Kick-ass Mules

“Kick-ass Mules” takes a colorful look back at the 1970’s through the lens of Division III football. The story which can best be described as “Animal House” meets “Forest Gump”. It is loosely based upon the author’s life experiences at Muhlenberg College (Allentown, Pennsylvania) and takes place between November 1972 and December 1973. While the story revolves around the game of football; the music, current events, and pop culture of the times are just as significant to the reader’s enjoyment. It is a fun, nostalgic ride through the early seventies when we were all a bit more naïve and flourished with less societal rules. Where possible the language and slang of that era are incorporated into the characters’ dialogue. Another key aspect is the author’s passion for Division III football. They play the game for the purest motivation….the genuine love of the sport. There are no scholarships, no 80,000-seat stadiums, and no television contracts. Division-1 players are bigger and faster with better equipment but the end goal is the same. Players have to prepare themselves mentally and physically to endure the rigors of the game towards the pursuit of excellence. The themes of perseverance and teamwork are prevalent throughout the book. It was important that the 1973 Muhlenberg Mules put behind them the failures of the previous campaign and move forward. By bonding on Long Beach Island at the Jersey Shore during the summer of ’73, a core group learned to trust and depend on each other. Along the way they laughed, cried and partied with Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Babe’s Booze Bus, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, the Bolshoi Ballet and a cast of memorable characters. Read more