–Joe Paterno, head football coach, Penn State

– Chuck Knox, former head coach of the
Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams & Buffalo Bills

– Don James, retired head football coach, University of Washington, Kent State University

– Lute Olson, head basketball coach, Univ. of Arizona

– Vince Dooley, director of athletics,
University of Georgia

– Bob Rondeau, football and basketball broadcaster, University of Washington

– Bobby Bowden, head football coach,
Florida State University

– Bill Lumpkin, retired sports editor,
Birmingham Post- Herald

– Dr. Larry Arnn, president,
Hillsdale College

– Tom Hansen, commissioner,
Pac-10 Conference

---Don James, Retired Head Football Coach University of Washington and Kent State University.

“Mike Lude's story is a fascinating one. Anybody who believes that sports can make a difference in people and in a country's culture should read this book. Beyond Mike's personal story, his insight into the workings-good and bad- of intercollegiate athletics as a coach and administrator is without equal. Read this book and your daily trip to the sports page and the ranting of the so-called TV gurus will take on more meaning and help you make an honest judgment of the sporting events of our time.”

---Joseph V. Paterno, Head Football Coach Penn State.

“The last years of Chuck Niemi's life were anything but pleasant. Suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, the Washington sports information director could only adjust as best he could to the life-sapping illness for which there is no cure. But by providing the things Niemi needed to continue in his job, including installation of an electric lift to his second-floor office, Mike helped make his employee's final months somewhat tolerable. Great leadership is not just about balancing budgets and building things.”

---Dick Rockne, Retired Sports Writer Seattle Times and Husky Beat Writer.

“This book is a must for anyone interested in sports management. Not just football, but all intercollegiate sports. If you are going into ‘the business' read this and you'll know exactly what you are getting into…the good, the bad and the ugly. Whether you go into sports management, sports marketing, sports administration or are just interested in humanity, read this book!”

---Bobby Bowden, Head Football Coach Florida State University.

“Mike Lude is hands down the best Athletics Director I have ever worked with. If he had been allowed to continue to use his tremendous administrative skills at Auburn, we (yes, he and I) would still be winning big there today.”

---Terry Bowden, ABC Studio Analyst, 1993 National Coach of the Year.

“Mike Lude has tackled this much anticipated, revealing book with the same enthusiasm that has long been the hallmark of his career. I have known and respected Mike for many years, and everything he has ever done has been with high energy and great passion. Don't miss reading this behind-the-scenes book by one of the most respected individuals in intercollegiate athletics.”

---Vince Dooley, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics University of Georgia.

“Mike Lude became one of the most respected individuals in collegiate athletics through hard work, integrity and developed practical knowledge as an athlete, coach and athletic administrator. Mike and Bill Knight have chronicled an inspirational life, while at the same time teaching sound principles of leadership and motivation. Mike and the world of athletics remind me of the old and effective commercial about E.F. Hutton: When Mike Lude speaks, everyone listens.”

---Grant Teaff, Executive Director American Football Coaches Association.

“As one whose own experiences as a coach, athletics director and conference leader mirrors that of Mike Lude's in time and substance, I applaud Mike's story. He has chronicled more than 50 years of intercollegiate life in real terms of personal experience; inviting readers to benefit and share the vagaries. Mike's candor is evident.”

---John Toner, retired Athletics Director University of Connecticut and former President of NCAA.

“Mike Lude is one of the most respected leaders in college athletics. His long career and his wonderful influence in our profession are appropriately punctuated with this splendid and inspiring book. His perspective on important issues and the integration of his life experiences make this a rich, compelling volume. This book should be read by everyone involved in college athletics.”

---Deborah A Yow, Director of Athletics University of Maryland & Past Pres. of the National Assoc. of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

“Mike Lude is a rarity in today's world. His tenacity, moral fiber and true grit attitude toward football and life in general are an inspiration to those who have had the good fortune to know him as a coach, an athletic director and as a friend. Mike's story is an honest, behind the scenes look at a man of character and his rise in collegiate football. Mike's story will serve as a role model to young players just learning the game. The book also will bring a reality check to those currently active in the realm of collegiate athletics as they learn the inside details of the era that spawned the loss of innocence and high dollar stakes in college football. To those on the sidelines, the career of Mike Lude will serve as a chronicle of a life well lived and a game well played. May his legacy live long and serve well all those who follow in the footsteps of this great coach, athletics director and most of all, great man.”-

--John Cervini, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Hillsdale College.

