Wisconsin’s Carlisle Indian School Immortals (Native American Sports Heroes)

Tom Benjey
Tuxedo Press (2011)
ISBN 9781936161225
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (5/11)

 

Mr. Benjey brings a well-researched and detailed history to light in this interesting volume. He explains the important role that American Indians played in the history of professional football, beginning with an insight into the role that the Carlisle Indian School football program played in introducing the American Indians to football and the trials and tribulations they went through and the history they made.

Chapter two gives the reader the short version history of Indians in football from its meager beginnings to the present. The way it started was with a stuffed pigskin and a young group of eager Indian boys. This led the way to such greats and Hall of Fame inductees as “Jim Thorpe and Joe Guyon.” The book also mentions many others that became great professional players and coaches. One such person that helped these young Indian boys was “Glenn S. Warner,” the coach at Carlisle that was instrumental in the football program.

When “Pop Warner” became Athletic Director, he shut down his law practice and devoted himself to his players. He went as far as drawing up contracts for his players that were turning pro. There was so much the author had to say about Coach Warner that he explained why he devoted a whole chapter to this man and then followed it with chapters about the players.

I enjoyed reading this very enlightening book. It gave me an insight into a portion of sports and Indian history that I was not familiar with. I never realized what an important part American Indians played in sports history.

The writing was good enough to keep me reading and the editing was of a decent quality. I did not hesitate in giving “Wisconsin’s Carlisle Indian School Immortals” a solid B on my grading scale. With its historic pictures and detailed storyline, this general audience, 329 page group of biographies; should be a hit with all sports fans.

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