College life in Texas popular topic among authors

Recently, a book called "Cheer!" by Kate Torgovnick, hit the book stands. This book hits pretty close to home because it features the SFA cheerleading squad. This account goes beyond the surface and digs into the personal lives of some of the cheerleaders, some of whom may be in your classes.

But this isn't the first time a controversial book has been written about a college program or activity in Texas. The book "Pledged" by Alexandra Robbins, created an uproar within the Greek community. The beginning and end of "Pledged" is at a bid day event at Southern Methodist University which is located in Dallas.

(enlarge photo) (enlarge photo) --> (enlarge photo)

Another book featuring Texas is "Friday Night Lights" by H.G. Bissinger. Currently a television show, it was originally a book, then a major motion picture. "Friday Night Lights" covers the quest of an Odessa, Texas high school football team to win a state title. This book also exposes the team and towns' dirty little secrets.

So, why Texas? There are 49 other states to pick on. Why does author after author come to Texas to get the dirt?

I, personally, have a connection to "Friday Night Lights." I grew up in Odessa and went to Permian High School— the subject of "Friday Night Lights." I often get asked, "Is it really that big of a deal around there?"

Yes, it is.

I have been to high school football games that had 25,000 people at them. Homer Bryce only holds 14,575 and it's rarely at capacity. When I talk about obsessed, every seat and every inch of grass in the endzone has a person on it.

There is something about that obsession that authors are trying to capture. They want to know the reason for the obsession and to know why the team is so successful.

When a town is captivated by a team, there is added pressure to be successful— the two often come hand-in-hand. Whether it's football or cheerleading, everyone says "well there must be a reason they are so good."

Each groups has its vices and and issues. Each group has them, even if they're different. But what about cheerleaders? That perpetually perky counterpart to the football team. Most SFA students know the successful cheerleading team.

Earlier in 2008, a book called "Cheer!" was released. "Cheer!" follows, in part, our very own SFA cheerleaders and their quest for a national championship. Along the way, however, stories of eating disorders, partying and steroid use came to the surface and some may think it will tarnish the trophys just a little bit.

But any college student will attest to the fact that those things are common place. Whether parents, teachers or coaches accept or not, their children, students and athletes often party right through class or are just too hungover to attend. The book seemed to upset the coaches and cheerleaders. The general consensus seemed to be that Torgovnick told too much stuff they felt should have been kept between themselves.

It all goes back to the curiosity and obsession. People begin to wonder, "What makes them so good? Surely they aren't perfect." That's when authors come in and try to find out why they're good, and why they aren't perfect.

In 2004, in the book "Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities," Robbins claims she went undercover and befriended a group of sorority women. When the book was released, many sorority women were outraged because "secret" handshakes and passwords were revealed, along with stories of eating disorders , snobbery and date rape.

To some people outside the system, it seems like an exclusive society where the women "always wear their pearls." To other college students, they usually seem stuck-up, elitist yet still slutty.

To me, all these books come to a similar conclusion; that success doesn't come from perfect people. Sometimes, those who seem like they have it all together are really in more turmoil than we can imagine. Well, I wouldn't call these things secrets, or even scandals.All these events happen every single day on a college campus. It just happens to shock and enthrall the general population. Texas seems to be a place everyone wants things to be bigger and better than everyone else.

And that's why the nation can't keep their eyes off of us.