Fourth Down, Forever to Go: The Improbable Biography of Ken Little

by Brad Little

Overview

Fourth Down, Forever to Go is the moving true story of small-town Texas football coach Ken Little, who inspires all-win or lose-to be their best both on and off the field. But as his underdog team is fighting their way to the State Championship, Ken is diagnosed with a terminal illness that has him fighting for his very life-a life that wasn't measured on the scoreboard, but by a legacy of mentorship, social change and a family he loved.

"In Texas, football is king. It has been portrayed in Hollywood and around the world in films and books for good reason. But there would be no Friday night 'lights' without the hard work and dedication from the many coaches that push the athletes to become the best version of themselves. These coaches work long hours and often serve as the only father figure in many kids' lives. They help bridge racial, economic and social divides and become an integral part of the community. Fourth Down, Forever to Go is an intimate look into the life of one such coach: Ken Little. In a battle for his life against cancer off the field, he joined longtime friend and rival Dickey Meeks in leading an improbable turnaround of the Henderson Lions from 1-9 in 2008 to the brink of the 2010 Class 3A State Championship. Whether you are a coach, a business executive or just looking for an in-depth look into what really goes into creating those Friday night 'lights,' Fourth Down, Forever to Go is a must read."

-Joe Martin, Executive Director, Texas High School Coaches Association; State Championship winning coach with Garland, 1999; Texas HS Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2020

"I have covered sports from Texas to New York and I can attest that in Texas, football is a religion. Much like churches, the football programs oftentimes define the communities that they represent. This is especially true in small towns across the state. My father was a coach, and I have been around athletes my entire life. Often overlooked, it is the hard work and dedication of the many coaches and educators that push the students and athletes to work hard, overcome adversity and achieve greatness, even beyond the game of football. Fourth Down, Forever to Go is an in-depth view into the coaching profession and the impact it has on the lives of the young men that play it. It is a story about working hard, respecting others and overcoming adversity in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds."

-Michael Coleman, KLTV 7 Sports Director

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798985266504
Publisher:	84 Phoenix, LLC
Publication date:	03/28/2022
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.63(d)

About the Author

Brad Little is the author of Fourth Down, Forever to Go: The Improbable Biography of Ken Little. Currently serving as CFO of Black Mountain Sand, Brad's career spans more than 20 years in finance-plus a single season coaching high school football alongside his father Ken. Brad and his wife Kate live in Fort Worth, Texas, with their three daughters, Caroline, Claire and Emily.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment 1

Foreword 5

Introduction 11

01 You Don't Have to Have The Lead 15

02 Without a Strong Foundation 21

03 Help Others 27

04 What Made You Successful Before 35

05 Respect the "Role Players" 41

06 Setbacks or Adversity? 51

07 Got Any More Ideas? 61

08 Color Coordinator 71

09 When Opportunity Knocks, Answer 75

10 Run a Fair Program 83

11 If It Were Easy, Anyone Could Do It 89

12 Transition Year 95

13 Pain Is Weakness Leaving the Body 99

14 You Aren't Beat, Until 103

15 Plan B 107

16 We have Jordan 113

17 Just Another Game 121

18 Be Prepared. Be Opportunistic 125

19 Fourth Down 129

20 Forever to Co 137

Epilogue 145

Testimonials 149

Takeaways 181