About this Book

Terry Pluto, four-time winner of the Ohio Sportswriter of the Year award, looks back at a time when all the world was truly Browns Town. The story begins with Art Modell's decision to fire Paul Brown; Pluto shows the roots of that decision, which rocked the football world but almost certainly made the '64 title possible. He takes us through the 1964 season, from the start of training camp at Hiram College to each game along the way to the conference title and then on to the 27-0 victory over the Colts. He takes us behind the scenes, showing how Jim Brown prepared for the biggest game of his life; why Gary Collins was always open; and what tackle Dick Schafrath spotted in the films that enabled him to neutralize the Colts' overpowering defensive end Ordell Braase. He shows the adjustments and breakthroughs that turned a scoreless game at halftime into a rout that still stands as Cleveland's last championship. Pluto visits with the men who won the title some three decades ago, gathering their memories of that season and the lessons they've carried with them through their lives.