“Mike Lude is, from the very start, a straight shooter and that contributed to his lifetime of success. He never turned away from a challenge and recorded an unbroken string of accomplishments. He's the most honest man I've ever known in my own lifetime of sports and a role model whose story is well worth the read.”

---Jack Moss, Retired Sports Editor/Columnist Kalamazoo Gazette, Michigan.

“No one has given college athletics more energy, longevity, and just plain good common sense than Mike Lude. Mike never minced a word in his life and doesn't now. His career takes us from the Wing-T at Delaware in the 1950's as an assistant coach to the cauldron that is Auburn football in the mid 1990's. Don't be afraid to pick his brain in this book for there is a lot to be learned. Should be mandatory reading for every college administrator.”

---Blaine Newnham, Associate Editor and Sport Columnist Seattle Times.

“I'm reading a great new book- Mike Lude's Walking the Line and I'm enjoying it immensely. I know you will too if you have any interest at all in college athletics or a delightful personal success story very rarely heard these days. I know this book is a must for anyone with any semblance of interest in sports.”

---Wayne Duke, Retired Commissioner Big Ten Conference.

“Mike Lude is one of the icons for Husky football success and rightfully so. He is a ‘doer' as opposed to a ‘talker'. It was only when I read excerpts from this book's early chapters that I realized that it was his humble background, from salt-of-the-earth folks, which gave him the foundation that led to his honesty and loyalty, traits which have made him one of the great college athletics directors of all time. Mike Lude is a symbol of what is great about America, about college football, and most certainly, Husky football.”

--- John Thompson, Retired General Manager Seattle Seahawks.

“Coach Mike Lude mixes an equal amount of wit and wisdom in telling of a humble beginning and a life filled with football, football and more football. And he tells it all. He loves to tell of the best of his storied career, but he's not afraid to examine a few warts and bumps as he explores the nation's real favorite pastime of college football. He is the country's premier athletics director who loves the game and loathes those who would bend and break the rules.”

--- Paul Davis, President of Davis Publications of Auburn and Columnist for the Opelika-Auburn News.

“Mike Lude is a special man. His book, Walking the Line, is a testament to the character that is a result of hard work, sound morals, basic ethics and dedication to one's country. This book gives a factual insight into the world of college athletics from the standpoint of an athlete, coach and athletics director. Mike's honesty and forthrightness in detailing some of the inner workings behind the decision-making of an athletic director will be as big a shock to the readers as it was to me. A must read!”

---Lute Olson, Head Men's Basketball Coach University of Arizona.

“Mike Lude represents intercollegiate athletics greatest virtues in every aspect. Loyalty, integrity, reliability, discipline, hard work, visionary, counselor, leader, and commitment to excellence all describe the man Mike Lude. His book is an insightful and interesting glimpse inside the life of a self-made man who rose from poverty to become one of the outstanding athletic administrators in the nation. Anyone interested in intercollegiate athletics should read this outstanding book.”

---Gary A. Cunningham, Director of Athletics University of California Santa Barbara.

“Auburn was in a period of transition and Mike's knowledge, integrity and his relentless drive guided us through some rough times. Mike accepted the challenges facing the athletic department and his steady and experienced hand provided the stability that we needed. Mike has been there and his book offers first hand insight into the pressures, personalities and the politics of college athletics.”

chambres d'hotel de luxe Waterford---E. L. Spencer Jr., Chairman Auburn Bank.

“On rare occasions you hear said of someone ‘she was born to be a doctor,' or ‘he was born to teach' or ‘he was born to play the piano.' The speaker intends the highest accolade and that is precisely what the hearer understands. Well Milo, ‘Mike' Lude was born to be an athletic director.” Whatever measuring rod you use, he meets the standards of excellence. His book is certain to be interesting, entertaining and instructive.”---Jerome Farris, Former University of Washington Board of Regent.

“If you want to know and read about the inside of intercollegiate athletics from the point of view of an individual with a balanced and accurate perspective, and you enjoy reading about individuals who overcome obstacles and achieve success, this is the book for you!”

---John D. Swofford, Commissioner Atlantic Coast Conference.

