The 1914 Longhorns sprinted to an undefeated 8-0 game differential, yielding only three touchdowns all season and outscoring opponents by a cumulative 358-21 in a record that stood for 91 years. Vanquished foes included schools that would become traditional rivals-Baylor, Rice, and Oklahoma-as well as less-familiar opponents like Southwestern, Wabash, Haskell, and Trinity. But Varsity: The Undefeated 1914 Texas Longhorns does more than just recapitulate the glories of leather-helmet football. It offers cultural resonance and historical meaning by revivifying the players and personalities who suffused the team with their spirits and skills. The team included several key players, in both the university and the state, such as Gus Dittmar, Ray Keck, Louis Jordan, Clyde Littlefield, and alumnus/manager Lutcher Stark, among others. Unknowingly, they lived on the precipice of World War I. Varsity will flash forward to their impressive life stories, not only outlining their careers but also examining pivotal moments in subsequent years which reflect the character they honed and displayed on the playing field. Charles Kupfer and John H. Keck present a meticulously researched and skillfully told story of a group of young men, caught at a precious yet passing time. For several, war lay in store. Some were fated in tragedy; others lived long and happy lives. As the foreword by renowned businessman and Longhorns fan Red McCombs indicates, each of these Texas varsity football players lived a consequential life, and this work fleshes out those lives, humanizing them. Varsity is a compelling historical narrative with significant primary source materials. It will reach multiple audiences spanning sports journalism, academic scholarship, regional history, and devoted Longhorn fans.
