From The Fields

By Richard Paolinelli

ONE HUNDRED YEARS. GENERATIONS OF PLAYERS. COUNTLESS FRIDAY NIGHT MEMORIES. THIS IS THE STORY OF A TOWN AND THE GAME THAT HELPED DEFINE IT.

Before the Friday night lights became a tradition, before hometown heroes went on to professional football careers, and before the roar of the crowd became part of Turlock's identity, it all began with a small group of young men and a football team.

In From The Fields, award-winning sports journalist and author Richard Paolinelli takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the first century of high school football in Turlock, California.

Beginning with the original team of just 15 players from Turlock High School's 1920 football season, this extensively researched history follows the program through the conclusion of the 2019 season. Along the way, Paolinelli chronicles the triumphs, disappointments, rivalries, memorable seasons, and unforgettable personalities that made Turlock football an enduring community tradition.

This second edition features an updated historical narrative, statistics, team rosters, photographs, and interviews with former players and coaches. It also highlights the careers of Turlock's own football stars who went on to play professionally, including Bob Mitchell, Paul Larson, Jeff Winans, Jonathan Quinn, Tom Brandstater, and Colin Kaepernick.

But this is about more than football scores and statistics. It is also the story of a community growing and changing over generations, with the high school football program serving as a constant thread connecting families, friends, players, coaches, and fans.

Whether you played the game, cheered from the stands, coached a team, or simply love the history of high school sports, From The Fields offers a fascinating look at the people and moments that made Turlock football special.

A century of football. A town full of memories. A legacy worth preserving.

Relive the games, remember the players, and celebrate one hundred years of Turlock football history!

SPORTS NON-FICTION

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"Great history captured here in this book for the town of Turlock and a big chunk of the Central Valley..."

- illamo, 5-Star review on Amazon

ISBN: 979-865267331-4 / ASIN: B089XGFMWF