“Mike Lude's book and his legacy will last for generations and generations and perhaps forever because he influenced so many lives in such a positive way.

---Fred Jacoby, Commissioner Lone Star Conference.

“Mike is a rare breed, and I have patterned my career and goals after leaders like him. Collegiate athletics has shaped many lives. Mike's book Walking the Line should be required reading by all.”

---Herman Frazier, Director of Athletics University of Hawaii and Vice President, United States Olympic Committee.

“Mike has devoted his entire career to college sports as a player, coach and athletic director. Each of the colleges or universities he touched improved because of his efforts. His opinions are of value to anyone involved or interested in university athletics.”

---Tracy King, Retired Executive Director UW Alumni Association.

“Mike Lude's story is fascinating as he enjoys success as a Marine, athlete, coach and athletics director. Everyone from the casual sports fan to the most rabid will find his years as a coach and administrator fascinating. This book showcases Mike's adventures and his talents. You will be impressed!”---Tom Hansen, Commissioner Pacific 10 Conference.

“Infectious, enthusiasm—total giving—sincerity. That's the Mike Lude that was with our Dave Nelson staff at Delaware. He was a pleasure to work with and is a friend forever.”

---Irv “Whiz” Wisniewski, Professor Emeritus University of Delaware.

“Mike certainly has embarked upon a wonderful project that will be of great value to the world of amateur athletics. The story you have written reflects the ideals, strength of character and endless energy that you have displayed throughout your life.”

---Harold Westerman, Director Emeritus of Physical Education and Athletics, former Head Football Coach University of Maine.

“I have the greatest admiration for Mike Lude. He is a genuine person with great integrity and insight. He is a tremendous credit to intercollegiate athletics and higher education.”

--- William V. Muse, Former President Auburn University.

“I've known Coach Mike Lude for over 40 years and to me he represents all that is good about collegiate athletics. He is classy, honest and a man of unquestionable integrity. Mike is someone I've looked up to my entire coaching and television career.”

---Lee Corso, Former Football Coach and now ESPN Game Day Host.

“Mike Lude's story is both entertaining and inspirational. From a poor but loving background he combines a story with work ethic, discipline and a sense of humor to rise to the pinnacle of his profession. He pulls no punches in talking about his experiences with university presidents and coaches. Anyone aspiring to become an athletic administrator or manager will benefit greatly from reading this book.”

---Jim Mora Sr., Former Head Coach New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, and University of Washington Assistant Coach.

“When I think of Mike Lude I think of a man who is highly intelligent, highly motivated, very organized, honest and caring. With high goals, a focused vision and relentless determination, Mike began the process of building the Husky program. It was under Mike's guidance in which the University of Washington was built into one of the best athletic departments in the nation.”

---Gary Pinkel, Head Football Coach University of Missouri and Former University of Washington Assistant Coach.

“There have been several books written on so many great athletic individuals, and Mike's book will certainly be one of the greats. It is difficult for me to articulate in a few lines all that is great about Mike Lude, as it does not do justice for a man who has meant so much to so many.”

---Isaiah “Ike” Kelley Jr., Former Director Rocky Mountain Region for HUD, played football for Colorado State Univ. and ran for Lt. Governor.

“In over 50 years of tracking college sports, never have I seen an athletic director overcome such tremendous challenges as Mike Lude. Because of Mike, Auburn athletics returned to where they once were.”

---Bill Lumpkin, Retired Sports Editor of the Birmingham Post-Herald, and Former Pres. of the Football Writers Assoc. of America.

“Mike Lude is a true gentleman and one of the great administrators of our time. He has been a mentor and a roll model to so many of us younger athletics directors. I give my highest recommendation to Mike Lude's book, and I know that it will be beneficial to people from all walks of life.”

---Gene DeFilippo, Athletics Director at Boston College and Past President of The National Assoc. of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

“I have read parts of Mike's book and have found it accurate and to the point… it is great!”

---Connie Kanakis, Class of 59 Auburn University.

“I can think of no one better equipped to ‘tell all' about big time intercollegiate athletics than Mike Lude. For to ‘tell all' it very much helps to ‘know all' and Mike Lude spent the better part of his lifetime gaining that knowledge. As a player, coach and administrator, he has not only witnessed the evolution of college sports, he's been an actual part of the process. That he was successful along the way is no surprise.”

