The Bandana Express

""Virginia has its own version of Friday Night Lights in The Bandana Express, a tale of the grand-old single wing offense of the Giles Spartans, by Jeremy Haymore, complete with a foreword by ESPN's Marty Smith, which in itself is worth the price of admission. But there's more, so much more. High school football in and around the banks of the New River has always been sort of a sacred thing to the folks of Southwest Virginia, especially in Giles. Haymore brings it all to life in a way that will matter to those who love the sport, no matter where they live. If you're weary of the sports world in the time of NIL, this story of a team more than four decades ago just might help cure what ails ya.""-Roland Lazenby, New York Times bestselling author of Michael Jordan: The Life ""The lessons learned and relationships forged on the dusty football fields of Southwest Virginia have sustained me for a lifetime. This true story will capture your heart, rally your soul, and reinforce what truly matters!""-Frank Beamer, former head coach at Virginia Tech and member of the College Football Hall of Fame ""Between 1955 and 2012, almost seven decades, my life was consumed by the sport of football. I thought I had experienced every ounce of its passion and pain. I was wrong. Jeremy Haymore, in his brilliant book, The Bandana Express, forced me to suffer, celebrate, and laugh out loud as it wound to its unlikely conclusion. If you love football, read it. If you don't love football, read it anyway. You will love it, and it will make you a better person.""-Bill Curry, former NFL player, longtime coach, and ESPN analyst ""This book captures the heart, grit, and soul of what makes small-town football special. It's more than a story about wins and championships-it's about a community that came together, believed in something bigger, and built a legacy that still echoes today.""-Bud Foster, former defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech ""Coach Ragsdale is a legend in Virginia high school coaching. I have so much respect for him and the impact he's had on the New River Valley and all of Giles County.""-Shane Beamer, head coach at the University of South Carolina ""An inspirational story about what makes high school football so special. This is a must-read!"" -Darrin Donnelly, bestselling author of Think Like a Warrior ""Jeremy Haymore has captured the spirit of Steve Ragsdale's squad with superb imagery and detail. The story is a history lesson in the single-wing offense, wrapped in a tale that highlights the perseverance and triumph of a championship program. It is a great read for anyone who loves the game.""-Bucky Brooks, former NFL player and NFL Network analyst ""As a proud Giles alum and former trigonometry student of Coach Steve Ragsdale, opening The Bandana Express felt like stepping into a time machine, bringing me right back home. I could hear the roar of the stadium under the lights in Pearisburg, the clashing of pads and helmets, and the bean-filled water bottles shaking in the stands. Jeremy Haymore brings the history, heart, and grit of small-town football to life in a way that makes you feel it. This isn't just a football story; it's a tribute to the tradition that raised so many of us.""-Lauren Sisler, ESPN sports reporter and Giles High School graduate