Table of Contents
Introduction: Why This Book 1
Prologue: The Crossroads 5
Part I Preseason
Chapter 1 Looking for "The Guy" 23
Chapter 2 Big Ten Media Days 33
Chapter 3 The Harbaughs 39
Chapter 4 The Risks and Rewards-Real and Perceived 55
Chapter 5 Countdown to Kickoff 74
Part II September
Chapter 6 Drowned Out by the Echoes 91
Chapter 7 The Gambler 110
Chapter 8 Growing Up Harbaugh 125
Chapter 9 Friday Nights, No Lights 149
Chapter 10 Stopping a Losing Streak 162
Chapter 11 The Rocket Scientist 169
Chapter 12 Student-Athletes 179
Chapter 13 The Victory After the Game 205
Chapter 14 It Takes a Village 212
Chapter 15 Harbaugh in High School 232
Chapter 16 Emptying the Bench 243
Chapter 17 The Lightning Rod 259
Chapter 18 To the Brink and Back 276
Part III October
Chapter 19 The Backup 291
Chapter 20 Tragedy at Maryland 300
Chapter 21 Making a Little History 308
Chapter 22 The-Eye in the Sky Never Lies 318
Chapter 23 Michigan Man 331
Chapter 24 O-Line U 344
Chapter 25 The Anonymous O-Lineman 353
Chapter 26 The Revenge Tour Commences 363
Chapter 27 The Can't Miss Kid 378
Chapter 28 Bad Blood 386
Chapter 29 "Cavalry's Coming" 401
Part IV November
Chapter 30 "If Football Was Taken Away" 423
Chapter 31 Captain Comeback 451
Chapter 32 "Hard to Beat the Cheaters" 466
Chapter 33 Turning the Tables 490
Chapter 34 A Modest Proposal 501
Chapter 35 Business Trip 511
Chapter 36 Prodigal Son 519
Chapter 37 The Perfect Trap 532
Chapter 38 Collapse in Columbus 539
Part V Postseason
Chapter 39 Hard Choices 559
Chapter 40 What Really Matters 570
Chapter 41 Consolations 579
Epilogue: Was It Worth It? 590
Acknowledgments 615