Jackrabbit: The Story of Clint Castleberry and the Improbable 1942 Georgia Tech Football Season

I would recommend this book to any Georgia Tech or college football fan who wants to learn more about the only Georgia Tech football player to have his number retired. The book is a brief glimpse into the high school and Georgia Tech careers of Clint Castleberry. The book does a decent job of also painting a picture of the backdrop of the 1942 season, namely the effect that college football had on the war morale and the effect that the war had on college football that year.The book could have delved deeper into many subjects, but is still a good read for anyone who is interested in the history of Georgia Tech football.

BEING A LIFE LONG GA TECH FOOTBALL FAN I READ THIS WITH GREAT PERSONAL INTEREST. CLINT CASTLEBERRY IS AN ICONIC LEGEND WITH ALL TECH FANS. HIS IS THE ONLY JERSEY NUMBER EVER RETIRED AT TECH.HIS STORY IS AT ONCE INSPIRING AND HEARTBREAKING FOR HE INDEED HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO UNTOLD NUMBERS BUT THE TRAGIC ENDING OF SUCH A PROMISING FUTURE IS INDEED HEARTBREAKING.....BUT HIS STORY BRINGS HOME THE REALITY OF THE TIMES AND SO MANY LOST PROMISES OF BRIGHT FUTURES FOR ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE THAT WE OF TODAY CAN STILL ENJOY THE FREEDOMS THAT GOD INTENDED FOR ALL PEOPLE. THEY INDEED DID NOT DIE IN VAIN.

This is a MUST READ for any fan of football within the state of Georgia, especially Georgia Tech. It's also a must read for readers who love the stories of a wartime generation of football stars and coaches. I am no fan of Georgia Tech, but I am a fan of biographies that inspire and elevate my hope for America and this is one such story. Chastain makes sure to communicate that Castleberry was someone special, a born leader from The Greatest Generation who ever lived.

I enjoyed and found it hard to put this book down until the last page. Over Christmas, I was thrown together with my son-in-laws dad who's father 'Stumpy' T, also a Georgia Tech All-American, is mentioned in book in the famous Rose Bowl 'wrong way play' that will always remain in football history. I was treated to reviewing Stumpy's scrapbook and his election to the NFL Hall of Fame following his 13 years in the NFL. For GT football lovers it's a must read.

Clint Castleberry was married to my older first cousin, but he was killed in World War II before I was born. I spent my early childhood playing with his daughter, my second cousin. Although my father always said he was the best football player ever, I actually knew very little about him until I discovered this wonderful book. I have since recommended it to other family members including his daughter. Any football fan or Georgia Tech alum would really enjoy it.

I bought this book after seeing a rave review and I was interested in "the best football player you never heard of". The subject matter had promise, but the story telling lacked excitement and was like a collection of news articles and lacked the thrill and emotion I was expecting from a sports biography.

The sadness of a life taken too soon, the mystery of what might have been,the beauty of a flame burning brightly. A great and inspiring story.

I sent this book to my 16-yr-old brother for Christmas. (He asked for it specifically.) He isn't much of a reader, but he loves football, and especially GT football. I asked him if he liked it, and he said, "It's awesome."

Intriguing story of a career and life cut short.