The Crimson Dream

Chad Bianchi. Bloomington, Ind.: XLibris, 2013. 142 pp. (Paperback).

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a college football program? Ok, I haven’t — but I found Chad Bianchi’s book fascinating anyway. Bianchi was a student staffer for the University of Alabama’s (UA) football team from 2002 to 2006 and experienced college football in a way few of us ever will. His intent in writing the book was to “peel back the curtain and give you a glimpse inside a major college football program.”

“The Crimson Dream” is not an exposé — there’s not a bit of gossip in it. Instead Bianchi simply chronicles his years with the program, inviting readers to a close-up look at what goes into supporting the team for practices and football games. During his time with the team, Bianchi was able to travel to every SEC stadium, worked several bowl games and even managed a trip to Hawaii with the team, all the while staying true to his faith.

Sadly Bianchi began to experience some balance issues after he graduated from UA. A still undiagnosed neurological condition persists and limits his activities, but he writes that he is improving.