September 19, 2002 For more information: Frank R. Scatoni 619-807-1887 frank@ventureliterary.com "No Kill Date" Venture Literary Sells World Rights for a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Tyrone Willingham’s First Season at Notre Dame On September 18, 2002, Greg Dinkin of Venture Literary, representing ESPN The Magazine journalist Alan Grant, sold the World rights to an untitled book about Tyrone Willingham’s first season at Notre Dame to Liz Nagle at Little, Brown. When newly appointed Notre Dame football coach Tyrone Willingham was asked about inheriting a program that had been rocked by scandal, he was quick to answer: "When those disciples were sitting in the boat and the sea was calm, they didn’t need Jesus. But when that storm hit, that’s when they needed leadership." By following Willingham, Grant creates a highly textured narrative that chronicles the coach’s landmark season as the first black coach in Notre Dame history and examines the politics of the university and the maniacal subculture of its rabid fans. At the same time, Grant goes beyond football to explore the subtle racism that erodes the purity of American sports in the same way it rears its ugly head in corporate America and beyond. Grant also explores the storied Notre Dame tradition–a long and lasting one that has given us Knute Rockne All American and Rudy. The school’s national presence enabled the most beloved and followed team in the nation to negotiate an $8 million network deal with NBC. Millions of fans, including the "Subway alums," scrutinize everything about Notre Dame, and awareness of the team has been heightened this season as the Irish work to rise above a tarnished reputation–both on and off the field. Ironically, and what really makes this story so compelling, is that Notre Dame has turned to its first black coach ever, in any sport, to bail itself out. Before playing five years in the NFL, Grant played for Willingham at Stanford and has maintained a close relationship with his former coach. For almost five years, Grant has written feature stories for ESPN The Magazine, has his own column for ESPN.com ("AG Raw"), and has done countless hours of radio for the ESPN network. The combination of Alan Grant’s credentials, his relationship with Willingham, and the national following of Notre Dame makes his chronicle of this season such a monumental book. To learn more about Venture Literary, visit: www.ventureliterary.com. To learn more about Little, Brown, visit: http://www.twbookmark.com