Thursday, October 22, 2009

Bringing Culture to the Tuscarawas Valley

Times-Reporter Editorial, October 22, 2009

Tuesday night’s appearance by H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger, author of “Friday Night Lights,” reminds us once again of what a treasure the Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University has proven to be for our area.Bissinger spoke to more than 300 people in an event co-sponsored by the campus’ Artist/Lecture Series and the public libraries of Tuscarawas County.This series at the Tuscarawas Campus has brought a diverse array of performers to our area in the past few years – something that is not always available in small town/rural areas like ours.

More...http://www.timesreporter.com/opinion/x914717808/Our-Opinion-Bringing-culture-to-Tuscarawas-Valley

The Man Behind the Lights


By Lee Morrison
The Times-Reporter
Posted Oct 20, 2009 @ 11:50 PM

Capturing the spirit of a town and a football team changed the life of author H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger, and to a degree, of those who listened to him Tuesday during events in Tuscarawas County. “Friday Night Lights 20 Years Later” was the theme of his speech in the Founders Hall auditorium at Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University at New Philadelphia. The event, co-sponsored by the campus’ Artist/Lecture Series and the public libraries of Tuscarawas County, concluded the One Book One Community initiative.


Friday, October 16, 2009

Video Clips from the 1988 Permian Panthers football season


You can view video clips from two Permian football games highlighted in Friday Night Lights here:


Odessa Permian vs. Midland Lee



Odessa Permian vs. Dallas Carter in the Texas State Championship http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rBf4aUKDR4

MojoLand: Official Permian Panther Website


The Permian Panthers are currently undefeated in district play with three games to play. For stats, pictures, history, and much more, visit the official site of the Permian Panthers:

Bissinger: Combination of sports and academics a formidable force


NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH —


When you combine sports and academics, you’ve created a formidable force. That’s the message H.G. Bissinger, author of the best-selling “Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team and a Dream,” hopes to convey during Tuesday’s program at the Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University. “I also want to point out the danger that comes when sports become the be all and the end all of life,” Bissinger said. “I’ve seen this happen first hand.” Bissinger said he loves doing this type of program and is very flattered his book was selected for the One Book, One Community initiative.

Football Finale: Author Coming To Tuscarawas County on Tuesday


By Rex Huffman
The Times-Reporter
Posted Oct 16, 2009 @ 12:00 AM
NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH —


A trip West with a college friend provided H.G. Bissinger with the insAdd Imagepiration to write “Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team and a Dream,” a book that would become a New York Times best-seller, a motion picture and an NBC television series. Tuesday, Bissinger will discuss his acclaimed book during a program beginning at 7 in Founders Hall auditorium on the Tuscarawas Campus of Kent State University at New Philadelphia. The event, co-sponsored by the Kent State Tuscarawas Artist/Lecture Series and the public libraries of Tuscarawas County, concludes the One Book One Community initiative.
“I was in my early 30s and had just competed an academic year at Harvard where I had a Neiman Fellowship (an award given to mid-career journalists),” said Bissinger, during a telephone interview Tuesday. “A friend and I decided to take a trip West before I returned to work at the Philadelphia Inquirer (as a sports writer),” Bissinger continued. “We took a Southern route, and I soon began to notice that nearly every Main St. of the towns we drove through was obliterated. However, as we drove out of these towns, we would see a beautiful high school football stadium. “These stadiums were more like temples to peoples’ hopes and dreams on a Friday night,” said Bissinger. It was through these observations that Bissinger decided to write a book about high school football. Bissinger said he originally considered basing his book on Massillon, O., before finally deciding on the town of Odessa, Texas, and the Permian High Panthers.


Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Football Captains Help out at Library Storytime


The captains from the undefeated New Philadelphia Quakers football team came to the Tuscarawas County Public Library Tuesday evening to help out with the library's toddler storytime. The players read football themed books to the children, sang songs, and assisted with an obstacle course . The players are from left to right: Nick Barrow, Joe Behrendt, Cody Cox, Will McEwan, and Trenton Bird. At least four of the captains were regulars at the library's storytime when they were younger. Ranked #9 in the state of Ohio, the Quakers take on the Cambridge Bobcats this Friday night.