Review
"I have covered East Texas high school football since 1981 with hundreds of memories still ingrained in my mind - games, players, coaches, fans, even the atmosphere and tradition. Hunter secured the tradition of East Texas high school football through his words with Draw The Line. I've also known Traylor and witnessed his dream turned reality of turning around his alma mater and did he ever. This is a must read."
David Smoak
Director of Broadcasting-SicEm365 Radio
Owner-Smoaky.com
"As a fifth-generation East Texan, I'm always skeptical of writers who attempt to perform a flyover of the culture that makes up this part of the country. Hunter has gifted us with a historical gem that doubles as a blueprint for leaders who seek to guide their teams to unimaginable heights."
Daron K. Roberts
Founding Director of the Center for Sports Leadership
and Innovation at the University of Texas, Author of Call an Audible
"Draw the Line gives readers a deep understanding of the tie that binds small towns across Texas. Hunter Taylor goes well beyond the Friday night lights for readers to see how one team of young men has the power to uplift an entire community. If you want to know what the hype is all about behind Texas High School football, Draw the Line will reveal that there is a lot more to the game than Xs and Os."
Lindsey Knutson
Former White House staffer
Daughter of Texas High School Hall of Fame Coach
"Dr. Taylor captured the essence of Texas High School Football in Draw the Line. Utilizing the coaching trees from iconic coaches from across the state he connects the dots that make high school football so special. His work focuses not just in Gilmer and East Texas and not only with the phenomenal success of Jeff Traylor but across the Lone Star State."
Dr. Charles Breithaupt
Executive Director of the
University Interscholastic League (UIL)
"Draw the Line is the story about Jeff Traylor, the Gilmer Buckeyes and his passion and drive for excellence for the great game of football and the life lessons that it can teach. Jeff Traylor is a true Texas High School Coaching Legend, and Hunter masterfully introduces us to his coaching ancestry and incredible "Coaching Tree." I recommend this book to anyone who loves Texas High School Football.
D.W. Rutledge
former President of the Texas High School Coaches Association
"Having played high school football in East Texas and even knowing the stories of the people involved, Hunter Taylor's storytelling in Draw the Line made this a hard book for me to put down. Great read!"
Josh McCown
former NFL Quarterback
About the Author
Hunter Taylor currently lives in Oxford, MS, where he is the founding director of the Mississippi Excellence in Coaching Fellowship as well as a professor at the University of Mississippi (UM). He grew up in East Texas as the son of a high school football coach, and later came back to the region to serve as a coach himself. Prior to joining faculty at UM, Taylor spent 10 total years as a basketball coach and an additional two years as a U.S. Senate staffer. In 2018, he was one of 59 leaders chosen from across the country to be a Presidential Leadership Scholar by the Bush Institute and the Clinton Foundation for his work in education. His wife, Brittany, is also an East Texas native and together they have three boys, Yates, Simms, and Knox. His next project is a children's book for them. Jeff Traylor is the head football coach at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). In 2021, Traylor led the UTSA Roadrunners to a 12-2 regular season and the Conference USA championship. Prior to becoming a college coach, Traylor served as head football coach for the Gilmer Buckeyes. In 15 seasons at the helm, the program captured three state championships and solidified Traylor as a Texas High School Football legend.
