Men in White

“Raymond highlights the poignant stories of individual players…A fine-grained account of how a beloved program reinvented itself, this scores.” –Publishers Weekly

”[The athletes’] voices resound in this well-crafted, multivocal homage. Fans of Big Ten football will enjoy this tatters-to-touchdowns tale of gridiron redemption.” –Kirkus Reviews

“This is a riveting story that does a terrific job of showing just how Penn State rebounded from such a horrific scandal, by walking the reader through each step of the process in great detail. This is a must-read for every Nittany Lion fan.” –Bruce Feldman, college football reporter, FOX Sports and The Athletic

“From the ashes of an unspeakable scandal that incinerated the career of legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, there now comes an inspirational story of rebirth. Chronicled in this comprehensive oral history by journalist Chris Raymond, himself an ardent Nittany Lions alum, Men in White details the improbable resurrection of this once-indomitable college football program from the shame that engulfed it in the backwash of the Jerry Sandusky sexual predator calamity. Within these pages is the tale of courageous young men with whom one would be proud to share a foxhole.” –Mark Kram, Jr., bestselling author of Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier

“It’s a story bigger than football. We hear that cliché a lot, but it’s true. Those kids taught me about overcoming adversity. When things are tough, you find out a lot about the character of a man. And those five seasons tell you everything you need to know about Penn State football.” –Charlie Fisher, Quarterbacks Coach, Penn State 2012-2013

“So much of 21st Century America is defined by self-inflicted crises at the top, leaving those below to clean up the mess. In visceral and poignant prose, Chris Raymond shows how a group of young men tried to rebuild honor in a tarnished institution. Penn State should name the library after these players and coaches.” –Seth Wickersham, ESPN Senior Writer and author of the instant New York Times bestseller It’s Better to Be Feared

CHRIS RAYMOND has covered sports, politics, and pop culture for thirty years. In addition to various longtime roles at ESPN, he has written and edited on the staff at Details, Esquire, and GQ. He lives with his wife and two sons in Westchester County, New York.