Civil War Novel

The Choice Was Gray tells the story of the experiences of Will Cross, a young Confederate soldier from what would eventually become West Virginia. His unit would participate in action from the first skirmish at Philippi in 1861 through the surrender at Appomattox in 1865. His company, the Upshur Grays, would serve under Stonewall Jackson in the Valley Campaign and in the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee, taking part in such major battles as the Seven Days around Richmond, Antietam, Gettysburg, The Wilderness and the final siege of Richmond and Petersburg. Over the years of the war, Will experiences his share of romantic complications-first with his childhood sweetheart, Betsy Hodges, and later with two attractive Richmond ladies. Based on an actual unit and thoroughly researched, this fictionalized account explores many aspects of army life during the Civil War, from camp routine to the terrors of battle to the ways in which the soldiers fought boredom. Detailed and engaging on a personal level, The Choice Was Gray draws you into one of America's most turbulent times.

What's Included in the CFE?
Detailed yearly team records, bowl summaries, coaching records, team and individual award and trophy winners, top 10 listings. See summary of what is included.

Conferences and Schools Included

Encyclopedia Preface

Introduction: A Brief History of College Football

Abbreviation Keys

Author's Biographical Sketch

CFE Accolades

See sample conference and team entries:


Southeastern Conference


Navy

Alabama (12-1) won its 9th national championship with a 21-0 win over previously unbeaten LSU (13-1) in the BCS title game, a rematch of a regular season Nov. 5 contest that LSU won 9-6 in overtime. Jeremy Shelley kicked 5 field goals of between 23 and 44 yards for the Tide in the Jan. 9 game, and Trent Richardson scored on a 34-yard run with 4:36 left in the game to sew up the win for Alabama. A.J. McCarron passed for 234 yards and Richardson had 96 yards rushing for the Tide. Alabama finished as No. 1 in both the AP and coaches polls, while LSU finished second.

Oklahoma State (12-1), which many felt should have been in the title game, finished No. 3 in both polls after beating Stanford (11-2) 41-38 in overtime in the Fiesta Bowl. Quinn Sharp kicked a 22-yard field goal for the win after Stanford missed a field goal in overtime. Brandon Weeden passed for 399 yards and 3 TDs (43, 67 and 17 yards to Justin Blackmon) for the Cowboys. Andrew Luck passed for 347 yards and 2 TDs for the Cardinal, Ty Montgomery had 7 pass receptions for 120 yards (including a 53-yard TD pass), and Stepfan Taylor ran for 177 yards and 2 TDs. Stanford finished 7th in both final polls.

Oregon (12-2) wrapped up the No. 4 spot in both final polls with a 45-38 win over Wisconsin (11-3) for its first Rose Bowl win in 95 years. Darron Thomas passed for 268 yards and 3 TDs, De'Anthony Thomas scored on runs of 91 and 64 yards, LaMichael James had 159 yards and a TD rushing, and Lavasier Tuinei caught 8 passes for 158 yards and 2 TDs for the Ducks. Russell Wilson passed for 296 yards and 2 TDs, and Montee Ball ran for 164 yards and a TD for the Badgers. Wisconsin finished with a No. 10 ranking the in the AP and No. 11 ranking in the coaches poll.

Michigan (11-2) earned a No. 9 ranking in the final coaches poll and No. 12 in the AP with its 23-20 overtime win against Virginia Tech (11-3) in the Sugar Bowl. Denard Robinson passed for 117 yards and 2 TDs (45 and 18 yards to Junior Hemingway), and Brendan Gibbons kicked 3 FGs (including the winning 37-yarder in overtime) for the Wolverines. Logan Thomas passed for 214 yards and Justin Myer kicked 4 FGs for the Hokies. Virginia Tech finished 17th in the coaches poll and 21st in the AP poll.

The other BCS bowl provided the biggest surprise when West Virginia (10-3) upset Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl for the highest score ever by one team in a bowl game. Geno Smith passed for 407 yards and 6 TDs, Tavon Austin had 12 pass receptions for 123 yards and 4 TDs (and compiled 280 total yards), and Darwin Cook returned a fumble 99 yards for a TD. Tajh Boyd passed for 250 yards and 2 TDs, DeAndre Hopkins had 10 pass receptions for 107 yards and a TD, and Andre Ellington scored on a 68-yard run for the Tigers. West Virginia finished at No. 17 in the final AP poll and No. 18 in the coaches poll, and also won the Lambert Trophy as outstanding team in the East. Clemson (10-4) ended No. 22 in both polls.

The other BCS bowl provided the biggest surprise when West Virginia (10-3) upset Clemson 70-33 in the Orange Bowl for the highest score ever by one team in a bowl game. Geno Smith passed for 407 yards and 6 TDs, Tavon Austin had 12 pass receptions for 123 yards and 4 TDs (and compiled 280 total yards), and Darwin Cook returned a fumble 99 yards for a TD. Tajh Boyd passed for 250 yards and 2 TDs, DeAndre Hopkins had 10 pass receptions for 107 yards and a TD, and Andre Ellington scored on a 68-yard run for the Tigers. West Virginia finished at No. 17 in the final AP poll and No. 18 in the coaches poll. Clemson (10-4) ended No. 22 in both polls.

