When the Game Stands Tall: The Story of the De La Salle Spartans and Football's Longest Winning Streak

"When the Game Stands Tall" by sports reporter and author Neil Hayes traces the storied football program at De LaSalle (DLS) High School (Concord, CA) from its roots to becoming one of today's most highly regarded in the U.S. Hayes interweaves three stories - the school's football program which won 151 consecutive games ("The Streak") over twelve seasons, the life and maturation of DLS's head football coach Bob Ladouceur, and an intimate view of the 2002 game-by-game preparation and execution which led to the 11th consecutive undefeated season.Ladouceur, who played college football at Utah State then San Jose State, was an unlikely candidate for establishing himself as one of the premier high school coaches in the U.S. He left college football with a sour taste for football, feeling that it "used him up then spit him out."He played high school football under the legendary Fred Houston at Danville, CA.'s San Ramon High. Houston was a blood and guts coach that forced players to make a choice..."those who remained were dedicated and believed in what they were doing." Houston taught discipline, fundamentals, and that the game was hard and had to be played agressively - attributes that would become hallmarks of Ladouceur's programs.Ladouceur's arrival at the Christian Brother's De LaSalle High School in Concord, CA. (35 miles northeast of San Francisco) at the age 25 with of one year of coaching experience was not popular. Nevertheless, the school's principal who wanted a teacher first and someone who put the students first, and Ladouceur who worked part-time as a probation officer and wanted to help troubled kids, found one another...and the building of a legacy was underway.Author Hayes had unfettered access while writing "When the Game Stands Tall" to present and past DLS school officials, coaches and players, opposing players and coaches. The book is filled with quotes, stories of special and troubled players, anecdotes, and speeches made during the period by players, coaches, and Ladouceur.Each game of the 2002 season is presented in great detail with an emphasis on the powerhouse games with Long Beach Poly, Mater Dei of Santa Ana, St. Louis of Hawaii, and local rival, Pittsburgh."When the Game Stands Tall" serves as a great how-to manual (and must have) for anyone wanting to coach or lead. Ladouceur's body of work epitomizes excellence and the sacrifice one makes to achieve it. The book also reinforces the notion that fulfilling a vision is a journey, a process, not an event.De LaSalle's success has a history, and it creates a culture, with traditions, ritual and doctrine. It has a mind and a soul as well as a body. It is enduring and deep. It is the legacy the Bob Ladouceur and his staff has created for the ages.

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A uniquely remarkable story of commitment, endurance, fellowship with a perfect strategy for excellence led by a modest genius and his inspired staff. We readers are fortunate to get the inside-scoop relayed by this excellent and experienced author who was actually "embedded" within the team during the streak.This is much more than a compelling sports story of young men and their mentor being the best they can be for their teammates. It is a story of honesty, friendship, love and loyalty being triumphant! All leaders of men should learn this.The formula for success evolved and perpetuated year after year, as players graduated and rookies replacing them gathering experience and contributing industriously in practice, fitness drills and hard fought games.. Their opponents were frequently larger and heavier but none were ever stronger or fitter pound-for-pound.

A damn good book. Not a great book and I can't put my finger on what keeps it from being great. For all of us who have ever coached or taught this book is a lesson in discipline and perseverance. I have nothing but respect for this program specifically because of how they achieved what they achieved. Knowing they have a unique situation they could have just played their padded schedule in NorCal and work toward the State bowl game but instead they take on all comers from across the nation. Remarkable.

Having lived in Southern California and played high school football during the De La Dynasty years, I was well aware of The Streak and the Spartan's reputation. It was great to get a behind-the-scenes look at what made them so successful. I especially appreciate how the author doesn't hit you over the head with "life lessons" from every coaches' lecture. Instead, he sticks to the story and allows you to draw your own conclusions. There are some great observation to be made on what it takes to create a positive and self-reinforcing culture.If Friday Night Lights is the story of a community and football players, Stands Tall is primarily a coach and leadership tale.

Not everybody that read this book liked it, judging from the other reviews here.What I appreciated about the book was the look at coach Lad, and what he emphasized in his coaching.It seemed that he was most concerned with challenging his players to be disciplined, to work hard, to love each other, and to grow in maturity. He uses football to do it, and I would say that he is very good. De La Salle's winning streak is a symptom of a much deeper, more profound success that that football team is experiencing. I love this book because it shows that when you love your players, and they love each other and are willing to work to show each other that love, then winning happens.

It's a decently-written account of an extraordinary chain of events. Of course it is unabashedly pro-football. Of course it ignores all the wider arcs of the school and its background that do not pertain explicitly to football. Of course it does not mention most of the darker aspects - such as the school's academic programs starved for funding to feed the football machine, the rumors of rampant and condoned steroid use among the players, for example. Even the accusations of improper recruiting practices are given mere lip service and then easily brushed off before returning to examine the glory of Ladouocer.It's a book for fans of football, by a fan of football, about football. Critiquing its literary values is pointless. If you like football, you will like this book. If you don't, you won't. Simple as that.

I bought this book not knowing anything about it, other than there is a moving coming out. This book doesn't focus that much on the football. It explains what made the coach, and eventually what made the team that went undefeated for 12 years. There is a lot more to the story than they could ever squeeze into the movie, therefore they become almost 2 separate entities... and I enjoyed both!

This is a story that should be read by all those who aspire to be an effective coach. It demonstrates clearly that those who continually focusing on winning, rarely do. Bob Ladoceur's dream was to "create a program that teaches life skills at all costs, that teaches players how to do things right at all costs. It had nothing to do with football." To achieve this, he surrounds himself with great staff who buy-in to his football program and implement this effectively over 12 seasons. The method he and his staff used to maintain the stability of the team were quite unique and considered 'mysterious' by many. Ladoceur summed it up nicely in his speech to his outgoing senior when he said, " you all know and lived the 'secrets' of De La Salle's success - love, brotherhood, sacrifice, discipline, heart, courage, passion and honesty....." It clearly demonstrates what you can achieve if you treat people as individuals and leverage their strengths and trust them

The book is much more informative (and therefore much better) than the Hollywoodized movie...