John McKay, a native of West Virginia, was coach of the University of Southern California Trojans from 1960 through 1975. He produced four national champions, eight Rose Bowl teams, three squads that were unbeaten, and Heisman Trophy winners Mike Garret and O.J. Simpson. He left USC for a career in professional football, coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had the friendship and respect of such adversaries as Paul "Bear" Bryant of the University of Alabama and Ara Parseghian of Notre Dame. John McKay died in 2001. Jim Perry first became acquainted with Coach McKay in 1962 as a student-newspaper reporter for the Daily Trojan. After graduation from the University of Southern California in 1964, he became a UPI staff writer. In 1966-1967, as Assistant Sports Information Director at USC, he became reacquainted with McKay. He then joined the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner as a staff writer, where he covered the Trojans with insight and zeal. After six years as a reporter, Perry returned to his alma mater as the Sports Information Director. He then became an Assistant Athletic Director at USC. He says his wife, Cathy, inspired him to write this book.