Rites of Autumn: The Story of College Football

The armchair college football fan will be in “bowl” heaven with this 10-episode series, in which each program focuses on a different facet of college football, including the evolution of the game, star players, great plays, and key coaches who influenced the game, among other topics. Narrated by Burt Reynolds (a former Florida State running back), Rites of Autumn plays like a Ken Burns' documentary epic, with voiceovers, lots of archival footage and pics, musical accompaniment, and chapter divisions. Gridiron fans will relive the collegiate glory days of players such as Red Grange, Jim Brown, and the Four Horsemen, and hear the stories behind legendary coaches such as Bear Bryant, Knute Rockne, Amos Alonzo Stagg, and Ray Robinson. While not a definitive history (the content leans heavily toward Big 10 schools, Notre Dame, Alabama, and Miami, with no mention of major contributions to the sport by lesser known schools--Brigham Young University's quarterback factory under former Coach LaVell Edwards comes to mind), this is still worthwhile and sure to be a popular addition to general sports collections. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (L. Stevens)