Friday Night Lights

Return once again to the timeless account of the Permian Panthers of Odessa--the winningest high-school football team in... (more)

Return once again to the timeless account of the Permian Panthers of Odessa--the winningest high-school football team in Texas history. Odessa is not known to be a town big on dreams, but the Panthers help keep the hopes and dreams of this small, dusty town going. Socially and racially divided, its fragile economy follows the treacherous boom-bust path of the oil business. In bad times, the unemployment rate barrels out of control; in good times, its murder rate skyrockets. But every Friday night from September to December, when the Permian High School Panthers play football, this West Texas town becomes a place where dreams can come true. With frankness and compassion, H. G. Bissinger chronicles a season in the life of Odessa and shows how single-minded devotion to the team shapes the community and inspires--and sometimes shatters--the teenagers who wear the Panthers' uniforms. The author's new afterword not only updates the story but also offers a sure-to-be controversial assessment of the state of football today. (less)

Odessa, Texas has seen better days, yet one hope sustains the community: the Permian High Panthers high school football ... (more)

Odessa, Texas has seen better days, yet one hope sustains the community: the Permian High Panthers high school football team. Captures the frenzy of a small town that reveres its school team and their weekly games. (less)