---Bob Rondeau, Voice of the Huskies, Washington Football and Basketball Play-by-Play Announcer.

“Mike's life as a young farm boy to an outstanding athlete, to college coaching ranks, and later to become one of the top athletic administrators in the history of collegiate sports is a story necessary to tell. (A great example of the true American Dream). This energetic ex-marine, a true family man, a devoted husband to his lovely wife, Rena and a real friend is the trademark that identifies Mike Lude. Everyone who has had the good fortune to be associated with this dynamic person is a benefactor. Read this book!”

---Homer Rice, Former Athletics Director Georgia Tech, Rice University and University of North Carolina;
Head Football Coach University of Cincinnati, Rice University and the NFL Cincinnati Bengals.

“The wisdom of Mike has brought and will bring inspiration and direction to those who aspire knowledge of and/or involvement in intercollegiate athletics. He is a winner!!”

---Dick Young, Former Athletics Director Florida International University, Washington State University,
Oklahoma State University and Bowling Green State University.

“As a student, athlete, coach and athletic administrator, Mike Lude has made a successful venture through the ranks of college athletics and left an indelible mark of achievement at every stage of his career.”

---Jack Lengyel, Rtired Athletics Director United States Naval Academy.

“Mike has done it all. In between solving crises, Mike found time to give to NACDA, serving as our president and on many committees. His peers recognized him for his excellence as the recipient of NACDA's James J. Corbett Award. Despite his retirement, Mike has continued to remain involved with NACDA.”—Mike Cleary, Executive Director NACDA

---National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

“All the superlatives are relevant—honesty, integrity, hard working dedicated, loyal. Nothing too lofty could ever be said about Mike Lude. But he is more than that, much more.”

---Dr. Michael O'Brien, former President of Auburn University Touchdown Club.

“A book of terrific personal and professional insight and a must read for anyone who bleeds purple and gold. Mike takes us behind the often closed doors of big time college athletics.”

---Tom Glasgow, Veteran Seattle Sportscaster, Sports Director KOMO 1000 News.

“At the age of 29 I became an Athletics Director at Eastern Michigan University. As one of only a few African American AD's of a D1-A program, I looked for a mentor I felt comfortable with. Mike Lude was awesome. He is a great man, I owe so much to him for his guidance.”

---Gene Smith, Athletics Director Arizona State University.

“Mike always was up front with everything. When he told you it would be a certain way, that's the way it was. Sometimes we didn't like it, but we knew it was going to be that way. He gave the coaches the rules and saw that they were followed to a ‘T.' I worked for three wonderful athletics directors, all different, but all excellent. The University was much better for having Mike as the athletics director.”

---Marv Harshman, Retired Head Men's Basketball Coach, University of Washington, Washington State Univ. and Pacific Lutheran Univ.

“It comes as no surprise to me that Mike Lude achieved such great success as a college coach and athletics director. There is nothing phony about this man, and yes, he will (and does) tell you exactly what he thinks.”

---R.R. “Ruly” Carpenter, former owner Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Club, Member of the University of Delaware Board of Trustees.

“Mike's enthusiasm and passion for college athletics was and is immediately evident and contagious. His competitive drive and leadership enabled us to experience unbelievable growth and success at both Kent State and the University of Washington. Mike gives you an inside look from his perspective at the challenges, complexities, highs and lows of college athletics. Anyone aspiring to be in college athletics should read this book.”

---Bob Stull, Athletics Director University of Texas El Paso, and Former University of Washington Assistant Football Coach.

“This book can only give the reader a glimpse of the huge success Mike Lude enjoyed in getting Auburn University's athletic ‘ox out of the ditch' during his short tenure as Athletics Director. Mike met all the goals assigned to him by restoring the Auburn's credibility with the NCAA and hired a coach who produced an 11-0 season. While Mike's success at Auburn is only part of his remarkable story, it is certainly one of the most outstanding achievements of any athletics director in the history of college sports”

---John Denson, Former Trustee Auburn University.

“As a kid who also grew up in a rural area of the Midwest, I can truly relate to the experiences that Mike Lude encountered as he pursued his goals of coaching big-time football and later emerged into the world of college athletic administration. He climbed the mountain with vigor, maintained his lofty position with great character and retired from it all with pride and dignity.”

