A Coach in Progress: Marshall Football, a Story of Survival and Revival
Story Survival Revival: A Coach in Progress: Marshall Football is Red Dawson’s account of the 1970 Marshall plane crash and the rebuilding of the football program. It focuses on Dawson’s experience as an assistant coach who was not on the flight, the aftermath of the tragedy, and the team assembled largely from freshmen and walk-ons in 1971.
At a glance
- Told from the viewpoint of former Marshall assistant coach Red Dawson, one of the few team members not on the plane.
- Covers the 1970 crash, Dawson’s survivor’s guilt and the effort to rebuild the football program afterward.
- Describes the 1971 team, made up mostly of freshmen and walk-ons, and tensions surrounding the rebuilding effort.
Reference price: $24.99
Price checked: Nov 14, 2026
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Offers a coach’s personal perspective on the tragedy and the difficult work of restoring the football program.
- Connects the 1970 crash with the program’s immediate rebuilding, rather than focusing only on the disaster.
Technical specifications
7 specifications| Publisher | Sports Publishing |
|---|---|
| Publication date | November 10, 2015 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 260 pages |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1613218228 |
| Weight listed | 1.06 pounds |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers interested in Marshall University football and its recovery after the 1970 plane crash.
- Readers seeking a first-person account of a coach’s experience with tragedy, survivor’s guilt and rebuilding a team.
Less suited to
- Readers looking for a football tactics manual or a broad history of college football. The supplied description focuses on Dawson and Marshall’s recovery.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
78% 78% - 4 stars
15% 15% - 3 stars
2% 2% - 2 stars
4% 4% - 1 star
1% 1%
The listing provides aggregate ratings but no written customer feedback, so specific reader praise or criticisms cannot be established. The rating distribution is largely five- and four-star, with a smaller share of lower ratings. Those figures offer only a broad impression and do not explain what readers liked or disliked about this account of Dawson and Marshall’s rebuilding.
Frequently asked questions
What is this book about?
It recounts Red Dawson’s involvement with Marshall football around the 1970 plane crash and the effort to rebuild the program afterward.
Whose perspective does the book present?
The listing describes it as written from the viewpoint of Red Dawson, a former Marshall assistant coach who was not aboard the flight.
How long is the book?
The listing gives a print length of 260 pages.
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