New Book by Jeffrey Marx

Last year at my college football blog, I read and reviewed several books.  I like to think I had a niche at Collegefootballtopten.com doing book reviews, and I had access to the books working for a bookstore.

One of the authors I read was a guy by the name of Jeffrey Marx.  He wrote a very inspirational book about a former Baltimore Colts football player-turned volunteer coach, mentor and minister.  My story about reading it was almost as compelling as the book itself!  Check out my reviews here and here.

Now, Marx has written a new inspirational book about a New England Patriots deep snapper who was teaching seventh-grade Bible Study when he got the call to snap for the Super Bowl bound Patriots.  The player eventually won a Super Bowl ring on a last second field goal in which his job was critical to the outcome of the game.

I am a fan of what Marx is doing with his books.  I highly recommend fans picking up a copy of his book and reading it, especially as we are approaching the football season.  We all could use a little inspiration in a world in which it seems that the bad dominates the day in sports.  We need heroes who display courage and provide inspiration.

The book is available to buy on Tuesday August 18.  You should be able to find a copy at your local bookstore, however, you can help out this site and buy a coy from our bookstore at the same time.  Simply navigate to the bookstore, and look for the Jeffrey Marx books.  There is a regular copy and a large print copy available in the store.  To make it easier, here is the link.

Be sure and let everyone you know that likes football about the book.  Feel free to pass along this article if you would like.  You can use the addthis button at the bottom of the article to send it via email, Twitter, and other social media outlets.

About the Book

“In his first book since his New York Times bestseller Season of Life, Pulitzer Prize winner Jeffrey Marx tells the remarkable and true story of one man’s odyssey from seventh-grade Bible teacher to Super Bowl champion.”

The Long Snapper: A Second Chance, A Super Bowl, A Lesson for Life

“Don’t we all long for one last chance? Don’t we all dream to do it over again? Anybody who has ever had those pangs will love Jeffrey Marx’s beautiful and uplifting story about a guy who had opportunity dropped into his lap. Do yourself a favor and read The Long Snapper.”
– Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated

“Jeffrey Marx has done it again, only better than ever. Thoughtful and inspiring, The Long Snapper is quite simply a joy to behold.”
– Rick Telander, Chicago Sun-Times

Brian Kinchen was a thirty-eight-year-old husband, father of four, and seventh-grade Bible teacher whose professional football career had been over for three years when the New England Patriots called on December 15, 2003. With the Patriots riding a ten-game winning streak and the NFL playoffs only a few weeks away, they needed a fill-in for the obscure but vital job of snapping the ball for their punter and kicker – a long snapper. Brian was hesitant because he had received similar invitations to tryouts that yielded only disappointment – the teams always went with a younger guy. But could he really turn away from the chance of a lifetime?

The Long Snapper chronicles Brian’s remarkable odyssey as he and the Patriots – led by head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady – seek the ultimate trophy. Unfortunately, the dream come true turns into a personal nightmare as Brian struggles both on and off the field, and the pressure to perform on the biggest stage in professional sports nearly causes him to walk away. Seven weeks after leaving the classroom, however, Brian overcomes his greatest fear and snaps the ball on the historic game-winning field goal with only seconds left in the Super Bowl.

The Long Snapper is the story of a man who finally achieves the success he has always wanted. Brian Kinchen’s championship ring is a powerful status symbol for all to see. But his journey forces him to reexamine what really matters, and he realizes the true measure of a man has nothing to do with status: life is not about prestige, it is about passion and purpose. It is about impacting the lives of others.