“Fear No Man” by Mike Gastineau, forward by Nick Saban
In 1984 the University of Washington Huskies won every game but one, ranking second in national polls. For most coaches, such a season would be a career pinnacle. But for Don James second place motivated him to set aside what he knew about football and rethink the game. James made radical changes to his coaching philosophy, from recruitment to becoming one of the first college teams willing to blitz on any down and in any situation. His new approach initially failed, yet it finally culminated in one of the most explosive teams in college football history.
In Fear No Man, Mike Gastineau recounts the riveting story of Don James and the national champion team he built. Undefeated, the 1991 Huskies outscored opponents by an average of 31 points per game on their way to winning the Rose Bowl and a national championship. The team included twenty-five future NFL players, and in Gastineau’s gripping account they come alive with all the swagger and joy they brought to the game. A brilliant examination of one of college football’s greatest coaches and teams, Fear No Man is the inspirational story of an improbable journey that led to one classic and unforgettable season.
About The Author
MIKE GASTINEAU is an author, broadcaster, and freelance writer. He has written four books: Fear No Man (2021) which tells the story of the 1991 National Champion University of Washington Huskies football team; Mr. Townsend and the Polish Prince (2018) which details the remarkable story surrounding the hiring of Joe Purzycki as the first white head football coach at a historically black college; Sounders FC: Authentic Masterpiece (2013) which details the launch of the Seattle Sounders FC franchise into Major League Soccer; and The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists (2009) which is an anecdotal history of Seattle sports. Gastineau also worked as a consultant and co-author to Arctic Adventurer Steven Trafton for his biography At the Edge (2017).
He has written numerous stories for various Pacific Northwest publications including Mariners Magazine, Washington Athletic Club Magazine, the Seattle Times, and Sportspress Northwest.
He lives on Whidbey Island in Washington state with his wife Renee.