A Fire to Win: The Life and Times of Woody Hayes

A FIRE TO WIN IS A NICE READ, BUT DON'T REALLY EXPECT TO KNOW WOODY THE PERSON. IN MY OPINION THIS BOOK DOES A GREAT JOB GOING THRU EACH OF THE SEASONS THAT WOODY COACHED. BUT I DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD IDEA WHAT WOODY WAS LIKE EXCEPT FOR BEING A SLAVE DRIVER OF A COACH, DISCIPLINARIAN, ABSENT FAMILY MAN, AND OBSESSED WITH WINNING. I PICTURE HIM AS BEING VERY SELF CENTERED, EGO TRIP, BRASH AND VERY ABRASIVE. HIS WIFE GOT HER OWN LIFE. HE IS VERY MUCH LIKE VINCE LOMBARDI IN HIS COACHING STYLE. I REALLY WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SOFT SIDE OF WOODY AND MORE ABOUT WHAT HE DID AFTER FOOTBALL. LIKE HIM OR HATE HIM, HE WAS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL COACH AND DID A LOT FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL. I RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS FOR A SOLID AND INTERESTING READ.

John Lombardo's A FIRE TO WIN is a good, not great biography of Woody Hayes.Where Lombardo excells is looking at Hayes's Ohio roots growing up in Newcomerstown, his college days at Denison University in Granville, and his time coaching New Philadelphia. Where he stumbles is his picking and choosing of the narrative describing Hayes OSU seasons post-1950s. It is as if Lombardo had a book that naturally ended with the controversy surrounding the faculty vote in 1961 to keep OSU from playing in the Rose Bowl.Still, any book centering on a character such as Hayes is always interesting reading.

An amazing life, told objectively, succinctly, and with attention to detail.A perfect read for any fan of The Buckeyes.My only gripe is that, like just about every 'Sports' book I've ever read, the editing was atrocious.The tale of a great life deserves to be told well and with care for every detail.

Love Woody!! O-H!!

The definative Hayes bio. No "idol worship" and no ax job. This the real Woody. Love him or hate him, he went 238-72 and won 5 National Titles his way. His kids got college degrees, Woody ABSOLUTELY made sure of that. Woody's discipline is what America needs today, now more than ever. I pulled an ALL NIGHTER the day I got this book, I just had to finish it.

An interesting presentation of my hero Woody Hayes just showing that no favor goes unpunished when he tried to help his players with tutoring and support when needed. None of us are saints and neither was Woody. A sad ending to an illustrious career.

I was on Woody's staff for 5 great years 1971-1976 Rose Bowl - I've already purchased the card I signed while on the San Diego Chargers staff if another's for sale it's a phony - I bought my own autograph

Despite being poorly edited with a lot of typo's the book is well researched and a great read.

Wonderful book ; a study in paradox. Woody Hayes was such a great coach and leader. I feel that he may have even had more in him to give if he'd kept that fire a little more under control. The sad thing is that most people remember the end as opposed to the entire story.