Arkansas (11-2) nailed down the No. 5 ranking in both polls with its 29-16 win over Kansas State (10-3) in the Cotton Bowl. Tyler Wilson passed for 216 yards and 2 TDs (including 45 yards to Jarius Wright) for the Razorbacks, Joe Adams scored on a 51-yard punt return and Zach Hocker kicked 3 FGs. Collin Klein passed for 173 yards and a TD and scored on a 6-yard run for the Wildcats. Kansas State finished ranked at No. 15 in the AP poll and No. 16 in the coaches poll.

Boise State (12-1) was left out of the BCS bowls after a 36-35 regular-season loss to TCU. In the Maaco Las Vegas Bowl, Kellen Moore passed for 266 yards and Doug Martin returned the opening kickoff 100 yards and added 151 yards rushing as the Broncos whipped Arizona State 56-24. Boise State finished No. 6 in the coaches poll and No. 8 in AP.

TCU (11-2), meanwhile, defeated Louisiana Tech 31-24 in the Poinsettia Bowl. Casey Pachall passed 42 yards to Skye Dawson for the winning TD with 1:58 left in the game. Colby Cameron passed for 264 yards and 2 TDs (including 61 yards to Myles White) for Tech. TCU finished ranked No. 13 in the coaches poll and No. 14 in AP.

South Carolina (11-2) finished in the Top 10 (No. 8 in the coaches poll and No. 9 in AP) with a 30-13 win over Nebraska (9-4) in the Capital One Bowl. Connor Shaw passed for 230 yards and 2 TDs (including 51 yards to Alshon Jeffery, who had 4 receptions for 148 yards) for the Gamecocks. Nebraska finished No. 24 in both final polls.

Michigan State (11-3) rounded out the Top 10 in the coaches poll and finished No. 11 in AP after its 33-30 win over Georgia (10-4) in 3 overtimes in the Outback Bowl. Kirk Cousins threw for 300 yards and a TD while Dan Conroy kicked the winning 28-yard FG in the third overtime. Georgia ended with a ranking of No. 19 in the AP and No. 20 in the coaches poll.

Baylor (10-3) topped off one of its more successful seasons with a wild 67-56 win over Washington in the Alamo Bowl. Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III passed for 295 yards and a TD and ran for 55 yards and another score for the Bears, while Terrance Ganaway rushed for 205 yards and 5 TDs. Keith Price passed for 438 yards and 4 TDs and ran for 3 more scores in a losing effort while Chris Polk ran for 147 yards and a TD for Washington. Baylor finished with rankings of No. 12 in the coaches poll and No. 13 in AP.

Southern California (10-2) was ineligible for bowl play because of NCAA sanctions, but finished ranked No. 6 in the AP poll. The Trojans' only losses were to Stanford 56-48 and Arizona State 43-22.

Baylor QB Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy as the season's outstanding player, while also winning the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top QB.

Stanford QB Andrew Luck won three top awards-the Maxwell Award as the nation's outstanding player, the Walter Camp Award as the player of the year, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

The player with the most awards was Boston College LB Luke Kuechly, who received the Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award as outstanding lineman, the Bronko Nagurski Award as defensive player of the year, the Dick Butkus Award as outstanding linebacker, and the Lott Impact Trophy as the outstanding defensive player.

Other top award winners were:

College Football Fans

     The history of college football bowl games, including records, facts and anecdotes, can be found in Bowl Games: College Football's Greatest Tradition by Robert M. Ours, noted on this page with links to Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and publisher Westholme Publishing.

     The College Football Encyclopedia published in hardback and paperback in 1994 with CD-ROM updates through 2002, is no longer available except through used copies and second-hand bookstore outlets. The Encyclopedia, compiled by Dr. Ours, includes records through the 2001 season, with year-by-year scores of every game played by the 93 teams listed, star players yearly, conference titles won, bowl records, coaching records, top 25 national rankings, highest scores for and against, consensus All-Americans, Academic All-Americans, and much more.

Copyright 2007. Robert M. Ours, author.
CFE logo design by J.A.R. Enterprises.
Cartoons used by permission of artists at AAA Internet Publishing and The Wizard of Draws

[Return To Top]

History of College Football Bowl Games still available!

"In Bowl Games: College Football's Greatest Tradition, author and historian Robert M. Ours provides a complete history of bowl games . . . . included are game highlights, scores, attendance figures and rationale for the birth and demise of new bowl games throughout the years. . . . the book serves as an outstanding reference for collegiate football collectors, . . . (and) is resplendent with period photographs."
(Gridiron Greats, Winter 2005)

Conference Alignments 2012