Pigskin Nation

PIGSKIN NATION (U of Illinois P; April 11) by Jesse Berrett focuses on the interplay between football and politics primarily during the mid-1960s to mid-1970s; as such, it will appeal mainly to political junkies and some sports fans. However, it is still a fascinating look at the influence that the NFL, with increasing emphasis on televised games, merchandising, and celebrity players, has had on politics and American culture in general.

Berrett, a historian and teacher, points to the NFL's associations "with patriotism, the military in Vietnam, even the Bicentennial." He examines the influence of Commissioner Pete Rozelle, also stresses Nixon's reinforcing of his own political message with comments about conservative coaches like Vince Lombardi, and the role of players in the 1968 and 1972 Presidential elections. Readers will even reminisce about Reagan's "win one for the Gipper" references. PIGSKIN NATION could definitely provide a springboard for creative thinking by students looking to apply a similar analysis to other periods (or sports) in American history, even as we learn more about the concussion crisis and/or debate reactions to the playing of the National Anthem today.

Pigskin Nation is a fascinating cultural history of a time when as the books says “football, politics and culture entwined themselves in ever more complex ways.”

Berrett is a historian by training and he brings the discipline of his profession to examine how NFL Films transformed the image of the NFL and how politicians sought to gain reflected glory from the game.

The material on Nixon is particularly interesting. The book has a real resonance today when we see the current President take an opposite approach - and use the NFL as a punching bag to stir up his supporters.

It is very well written and exceptionally well researched. I learnt a huge amount - I thought the politicalisation of the game was a post 9/11 phenomenon but I was wrong- football and politics have mixed from the very beginning - perhaps never more than between 66 and 74 as covered in this excellent book.

(I intend to post a fuller review to my blog in due course - https://allsportsbooks.reviews)

This is a superb, fascinating look at NFL football, 1960's era, and how it fit with the culture and politics of the times. I found the portions dealing with the NFL and politics, in particular, especially interesting. I'd heard about how Nixon was involved with football but never to this extent

Just a fascinating book and one I'd highly recommend to history buffs, even if they aren't football fans.

I really enjoyed this book, it brought to life a subject I've wanted to understand more about but have often found impenetrable, thank you!