Bill Connelly

A cinematic celebration of college football's exploding influence and a rigorous look at how and why the sport may look totally new once again College football in 2025 would look unrecognizable to a fan, player, or coach from even the recent past. Between massive influxes of television money, dramatic conference realignments, a restructuring of how the game crowns its national champion, and even a full revision of what it means to be an "amateur" athlete, America's most popular sport is rupturing, evolving, destroying itself, or getting with the times--depending who you ask. And the dramatic changes won't be stopping any time soon. A complex media landscape, a transfer portal and endorsement money for players, and coaches carrying themselves like branded celebrities unto themselves are just a few reasons why the game will continue transform at a breakneck pace. Forward Progress is the definitive and most comprehensive examination of how we got to this wild era in college football and what's in store for the game's future. Rather than offer easy or trite predictions about the game's future, renowned sports-data journalist Bill Connelly examines the crucial factors and forces that will drive these changes, showing fans how factors like influxes of private capital or a shift toward actually paying the game's players the money they are worth could lead college football in new directions. Travelling from the pivotal 2006 Rose Bowl--a game so loaded with stars and money it felt silly calling any part of it "collegiate"--to the present day, Connelly's compelling storytelling and trademark data distillations illuminate the many moving parts that compose this shifting landscape.

Cherry Pit Pie is the story of a family navigating the hills and valleys of life together over many years. Aaron and Jared are brothers with a bond rarely seen between siblings. Together they face the challenges of growing up with a Father who seems intent on making life difficult for Jared. When tragedy strikes the family, each member of the family must find the strength and hope to go on. Author Bill Connelly's labor of love of more than thirty-five years gives readers a compelling look at a family's journey to overcome the pain of the loss of loved ones. Themes of perseverance, faith, and hope shine through the narrative as the character's fight to overcome and continue on in life. Through the narrative of surprising twists and turns, Cherry Pit Pie demonstrates the power of love and faith to unite, sustain, and heal, even through incredible pain and hardship. About the Author Bill Connelly has always been a story-teller. He was born and raised in the farm country of western New York and raised two wonderful children to love the land and this country. He has run many marathons, logging many miles on the road and in life. As a father, carpenter, and son, he has loved and lost family members along the way.

The most authoritative and innovative annual guide to both the NFL and college football is back for an all-new season with more cutting-edge statistical analysis, obsessive film study, and trademark humor. Includes comprehensive coverage of all 32 NFL teams, analysis of offseason personnel changes, over 500 KUBIAK fantasy football projections, and breakdowns of the top 50 college football teams for 2018. With numerous statistical measures that go far beyond standard NFL stats, Football Outsiders Almanac 2018 gives NFL fans the kind of sabermetric-like statistical analysis that revolutionized the fan's understanding of baseball. It's also written with a knowing dry wit that gets under the skin of America's most popular spectator sport. Groundbreaking team and player DVOA ratings that correct for situation and opponent to reveal which offenses and defenses are truly superior, and which players really help win games. Exclusive data from our partners at Sports Info Solutions, unavailable in standard NFL stats, tells you which quarterbacks benefit the most from yards after catch or play best under pressure; which teams most often blitz or run specific offensive formations; and which defensive backs stop the other team's passing game, measured by pass coverage on every single play rather than just tackles. Data on how receivers performed based on where they lined up before the snap: wide, tight, in the slot, or in the backfield. Detailed information on each team's performance in 2017 by offensive and defensive personnel package. Detailed individual stats for offensive linemen and defensive players. Extensive coverage of all 32 teams with week-by-week stats from the 2017 season, five-year performance trends, and analysis of off-season personnel changes. Exclusive 2018 predictions that give the odds on each team as a Super Bowl contender ... or a contender for the top pick in the 2019 draft. 2018 fantasy football projections for more than 500 skill position players based on the KUBIAK forecasting system. Breakdowns on the top 50 college football teams and full win-loss projections for all 130 Division I-A (FBS) teams. "A book that any self-respecting NFL fan needs to purchase." -- Bill Simmons, The Ringer.com "Football Outsiders has now built a system that has some serious traction behind it. I personally find it fascinating." -- John Schneider, General Manager, Seattle Seahawks "Exhausting, enlightening, surprising in many cases, and an absolute must-read if you like the NFL. -- Peter King, NBC Sports"It's important for you, the working football fan, to know more about football than other football fans. The Football Outsiders Almanac will give you all the background knowledge you need to make your football-watching companions feel uninformed and inadequate." -- Drew Magary, Deadspin.com"Football is a nearly impossible game for even its most devout practitioners to understand. Football Outsiders is the best way I know to make it make sense." -- Will Leitch, New York MagazineFor correction on a handful of errors in the print version of the book, please go to https: //www.footballoutsiders.com/files/errata2018.pdf.