Here is my review of the new Stig/SD State book, which you should buy: @HolyNutmeg @GoJacksJFPA @GoJacksSDSU A new book features faith, family and football — and one imperfect man's lifelong struggle to keep them in that order. The face of South Dakota State University football, John Stiegelmeier is an old-school coach who spent much of his career trying to reach, teach and lead staff and players through a rapidly changing era of college football. In many ways, the game that Selby High School’s famous No. 44 fell in love with in the 1970s bears little resemblance to the sport he was coaching five decades later. Yet Stiegelmeier not only survived those changes — he sometimes thrived in them — and did so almost entirely at one school. That kind of loyalty and longevity is nearly unheard of in 2026. In “Stig and The Rise of South Dakota State Football,” Tanner Castora tells not only the story of “Coach Stig,” but also the stories of Laurie Stiegelmeier and South Dakota State football itself. All three are compelling and deeply connected. At his core, Stig always believed life worked best when priorities remained in the proper order: faith first, family second and football third. The challenge was that Stig was human. Like all of us, he sometimes struggled to live by those values. The difference is that he learned from those struggles and used those lessons to impact the lives of thousands of players. One of the book’s strengths is Castora’s ability to weave together the many people and moments that shaped SDSU football. The countless current and former Jackrabbit names that appear throughout the book create an excellent history lesson on the program’s century-long journey. Just as importantly, Castora brings Laurie (Huke) Stiegelmeier into the story at exactly the right moments. The Selby/SDSU educated woman emerges as far more than a coach’s wife. She was a gifted partner who consistently showed up for her faith, her family and the SDSU community. John and Laurie were blessed in many ways, and together they spent their lives trying to share those blessings with others. Castora also deserves credit for telling the story from multiple perspectives. He pulls back the curtain on the successes, failures, challenges and triumphs because he interviewed so many people who lived the journey alongside Stig. The result is a book that is honest, complete and authentic. Among the memorable stories are Stiegelmeier being told he could not spend SDSU money to mail 17 welcome letters to recruits, a single phone call that helped keep a future NFL player in Brookings, and occasions when Stig’s faith in God and belief in his players nearly cost him his job. The book also highlights one of the more unusual battles of Stiegelmeier’s coaching career. Spend time around many college football programs in 2026 and you might think profanity is a required skill to play the game. For Stig, it was the opposite. He disliked swearing because he believed it dishonored God and violated his most sacred rule: Do the right thing. It was a stain on his sport and program, and Stig fought against it for decades. It was a battle few coaches would choose to wage, especially in today's football culture. In the end, Castora’s book is much like a walk through McCrory Gardens, one of Brookings’, SDSU’s and South Dakota’s treasured landmarks. Beauty surrounds you at every turn. But behind that beauty lies the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of countless people. The same can be said for the national championship football program Stiegelmeier helped build. The victories are easy to see. This book helps readers appreciate the thousands of people, decisions, acts of faith and losses that made those victories possible.