---Don DeVoe, Retired Head Men's Basketball Coach U.S. Naval Academy.

five star hotel in Copenhagen“I've known Mike for 57 years. We've been friends since he was the captain of the first football team my husband (Dave Nelson) coached. Following Mike's career as a student, coach, administrator, it is no surprise to me that he has been able to rise above his disappointments and succeed. His many achievements are the reward for his dedication to what is best for college sports.”

---Shirley Nelson, wife of the late Dave Nelson who gave Mike his first coaching job at Hillsdale College and later the Univ. of Delaware.

“Mike Lude has experienced it all when it comes to athletics. Now he has decided to share his numerous experiences with all. This book shares his trials as well as his triumphs. It is great reading for those of us who have been in the business, but also compelling reading for those entering the profession, as well as the avid sports fan. It has something for everyone.”

---Judy Rose, Athletics Director Univ. of North Carolina, Charlotte, Pres. of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

“I often reflect on how lucky I was to have you visit the Rullo home on one of your recruiting visits for the University of Delaware. After enjoying the Lenten Hot Cross pastries that you brought, my mother was not letting me play football/baseball anywhere but Delaware. I have been blessed with a ton of good fortune in my life since that night in 1958, but it all started with that great decision. Thanks.”

---Fred P. Rullo, Former Vice President ARCO Oil Company and Former Football Player University of Delaware.

“Very few have witnessed the development of college athletics from the perspective Mike has, and I'm sure the reader of this book will gain new insights into the field of sports. A highly recommended reading!”

---Ced Dempsey, Former Athletics Director University of Arizona, University of Houston and Executive Director of the NCAA.

“I've just finished Mike Lude's wonderful story about his career as a leader in college athletics and it is a great read. For those of us who love the college game, here is a wonderful story told from the viewpoint of one of the giants of the field. The insight of dealing with coaches, conferences and the university administration make this book a fascinating and educational treatise for sports fans that care about the industry. You learn first hand the strategies that go into running a modern day athletic program that offers great wisdom to those of us inside as well as outside of the athletic business. Great job Mike!”

---Bill Byrne, Athletics Director Texas A&M, Former Athletics Director at Nebraska and University of Oregon.

“I have always been captivated by Mike's enthusiasm, by his grasp of the subject matter, and by his unique ability to instruct an enraptured audience of peers. We became friends, and over the years, and I have followed his progress as a coach and as an athletic administrator with great interest and satisfaction. Mike Lude is respected, admired, and truly liked by all of us who have shared this profession with him. His words continue to be inspiring and worthy of careful study.”

---Marv Levy, Head Football Coach University of New Mexico, University of California, Berkley, Montreal,
Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. Currently analyst for NFL radio and television.

“When you judge a man's career you have to look at what he accomplished and how he accomplished it. With Mike Lude this is easy, ‘A Lot and the Right Way!'”

---Art Modell, Owner Baltimore Ravens, Former Owner Cleveland Browns.

“Today when I hear the name Mike Lude, two things come to mind. One is Mike's faith in people. The second is his character. This book does a wonderful job capturing his faith and character.”

---Earlie Thomas, Defensive Back Colorado State Univ., New York Jets, Denver Broncos & Current Director CSU Environmental Health Services.

“Mike Lude is, we are proud to say, a graduate of our little college. We have always been a stubborn place, ready to fight for freedom, ready to stand up for principle whenever it is challenged. Often they have been manifest on the battlefield. Often they have been manifested on the athletic field too. Mike has gone on from his education and work here to be one of the makers of modern intercollegiate athletics. He has seen both its troubles and its glories. He believes that college athletics should be for students, and that the classroom comes first. He has fought for this through a long career. He tells a most interesting story about that battle.”

---Dr. Larry Arnn, President Hillsdale College.

“Mike Lude's life has been truly remarkable, and he has always been a class act, a Christian gentleman and a role model to all of those who served with him and under him. He rose to the top of his ultimate profession as a university athletics director from the most humble beginnings. There is a moral to his story, and he explains it well.”

---Paul Cressman, Sr., Esq., recognized as a "Super Lawyer" for the past three years by "Law & Politics" magazine. He is the only Washington lawyer who is a Fellow in both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Past President of the University of Washington President's Club.

