Bell's football book covers plenty of turf

Taylor Bell knew when he started to tackle his latest book project he could not miss talking to one of the biggest hitters in football history.

So, the first person Bell talked to for his look at high school football in Illinois was Dick Butkus. The legendary Bears middle linebacker, who played at Illinois and Chicago Vocational, proved to be as smashing as the hits he administered to ballcarriers.

"I figured if I didn't interview Butkus I'd lose all credibility," said Bell, who has covered Illinois high school sports for more than 40 years and still works for the Chicago Sun-Times. "He was very helpful and we had close to a three-hour discussion.

"He kept coming up with good stuff. That got things off to a very good start."

Not to mention an excellent middle and ending for "Dusty, Deek and Mr. Do-Right," which is nearly 270 pages of stories about the legendary players, programs, coaches and games in Illinois high school football history.

The book costs $23.95 and should be available in bookstores such as Barnes and Noble and Borders in early September. It can also be purchased through amazon.com or the University of Illinois Press at press.illinois.edu.

Much has been written about Illinois high school basketball - including two books by Bell. Football has been a much different, relatively untold story until now.

As a result, Bell's original manuscript of 150,000 words was 50,000 more than originally planned. Some stories had to be left out - as well as some of the records and lists Bell had in his basketball book "Sweet Charlie, Dike, Cazzie and Bobby Joe" - to get the final manuscript around 110,000 to 120,000 words.

"No matter how much you write you can't cover everything," Bell said. "I tried but there is just so much out there."

There is still a lot in here as Bell captures the stories of legendary players, coaches, teams and games from different eras and all parts of the state.

The title exemplifies that with stories on prolific late 1990s quarterback Dusty Burk from Tuscola, hard-driving coach Donald "Deek" Pollard of downstate power Pittsfield and Murney "Mr. Do-Right" Lazier, one of the most successful coaches in state history at Evanston.

Bell interviewed more than 350 people on the way. In some cases it was a chance to reminisce with old friends and others it was an opportunity to make new ones for some of the stories of more recent vintage.

"I enjoyed the players, and so many of them that I covered like (Maine South's) Dave Butz and (Evanston's) Mike Kenn," Bell said of the longtime NFL stars, "and the coaches I worked with and a lot of the teams I covered going back to the '70s.

"It was fun talking to some of the people I had talked to way back like the '71 St. Rita and '71 Evanston teams. But I got more of a thrill talking to a few teams that I wasn't that involved with and not as close to like Prospect and Maine South."

The best part, which Bell did in his two basketball books, is this isn't just a dry, nuts-and-bolts history. It's one filled with interesting side stories such as Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow not playing organized football until his senior year at East St. Louis.

Some of the stories less-familiar to those outside the Chicago area are also fascinating. How Pittsfield won a state record 64 straight games in the late 1960s and early 1970s - with a 1968 team that didn't allow a point - behind the intimidating Pollard.

Or how John O'Boyle, one of the state's coaching icons, built a powerhouse out at little Stockton in the northwest part of the state.

And there are some closer to home about Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville South, now-shuttered Driscoll and Don Beebe.

"It was just fun to be reminiscing," Bell said. "It was fun to get to know them and write about them and let them talk about their kids."

Just about everyone Bell needed to talk to was willing to share their stories. Some shared vital information such as the huge box of memorabilia, articles and photos on legendary Hinsdale Central coach and athletic director Harvey Dickinson from his daughter in California.

"Others did the same," Bell said. "A lot of it was very helpful, especially with the people no longer with us."

Now Bell has given the Illinois high school football fan a wonderful chance to learn more about their stories and many others.

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com