Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899 tells the story of a football team from a small college in post-Civil War Tennessee and their incredible accomplishments. What inspired you to share this story with readers?
I was a student at Sewanee in the 1970’s. Everyone there hears about this team. It’s a truly amazing story. Over the years, I kept thinking someone would do a documentary film about this team, but one never appeared. So, my classmate, David Crews and I decided to do it ourselves. Later, after the film came out, I realized we had a lot of original paintings and a unique music score, as well as a great deal of archival information. We decided this should also be preserved in a high quality coffee table book.
How much and what kind of research went into putting this book together?
We spent almost 5 years researching this story and doing interviews. This involved hours in the Sewanee Archives, as well as meeting with people who knew about the story, and doing research online as well. It also involved contacting the schools Sewanee played that year to see what information they had. Then, my co-author, Karin Fecteau, and I spent another two years creating this beautiful book to further preserve the history of this incredible accomplishment.
Did you learn anything surprising during your research process?
Yes, we thought we knew the story, but it was far richer and more layered than we ever imagined. We also uncovered materials and photos no one had discovered before, which was exciting. Finally, we thought we’d mainly explore the lore of the 1899 team, but what we learned was that the facts were even better than the lore.
Can we look forward to more history selections from you in the future? What are you currently working on?
Would love to but right now I’m focused on selling these books.
Unrivaled, by Norman Jetmundsen and Karin Fecteau, chronicles the legendary 1899 Sewanee Tigers football season, a feat of athleticism and endurance unmatched in sports history. This small Southern college’s team embarked on a grueling journey of 12 games in six weeks, including an astonishing streak of five games in six days across 2,500 miles. They remained undefeated, outscoring opponents 322-10. The book dives deep into this epic season, providing a vivid portrayal of the players, the societal context, and the sheer grit required to achieve such greatness.
From the moment I started reading, I was hooked by the palpable passion and depth of historical detail. The writing brings the era alive, especially when describing how the players contended with brutal physical conditions. Chapter 7, “The Season,” is a highlight, vividly illustrating the no-huddle, non-stop nature of football in 1899. The way the players managed to triumph despite minimal protective gear and relentless injuries is simply inspiring. It gave me chills to imagine men like Henry “Ditty” Seibels and Ormond Simkins pushing through bone-deep exhaustion with an unshakable will.
The book also does a fantastic job of weaving in broader cultural narratives. For example, the chapter on the societal ties between the Civil War and Southern football traditions was eye-opening. Jetmundsen shows how the region’s pride and resilience were mirrored on the gridiron. This made the Tigers’ victories feel even more monumental.
What stood out most to me, though, were the unsung heroes. The chapter on Cal Burrows, the team’s African-American rubdown man, was incredibly moving. It underscored the invisible labor that made the team’s success possible. It’s humbling to think about how much these contributions mattered, even though they’ve often been overlooked in the broader story.
Jetmundsen and Fecteau’s Unrivaled is a testament to the human spirit. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves sports history, particularly those who appreciate a good underdog tale. Whether you’re a fan of football or simply someone who enjoys tales of resilience, this book will stick with you.
Unrivaled by Norman Jetmundsen and Karin Fecteau is one of those books that makes history feel alive. It’s all about the incredible 1899 Sewanee football team, a scrappy underdog group from a small Tennessee college that defied every odd to dominate the season. They played five games in six days, traveling 2,500 miles by train, and they never lost. They outscored opponents 322-10 that season! It’s a wild mix of perseverance, teamwork, and sheer grit, set against the backdrop of a South still recovering from the Civil War.
The historical context of Jetmundsen’s work reeled me in. Jetmundsen does a fantastic job describing what life was like back then—horses and buggies, no forward passes in football, and players tackling in wool uniforms. The connection to broader Southern culture was fascinating, too. Football wasn’t just a game it was like a stand-in for battlefield glory. That kind of emotional weight gave the story so much depth.
What I liked most were the characters. The players felt real, even heroic. Ditty Seibels, the halfback who bulldozed through defenses, and “Wild Bill” Claiborne, with his pirate-like eye patch antics, were larger than life. I also loved reading about Luke Lea, the 20-year-old manager who orchestrated the whole season with nothing but a telegraph and sheer willpower. That’s the kind of quirky determination that feels cinematic.
Some parts of the book flow like a gripping documentary, while others are somewhat heavy with details. Jetmundsen’s admiration for the team is palpable. There are golden moments of vivid storytelling, like descriptions of the brutal conditions or the camaraderie among the players, and I’d be hooked again.
Would I recommend Unrivaled? Absolutely. If you’re a history nerd like me, you’ll adore the rich cultural context and the underdog story. Sports lovers will eat up the football lore. Anyone who values stories about resilience and teamwork will find something to admire here. It’s a reminder of what people can achieve when they set their minds (and muscles) to it, and honestly, it left me inspired.
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