Heart of a Mule

The Dick Schafrath Stories

by Dick Schafrath

  • Format: Hardcover, 272 pages, 5.6 x 8.8 inches
  • Illustrations: 30 black-and-white photographs
  • ISBN: 978-1-59851-024-9
  • Price: $24.95
Description

He won national football championships with the 1964 Cleveland Browns and the 1957 Ohio State University Buckeyes. He served four terms in the Ohio senate. He was the first person ever to canoe across Lake Erie. He ran sixty miles nonstop between Cleveland and Wooster, Ohio, on a bet. He met presidents . . . He wrestled bears.

Yes, Dick Schafrath has plenty of stories to tell.

In this book, he tells the most remarkable stories from his first seventy years. Stories of growing up on an Ohio farm with no plumbing, plowing behind a pair of mules. Of playing alongside famous teammates and coaches— Jim Brown, Paul Brown, Woody Hayes . . . Of political campaigns and publicity stunts. Of returning to Ohio State to finish his undergraduate degree— after fifty years! Of a life dedicated to hard work and a stubborn determination that earned him his longtime nickname, “ The Mule.”

Wild and wonderful, told in a warm, personal style, these stories are sure to entertain and inspire.

Book Excerpt:
The Cleveland Browns

I was out of town on a short vacation and didn't even know that the draft was being held. I learned the results four days later. The atmosphere then was quite different from what it is today. Now the NFL draft hyped for at least a week ahead of time and then televised nationwide. Of course, today a player's position in the draft means a lot of money. The difference being drafted then and now means millions of dollars. Money was not our incentive in the 1950s. My first salary was $600 a month, and I was glad to get it. I couldn't believe they were willing to pay me anything to play for a team that I loved so much. But all players and coaches in pro ball played for the challenge and fun of it. They had off-season jobs to survive.

I often joke that I had to take a cut in pay to leave Ohio State. The truth is, I never even asked how much money I would make with the Browns. Paul Brown sent me a contract, and I signed it and sent it back. I think my contract also called for a $750 signing bonus to purchase a car. There were some rumors that Paul took the bonus back if you made the team; if you got cut, you got . . . [ Read More Free Samples ]

Reviews
Schafrath uses a simple, witty writing style that makes it seem like he's right in the room talking to the reader . . . Any fan of the Buckeyes or Browns should enjoy hearing the standout former offensive lineman's behind-the-scenes stories on the likes of Woody Hayes, Paul Brown and Jim Brown . . . There are several laugh-out-loud moments. — Daily Record
Schafrath is a hard-working, stubbornly determined man who never stops looking for a challenge. This message rings loud and clear in his book. — Madison Messenger
About Dick Schafrath
Dick Schafrath

Dick Schafrath won national championships with the 1964 Cleveland Browns and the 1957 Ohio State University Buckeyes. He server four terms in the Ohio senate. He was the first person to canoe across Lake Erie. He has been a businessman and a bear wrestler, and he graduated from college in 2006 after only 50 years. He is a native of Wooster, Ohio. More About Dick Schafrath

Contains References to:

1957 Ohio State University Buckeyes, 1957 Rose Bowl, 1964 Football Championship, 1964 Cleveland Browns, Art Model, Blanton Collier, Dick Schafrath, Gary Collins, Gene Hickerson, Jim Brown, Ohio State Senate, Paul Brown, Washington Redskins, Woody Hayes, Wooster, OH,

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