Mac Engel

PIGSKIN RAPTURE by Mac Engel reminds the reader of the vast, varied, and layered devotion to football that spans the state of Texas. Using 4 games (2 pro, 1 high school, and 1 college) over 4 days, Mac Engel, along with amazing photos by Ron Jenkins, shows the full array of football fandom and how it affects education, business, social events and even home life.
Engel divides the book in 4 quarters, with a quarter devoted to each game. The first quarter is devoted to a Houston Texans game, and Engel explores devotion to a new team and how Houston, one of the largest cities in the country, embraced the new team and while it is still struggling as a franchise, has already developed die hard fans. Second quarter is a high school game including Permian High School, from the Friday Night Lights book, movie and TV show. Engel gives a recap on where Permian is now and how the book/movie/TV show changed the high school and town forever. A devotion to high school football is covered as well, with Engel really studying the lifestyle changing way of life a community has around their local team, from changing event and social calendars to businesses capitalizing and suffering based on how their local team is doing. Third quarter jumps into college football, where Texas is king. Engel reminds the reader the deep history and current success of some of the college football powerhouses in Texas. The game he attends is an event too, from the cannon-firing touchdown celebration, to how everyone hangs on the edge of their seat for their respective team. Fourth quarter is football royalty, the Dallas Cowboys. Engel follows the games, but more so follows the personalities around the games, from the TV commentators, to the revered and yet often misunderstood owner, to the common fan who just wants to drink and have the Cowboys win. Engel makes me think that all the football you could ever need is within the Texas state lines.
With the wonderful photography and how each chapter is like a detailed morsel of information, PIGSKIN RAPTURE is a book to look at again and again. A definite read for Texas football fans, all football fans will have good time reading PIGSKIN RAPTURE as well.
Thank you to Lone Star Books, Mac Engel, and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review… (mere)