Chapters 5-7

Chapter Summary:

The team was awaken by yelling and whistles. The intense practices to come had not been expected by the boys. Coach Bryant did not allow the players to have breakfast, only orange juie and salt tablets because they would vomit during practice. Bryant's goal was to whip the players into shape and make them become a team. Bryant had shown the players his "Bear" side when he broke a players nose on purpose by head butting him several times. The players practiced on a dry, goathead covered, playing field and they were allowed no water. The whole thought between bringing the football boys to Junction was to weed out the ones that would stay and the ones that would leave. Bryan wanted Elwook Kettler to play QB because he did not want a "facncy" QB. He could barely gain weight and while practicing, he broke his back. Bryan challenged him to play but Kettler refused and that disgusted Bryant. One of the harsher sides of Bryant was that he expected people to play while they were injured. Billy Granberry caught Bryant's eye because he could handle the pain and torture while he was hurt. He shoulder would easily pop out of its socket during practice and he would run over, get it popped back in, and keep practicing. During this time the first vehicle drove into Junction despite the warnings handed out by Bryant. It was an ambulance that came to pick up Elwood because of his back. Though, by that time, he had already began playing.

Summary of Group Discussion:

• How would a team be if we had a coach like Bryant
• How would we handle a practice as brutal as the one's that the boys had to do
• If we could or could not handle the injuries some of the football player endured
• Pro athletes injuries
• The players attitudes towards each other
• Dedication/hardwork
• Standing out amongst others to get noticed

.....Thinking Question.....

In the book the boys were denied water during practice because the coaches thought that it would better their bodies if they did not have water. As Smokey said "You wouldn't pour cold water on a hot radiator.." Have you ever felt like someone denied you something that would benefit you?

Chapters 1-4

Chapter Summary:

In the begining of the book Paul Bryant moves to Texas and starts his career at being the football coach at Texas A&M. When Bryan first arrived at Texas A&M he met some of the players and some of the doctors that would be helping him. Bryant was very firm and "mean" to the men that came to talk to him so that those men would respect Bryant and realize that he was the "boss." In the second chapter some of the boys' lives were told like; Don Watson, Dennis Goerhing, Willis Zapalac, Bebes Stallings, Bobby Drake Keith, and Billy Schroeder. Every boy had a different story that lead them to Texas A&M to play football. Some stories were tragic while others were just an everyday life in Texas. In chapter three the boys returned to Texas A&M to start their football career. When the boys returned Bryant told them to drop everything and just bring a blanket, toothbrush, and pillow with them and pile onto the two buses that were in front of them because they were going to Junction, Texas. He also told the boys not to let anyone know where they were going or what they were doing. The boys were completely confused and disturbed at what was happening but they listened anyway and pilled onto the buses. On the way there Dennis decided to speak up and tell the boys his experience with Junction. He told them his story with one of the girls he dated there and that there were many more than just her. The boys were very excited because they thought that they were going to have a good time and it was going to be like a vaction, but they were wrong. As they continued on their journey they noticed that everything was turning into desert. Bryant became upset because, how were they suppose to play football on dirt? In chapter four the boys arrived in Junction. They could not believe that there was a river that was flowing around the town because everywhere else the river had dried up. They had their fun by going swimming, playing cards, and getting comfortable in their bunks, but once Bryant said lights out they realized what they were really in for.

Summary of Group Discussion:

• Money
• Book took place after the Great Depression - hard tiems
• Bryant created fear in boys for respect
• Being at a same sex school
• Accepting a scholarship that broke the rules
• Risk - choosing to leave your job for a new one
• What the players reaction to the Junction

.....Thinking Question.....

Texas A&M was an all boys school when Junction Boys was written. Could you go to a school that was all the same sex?