Summary:
1
The book starts off at the start of the 1988 football season in August and how Coach Gaines is preparing for it. The author than tells the history of Odessa. The story then explains the history of the two different high schools, Odessa High School and Permian High School.
2
The story then talks about the Watermelon Feed held at Permian in August as a preseason celebration. Then it talks about the history of Permian football. It had won the state championship in 1965, 1972, 1980 and 1984. They only won one state championship in the 1970s, Permian had been the winningest team in the state of Texas.The chapter then talks about the pressure Gaines is constantly under because of how intensely devoted the Permian fans are.
3
This chapter focuses on the star fullback, James "Boobie" Miles, who is Permian's ticket to the state championship. Boobie is not a good student and doesn't have to worry about grades because he will most likely get a football scholarship to a major college. In August, during a scrimmage …show more content…
He originally thought he would go to Ector High School, where many poor blacks went, until Permian was desegregated in the early 1980s. Ivory wanted to become a minister at a Baptist church. Ivory gains these ambitions when he has a life changing dream that involves a dark tunnel and light. Ivory decides that he will change his partying ways and turn his life over to God.
7
Chapter 7 is about the situation at Permian High School. More money is spent on sports medical supplies than the entire English department. The teachers make less money than the coaches who are financially at the mercy of the boosters who seldom care about education. Permian's SAT scores have plummeted dramatically since the 1970s and no one seems to care as long as Permian wins football games. As a result, everyone including the football players suffers. As the season progresses, Permian begins winning games