Sins of the Tribe

Excellent look at the innards of big-time college football. Readers will, no doubt, feel a range of emotions as they read about the fights and struggles to produce a winning program.

The title of this book refers most directly to the ambience and football program of the fictional Bastille university om the southern U.S. While the football content is broadly and accurately presented, yhe true tribalism portrayed is that of the organising principle of human society. The characters of the main actors Wally, Henry, Dion and Samanth Samantha are finely drawn and believably portrayed.

If you are a college football fan, this book is a must read, for sure. The story centers around two brothers, who are walk-ons to a powerhouse college football team. Of course, the powerhouse college has secrets of their own. Anyone part of the fandom, players, coaches, etc. can act however they want as long as the team wins. There are consequences if they lose.

I am a huge college football fan as well as diehard Chicago Bears fan, this book really caught my attention and I enjoyed it a lot. When reading this it really made me think of the pressures college athletes feel to perform their best especially when on a scholarship or have aspirations for professional sports. There are also hopes and pressures from family. I enjoyed how this book explored all these issues.

Highly recommended. It was intense and relatable.

Thanks to Netgalley, Mark A Salter and Greenleaf Book Group Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 7/12/22

I received an ARC of this hard-hitting book through NetGalley.

Sins of the Tribe is a no-holds-barred portrayal of the toxic environment that so often exists in big-time college sports. The tribe in this book consists of the players, coaches, the college administration, alumni and fans of a fictional big-time college football powerhouse. The tribe worships the team and its players, where any and all acts are forgiven as long as the team wins.

The story revolves around two brothers, who are the same age but born of different mothers. One of the brothers is a star high school quarterback, but not talented enough to be a starter in college. His brother, never diagnosed but mentally handicapped in some way, is an amazing placekicker, truly capable of being a star kicker in college. The kicker's holder is, of course, his brother.

The boys' dream of playing for their favorite big-time college programs turns sour when their dream becomes reality. The author portrays how players are used and abused by their coaches and many other forms of corruption can be part and parcel of a big-time sports program. The reader can easily associate real-life coaches and real-life universities that resemble the fictional school in this book.

The book started a bit slow and seemed like a coming-of-age story about the two brothers, but quickly became a fascinating, though troubling, story.

I found this book to be a fascinating story about first, child abuse, group tribalism and college football. The first chapter was a little confusing but after that, It talks about two young men, one with “issues”. This young man has a talent. He can kick football field goals with incredible accuracy. However, he will only do it with his brother planting the football. This is how both end up as walk ons on a college football team. This school team has policies for student athletes, requiring education, honesty, commitment to each other and the team. All goes well until the long tenured coach passes away. Now everything changes abruptly when the new coach arrives. After I got through the first couple chapters, I found myself unable to put the book down until I finished.

A thoughtful look at tribalism through the lens of collegiate football. Done carefully enough to bring to mind the larger tribal takeover of the GOP and the damage that tribalism does to the world we live in. There is a lot of game play minutiae but it’s essential to understanding the characters and the theme. There is discovery on every page, learning about the world away from what you’ve always known, moments when character is revealed, lives that are restructured as the campus is, and as the characters’ actions and reactions cause them to become. It is a moving story which causes the reader to re-examine institutions through the lens of the cultures they encourage or reinforce. Highly recommend. It is a book to spark reflection and discussion.

Initially I requested this book as my husband has been a high school football coach for 45+ years and I wanted to get a sense of the enthusiasm that always envelops him. What I didn't anticipate was how emotional I would become as I was drawn into the story from the very first page as it sucked my heart and soul out of my body (and then replaced them, fortunately)! Wow, I can't even begin to explain how deeply it affected me. Protagonist Wally is given a chance to play for The Tribe because his brother, Henry--though he's on the spectrum--is a fabulous kicker who lets nothing deter him. But this team has its own problems as they fight for superiority. Fortunately, there are also incredible mentors like Wally's professor and even Samantha, the journalist who Wally is suspect about at first. Plot aside, this novel is just incredible in its humor, its pathos, its understanding of football, and most of all humanity with all its pitfalls and challenges. I cried through much of it, but I feel like I am a better person for having read this book. I will never watch another game the same way and without thinking of this incredible novel; should be required reading for players and families!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Sins of the Tribe
By Mark A. Salter

This book is ostensibly about college football and what harm can be done by a program which runs amok. But it is about much more than that – the football program at fictional Bastille University is a microcosm of society in general. That the team nickname – the Tribe – actually is part of the message here becomes evident early on. As the Professor explains to Wally: "Everything is tribal…tribalism is the strongest dynamic in humanity; stronger than morality, kindness, rationality, even sovereign constitutions – unless of course a nation defines its tribe by that constitution."

Wally is a young man from an abusive home who has spent his childhood trying to protect his brother, Henry, from their father's drunken abuse. He has followed the exploits of the Tribe under Coach Oldham, an honest and compassionate coach who builds his program to nurture the young men in his care. Wally's naïve belief is that this wonderful program can save him and his brother (who, though undiagnosed, seems to be autistic). Through a quirk of fate Wally and Henry manage to make the team – Henry as a phenomenal kicker and Wally as his holder. Their year with the Coach is a dream come true – though an eye opener for Wally in many ways.

Then things change and the heaven Wally and Henry enjoy turns into a hell on earth. The coaching staff becomes abusive, divisive – dishonest. Wally becomes more and more unsettled – not liking what he is experiencing but unable to leave because of Henry.

What happens from then on is shocking – until the reader sits back and really takes a look at the tribal mentality. What really is shocking is when the reader understands that the Tribe reflects what is going on in America – and the world – today.

Thanks to Mr. Salter for writing a real eye opener.

I'm intrigued by documentaries about football and the behind-the-scenes. Baller is actually one of my favorite shows. Reading this book was eye-opening and interesting. It's an intriguing page-turner. A must-read.

I do not watch college or pro football and understand very little about the sport. HOWEVER, I could not put this book down! The reader will get a look behind the scenes of college football and the everything the author writes about - I know it happens in the real world - we the fans just don't see it. The characters are unforgettable and well developed. Truly an insightful book.

There are a few excerpts from the book that will stay with the reader long after reading the book and I feel it sums up the book perfectly:"

"Tribes are the source of all human power."
"Tribes can achieve anything and destroy everything."
"Tribes are impenetrable, immune to everything in their way, except one thing: lies."
"Exploitation is in plain sight...."