Hail Mary: The Inside Story of BYU's 1980 Miracle Bowl Comeback Hardcover – Illustrated, December 9, 2014

Wow! What a great book about the greatest BYU game ever. Tibbitts gives an awesome detailed account of not just the game but also the "rest of the story" that really fills in some colorful background to the miracle bowl. Anyone who has watched the last 3:57 of the game more than 6 times will eat this book up.Like the game itself, the first half of the book isn't terribly memorable. But then when things shift into the game and particularly the last 4 minutes, the emotions and memories of that game all came rushing back again. I watched the game with my dad 4 days after returning from a mission in Japan. When the score turned 45-25, we looked at each other and said should we just turn it off and go to bed. Then we looked at Mc Mahon on the sidelines and I remember my dad saying "if anyone can bring them back it's McMahon." So then we proceeded to watch the most entertaining comeback in college football, if not sports history. We still reminisce once a year or so about this game.The "falling actions" wrap up to the book with a rundown on "where are they now" is also worth the price of admission. Loved the Ty Mattingly - Glen Redd cowboy hat story. The McMahon/Gym Kimball curfew hours were also classic.In the end, the turning point of the game as well as the book was when McMahon ran the punt team off the field and yelled the monster obscenity at Lavell and the sidelines asking "Are we just going to ------- give up?!"And so it is in life.

Hail Mary is a fun, fast paced book that brings back the "did that just really happen" memories for those who either witnessed or listened to those last few series. The stars aligned and the Cougars came out on top. It is refreshing to read the story from someone who was not just reporting on the game but a player on the team who has captured all the back stories and insights that you couldn't get unless you lived it on and off the field with your teammates. Book is clearly a must for all Cougar fans and even some SMU fans who will find the inside story fascinating even though the outcome still might sting a bit.

I'm a younger college football fan, so I had heard about this game in passing before but didn't know too many details. I picked this up thinking it might be a somewhat interesting read. WOW! It blew me away....so much better than I expected! It was an easy read, and the pages just kept turning. So many incredibly fascinating stories and tidbits, and so much great history, all written in such an accessible way. What an incredible game it was, and it was awesome to get the inside story from one of the players (along with all the other players he interviewed for the book). I immediately ordered a couple more of these to give away as gifts for family members that are college football fans. Can't recommend this book enough!

This was truly a spectacular account of one of the most exciting games in NCAA Bowl History. Tibbitts' telling of the back stories of the 1980 Holiday Bowl is portrayed in a series of life lessons learned from his time on the gridiron, and his membership on the BYU team that sent so many players to the NFL. The book is a really quick read, and leaves you with an understanding of the life lessons that come from a collective unwillingness to accept defeat. Hard to pick a favorite anecdote, but the book is a great read for any sports enthusiast. If you like the idea of your husband or boyfriend reading a book rather than laying on the couch watching the game of the week, this is a great Christmas gift.

I remember turning off this game after SMU made the score 45-25, so I was looking forward to reading about the details of what I missed. Ryan gives a good account from a benchwarmers perspective. This book might have been better if it was written a year after the game, when the events were more fresh in everyone's mind. Alas we are left with fuzzy memories and anecdotes in this account. It would have liked to have read more first person accounts from the players. I did appreciate the "where are they now" chapter. All in all there was not much in the book that a long time BYU fan didn't already know about the game, except for the details about the extra point kick.

As a BYU alum, I remember the game well and the emotions of going from almost sure defeat to a truly miraculous victory. Ryan E. Tibbets does a good job setting the scene and then detailing how this amazing victory took place. There are a lot of insights into the game and the feelings of many of the players who participated in the game. This was a great Christmas gift.

This book contains great "inside information" about a football game that I grew up watching the highlights of. My dad was fortunate enough to be at this game, so it was fun to see him receive this as a Christmas present. I love the pictures and little anecdotes about the various players and situations in the game.

I'm not a big fan of sports books but Hail Mary by Ryan Tibbitts caught me. I guarantee you will not be able to put this book down. It is well written, very interesting and a great read even it you've never heard of the BYU-SMU Miracle Bowl. Bill Broderick