1970 USC-Alabama game to usurp the credit from the true pioneers. As I said when I spoke at the National Sports Media Association book festival, no two books provide an accurate portrayal more than RAYE OF LIGHT and THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I’ll put my facts up against anybody, anytime, anywhere.
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Click here for my story on the 1962 Rose Bowl and Segregation awarded first place by the Football Writers Association of America. I tell untold stories on Michigan State’s leading role and the true pioneers of college football integration. Click here to read the summary as a first-place story.
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Visit my website homepage, TomShanahan.Report
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Click here to purchase The Right Thing To Do
THE RIGHT THING TO DO
The True Pioneers of College Football Integration in the 1960s
Foreword by Ruffin McNeill
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Click here to purchase Raye of Light.
RAYE OF LIGHT
Jimmy Raye, Duffy Daugherty, the 1ntegration of College Football and the 1965-66 Michigan State Spartans
Foreword by Tony Dungy
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Click here to purchase my children’s book, Bubba’s Dad, Duffy and College Football’s Underground Railroad
The book for now is only a Kindle version on Amazon. Print and audio platforms available soon.
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Coming soon for Christmas, my next children’s book: How Duffy Put Hawaii on the Football Map
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