My book events and purchase links
I hope to see you. Contact me if interested in an event at shanny4055@aol.com.
Purchase links: Books by Tom Shanahan – Tom Shanahan Report
RAYE OF LIGHT was used as research for the NFL 360 Emmy Award-winning film, “The Indelible Legacy of Jimmy Raye.”
————————–UPCOMING EVENT INFORMATION ————————
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
I’ll be signing books at the Notre Dame bookstore the day of the Michigan State-Notre Dame game on September 19 at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame All-American running Vagas Ferguson, a member of the Irish’s 1977 national championship coached by Duffy Daugherty Disciple Dan Devine, will join me along with a Spartan TBA.
Here is a link to our 2024 book signing event at the Notre Dame Bookstore:
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025
Apex Eva Perry Regional Library
SATURDAY, APRIL 26 and SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2025
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, USC campus. Free admission.
I promoted my books, THE RIGHT THING TO DO and RAYE OF LIGHT. Michigan State College Football Hall of Famer Clinton Jones joined me to sign copies. Phil and Tanya Hart, executive producers for our docuementary project, also joined me.
My books discuss Michigan State leading college football integration. There are also chapters on the myths about the 1970 USC-Alabama game duplicitously overshadowing the true 1960s pioneers. I’ll debate anybody, anytime, anywhere on these points.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2024
Hammes Notre Dame Book Store, Notre Dame campus.
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My books document stories about the true pioneers of college football integration in the 1960s who blazed a trail. They made college football integration fait accompli by 1970, but myths and fiction about the 1970 USC-Alabama game and Bear Bryant’s secret plan has unjustly shoved the true pioneers into the shadows. The popular misconception worked its way into the national folklore with the aid of poorly researched sports writing.
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When I spoke at the National Sports Media Association Book Festival at Bookmarks I made the statement, “No two books better tell the true story of college football integration than “Raye of Light” and “The Right Thing To Do.”
Listen to audio here: Book Festival (youtube.com)
I’ll put my research up against anybody, anytime, anywhere.
It’s an injustice to the true pioneers of college football integration who paid a price in the 1960s to steer credit to Bear Bryant, Sam Cunningham and one game, the 1970 USC-Alabama game. The myths Thanks to the true pioneers, college football integration was fait accompli by 1970.
The line of figures blazing a trail starts with Michigan State coach Duffy Daugherty assembling college football’s first fully integrated rosters and his assistant coaches who followed his blueprint as ahead coaches coast to coach. Courageous southern pioneers include Maryland’s Darryl Hill, Wake Forest’s Bob Brant, Houston’s Warren McVea, Southern Methodist’s Jerry Levias, Kentucky’s Wilbur Hackett, Tennessee’s Lester McClain and Auburn’s James Owens.
The premise of the 1970 USC-Alabama game as a singular moment can be shattered by the fact on the same night, the ABC-TV national game of the week was No. 10-ranked Stanford’s upset of No. 4 Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Stanford’s star was Hillary Shockley, a Black fullback, with 149 total yards and three touchdowns.
— TOM SHANAHAN
—————————————————————- MORE PAST EVENTS ———————————————
TUESDAY, MAY 7
Boulder Book Store, Boulder Colorado.
After the book event Colorado 1961 teammates John Meadows (L) and Joe Romig (C) signed books with me.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024
Okemos, Michigan
Michigan State All-American offensive lineman Jerry West joined me to sign books.
Schuler’s Books is located at the Meridian Mall in Okemos, near Michigan State’s campus.
Click here for Lansing CBS station’s Channel 6 coverage of the book-signing event.
Click here for MSN post: New book “The Right Thing to Do” sheds light on Duffy Daugherty’s impact on college football integration (msn.com)
Click here for video produced by Michigan State student Campbell Berg
Click here for my March 27 appearance on The Drive with Jack
Click here for a March podcast appearance on The Spiro Avenue Show
MARCH 12-14
London Book Festival
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29
MSU Club of West Michigan, Winter Tailgate, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Michigan State All-American offensive lineman Jerry West joined me to sign books.
Thanks to MSU Club of West Michigan to invite me to sell books on Michigan State history alongside Jack Ebling, long-time sportswriter and author and host of “The Drive with Jack.”
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2024
Artworks, Big Rapids, Michigan
My story recapping my trip home for a book signing, speaking at Riverview Elementary and Chippewa Hills High, appearing on the Carlleen Rose Show and the book signing at ArtWorks in downtown Big Rapids.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2024
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Big Rapids Riverview Elementary School and Chippewa Hills High
Third-grade students at Riverview Elementary School posed with me.
English class taught by Geryl Lobert at Chippewa Hills High School, Remus, Michigan.
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November 22, 2023
MSU Alumni Club, Riverside, California chapter
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort, Indian Wells, California
Michigan State Hall of Famer Steve Garvey, a Palm Desert, California resident, attended the MSU Alumni Riverside Club event.
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June 26, 2023
National Sports Media Association Book Festival
Bookmarks, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Website: Bookmarks (bookmarksnc.org)
Listen to audio here: Book Festival (youtube.com)
ABOVE: I was proud to join Andrew Maraniss (L) and David Maraniss (R) at the National Sports Media Association Book Festival.
BELOW: Another heavyweight at the NSMA Book Festival was Terence Moore.
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March 14, 2023
RALEIGH SPORTS CLUB, weekly meeting
Highland Methodist Church, Raleigh, N.C.
Click here for Raleigh Sports Club luncheon video: Honoring Earle Edwards’ legacy and connection to Duffy Daugherty – Tom Shanahan Report
L-R: NC State hisatorian Tim Peeler, NC State pioneer player Charley Young and author Tom Shanahan
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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.