“I have known Mike Lude for approximately 25 years and know of no one who has more passion for the college game and particularly for the student-athlete. I have never seen him without a smile on his face or heard him without a good word for his fellow man. This book is significant in that it puts in a very candid format and a proper format what needs to be said about a number of issues regarding college athletics. One of the key issues, in my judgment, is the hypocrisy of college presidents. Those who hide behind academia and claim foul when something happens regarding athletics and the student-athlete. I truly believe that the whole future of college athletics is at stake with the current position of how college athletics has changed and particularly the emphasis through various institutions. Mike Lude points out these issues in a very, very well written book.”.

---Jim Host, Chairman of the Board Host Communications, State of Kentucky Secretary of Commerce.

“Energy, honesty, and professionalism describe the tenure of Mike Lude as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Washington. Mike, who had the foresight to hire Don James at Kent State, had the drive to expand Washington's football stadium, making it one of the great venues in America. As the first radio play-by-play announcer of Washington Husky Women's Basketball, I applaud Mike Lude for demanding equal media coverage for women's sports. He developed Washington into a model sports program for the West Coast. Mike Lude's enthusiasm, and genuine concern for the student-athlete come through clearly in his book. If you want to know the inner-workings and politics of big-time college sports, it's a must read. There are life lessons we can all share from Mike's story.”

---Bill Swartz, Former Basketball Voice of the Washington Husky Women, and Football Sideline Announcer,
Current Sports Anchor at 710 KIRO Radio in Seattle.

“No one that I know is in a better position nor is better prepared to write a book about the Fast Lane of Intercollegiate Sports than Mike Lude. Mike has had a distinguished career as a football player, coach and athletics director at several of America's distinguished universities. Furthermore, he has been a leader at the national level in shaping intercollegiate sports policy. He was a very successful athletics director at the University of Washington while I was president of Washington State University. The competitive sports programs were very successful during his tenure. In fact, since the Cougars of WSU and the Huskies of UW are chief rivals, I would have been happier if Mike had not been so successful. Despite the rivalry of our schools, I value my friendship with Mike immensely.”

---Glenn Terrell, Retired President Washington State University.

“Mike always would fight for what he believed in. Yet, he was always fair. His drive and determination is why he was so successful, and why so much was accomplished under his leadership.”

---Kyle Kallander, Commissioner Big South Conference.

“Life as a college sports administrator has its ups and downs. But Mike Lude didn't appreciate the extreme limits of ‘down' until the day he glanced out his office window to admire the progress on a $17 million expansion project. Before his eyes, Husky Stadium became the Hula Bowl. The 130-foot steel structure for the stadium's new second deck swayed this way, leaned that way and collapsed. Fortunately, there were a lot more ‘ups' than ‘downs' in the remarkable career of the man who brought championship programs and unrelenting integrity to the University of Washington, Auburn University and beyond. Mike's fascinating life story should be required reading for anyone contemplating a career in sports administration.”

---John Owen, Retired Sports Editor Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

“I first met Mike in June, 1965, on a cold night at Estes Park, Colorado at my first F.C.A. Conference. His thoughtful sharing of his faith with me was instrumental in my accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior a week later. Coach Lude is a rare person. He was a football player, coach, athletics director and a pillar in the team of NCAA and BCS leaders that will determine the direction of college football. His insight and his life will be an adventure to behold in this book. I wholeheartedly recommend Coach Mike Lude.”

---Ken Hatfield, Head Football Coach Rice University.

“In 1959 as a post graduate student at Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, NJ, I met a gentleman named Mike Lude. He had come to BMI to recruit me and several other players for the University of Delaware. I knew the minute I met Mike that he was an honest, straightforward, no nonsense type person. The seeds of friendship were sown at that time, and it is an honor to call him friend.”

---Jim Quirk, NFL official.

hotels Malaga“Fifty years would seem to be a sufficient time to learn and judge the mettle of a man. In 1952, when I was 17 years old, Mike came to my high school and asked me to play football at the University of Delaware. I had never met a man like him. Mike Lude was the most enthusiastic, overwhelming man I had ever met. Now, 50 years later, he is still the same, Mr. Enthusiasm.”

---Jim Shelton, Brigadier General, United States Army (Retired).

