Fathers, sons, and sports are enduring themes of American literature. Here, in this fresh and moving account, a son returns to his native Mississippi to spend a special autumn with his ninety-five-year-old dad, sharing the unique joys, disappointments, and life lessons of Saturdays with their beloved Ole Miss Rebels.
In the fall of 2012, after working on a presidential campaign that suffered a devastating loss, Stuart Stevens, having turned sixty, realized that he and his ninety-five-year-old father had spent little time together for decades. His solution: a season of attending Ole Miss football games together, as they'd done when college football provided a way for his father to guide him through childhood-and to make sense of the troubled South of the time. Now, driving to and from the games, and cheering from the stands, they take stock of their lives as father and son, and as individuals, reminding themselves of their unique, complicated, precious bond. Poignant and full of heart, but also irreverent and often hilarious, The Last Season is a powerful story of parents and children and the importance of taking a backward glance together while you still can.
"It's Ole Miss, it's nuts, it's outrageous, it's got depth and emotion, and it's one of the best father-son books I've read in years. 'Hotty Toddy' is the only phrase you need to know to love this book."
"Through the lens of college football, Stuart Stevens has produced a poignant tale of fathers, sons, race, and growing up in the South during the late 1960s. Besides being a delightful read, it is a reminder of the joy of relishing what is meaningful in life."
"The Last Season is a touching, beautifully written story about the love between a son and his father, and their special lifetime bond formed around 'Ole Miss' football. Anyone, man or woman, who does not understand the seemingly insane, intense loyalty and devotion of the college-football fan for his team, win or lose, should read this book. We soon find out it's not just about football; it's about all the good things in life. And just like all good things, I did not want it to end."
"Phineas is quick as a whip and full of one-liners, and he takes center billing with his son playing the straight man. As for the ghosts of the past-including the Civil Rights movement, racism, segregation-Stevens combines his memories of boyhood with his sixty years of knowledge to show how far America has come and how far we still need to go. Throughout, Stevens captures the spirit of college athletics, and ties it into his foundation of fun and family."
"As Stevens and his father reinvigorate their relationship through the traditions of college football, they note how significant a unifying role the game played in reversing the segregated racial environment in the region to one where fans of all races cheer on multiracial teams representing fully integrated universities. Lyrically written and poignant, this book speaks to football fans and observers of cultural change in America."
"A meditative memoir of a son, sixty, and father, ninety-five, bonding over college football…An elliptical, evocative narrative…An affecting tale showing that you can go back home again."
"The Last Season is an instant classic. This is an absolute gift to sports fans. I don't remember when I have enjoyed a book more than this one. This is a special book, one people will share with their children and grandchildren. This book is truly one for the ages."