“Mike Lude prepared me well for the turbulent, exciting, drama-filled world of intercollegiate athletics. This book captures that world better than a reality television show could. Mike is Mr. Enthusiasm and his passion for college sports comes across loud and clear. One of the reasons we got along well together the 13 years we both worked for the University of Washington is because there is no deception with Mike; what you see is what you get. While Mike and I did not always agree on every issue (and the reader might not either) we respected each other because we shared a mutual concern about doing what was best for the student-athletes, the sports they played and the University.”

---Elsa Kircher-Cole, Former Assistant Attorney General for the University of Washington, now General Council for the NCAA.

“Every fan of college sports should read this book. Its impact will be to make the reader much more knowledgeable about the world of collegiate athletics because it is written by one who has been part of that world at every level. The book…entices the reader to follow Lude's story because of his candor about events that have been widely reported elsewhere. It gives the reader a glimpse into the real world of collegiate athletics.”

---Frank Broyles, Athletics Director University of Arkansas.

“During the formative years of an athletic administrator role models are absolutely critical, if not essential. To that end, Mike Lude was one of the elite, strong and determined sub-sector leaders that warranted every understudy's emulation. Quite frankly, he transitioned in stellar fashion from his well-documented coaching background to become one of the eminent athletics director in our country.”

---Kevin White, Athletics Director, Notre Dame.

“This book and its subject, Mike Lude, is testimony to all that is good in college athletics. Coach Lude's passion, integrity, genius and loyalty have been the cornerstones of his successful career as both coach and athletics director. If there ever was a choice between taking a path that drifted away from the ‘rules' of the game and the right way, you could bet that Mike would select the ethical and correct path.”

---Dr. Dan Tripodi, Former Football Player, University of Delaware.

“Mike Lude resides in Tucson, but his influence and inspiration can be found all over this country. His long list of achievements has deservedly earned him a great deal of respect. His legacy, however, may be best defined by what he has returned to the profession in leadership, insight, education and mentoring. Simply put, he has helped make intercollegiate athletics better for all those seeking the same opportunity he had—a chance to lead his own program.”

---Joseph R. Castiglione, Director of Athletics University of Oklahoma.

“There are three things that distinguish the successful, modern Division 1-A athletics director. He gets to run his very own crisis clinic, he has to be knowledgeable enough to hire the best people possible, and he has the pleasure of working with coaches and athletes in the wildly competitive world of collegiate competition all while making sure the athletes are also students making progress toward their degrees. It's a tall order. If you follow Mike Lude's saga from his humble beginnings to his exceptional career in intercollegiate athletics you will come to know a fascinating man whose love of the game drove him to success he had never dreamed of as a boy. I have known Mike for over 30 years. These are the characteristics that mark him. He has boundless energy, is highly motivated, is very competitive, has great integrity, is loyal and has demonstrated outstanding leadership and professionalism during his challenging and diverse career. Mike and I have a couple of things in common. Each of us served as athletic directors at the University of Washington, Mike hired Don James at Kent State and I hired Don at Washington. Each of us received our profession's highest honor, the Corbett Award, and, finally, we were each blessed with understanding and helpful helpmates throughout our careers. Enjoy the book. Mike has earned his reputation as one of the nation's top leaders in intercollegiate athletics.”

--- Dr. Joe Kearney, Former WAC commissioner, Former Athletic Director at University of Washington,
Michigan State and Arizona and Former USOC Board Member.

“While serving as a young programmer for the then-new ESPN in 1984, I was fortunate to get heavily involved in the collegiate game, and not only did I see a lot of great games, but I met many terrific people who remain friends to this day—including the coach-turned athletic director-turned author, Mike Lude. With Mike you always get a smile, a hearty handshake, good humor and kind words. Whether you see him once in several months or on several occasions in a short period of time, it's always a pleasure. I suffered a heart attack about ten years ago and went through quadruple bypass surgery. I was fortunate to hear from a lot of people during my convalescence—but none more frequently than Mike. You remember and appreciate things like that. That's Mike Lude. That college football's living legend Keith Jackson is writing the forward is testimony to high esteem in which Mike is held. I have read some excepts from his book and it is Mike through and through. An honest and entertaining account of a true gentleman who honored his profession every day and continues
to honor it even in retirement.

– Loren E. Matthews, Senior Vice President, Programming ABC Sports

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