Paradise found : a high school football team's rise from the ashes

"Friday Night Lights meets Unbroken." —Tony Reali | "One of the most profound stories you will ever read." —Ian O'Connor | "Plaschke delivers a masterpiece." —Jeff Pearlman From L.A. Times columnist and ESPN Around the Horn panelist Bill Plaschke, a story of tragedy, triumph, and the remarkable power of high school football in one small California town On November 8, 2018, the Camp Fire ravaged the town of Paradise, California. The fire, which burned up to 80 acres per minute, killed 86 people, and nearly every building and home in the town was reduced to ashes. In a single day, Paradise, a proud working-class town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, saw its population fall from 25,000 to 2,000. The Paradise High football team had long been the town's source of joy and inspiration. But in the wake of the fire, their season was abruptly cancelled on the eve of the playoffs. Their championship hopes were gone. Their program's survival seemed doubtful—it wasn't even clear whether Paradise High would continue to exist. Coach Rick Prinz had planned to retire that year after guiding the Paradise High Bobcats for two decades. But after the fire forever altered his beloved town, he realized he couldn't walk away. What ensued was the challenge of a lifetime. Of the 104 football players at Paradise, 95 had lost their homes. His varsity squad, which had stood 76 strong the previous season, was down to 22. Most of those who remained were homeless, sleep-deprived, lost. On the first day of spring practice, on a debris-ridden patch of grass at nearby Chico Airport, Prinz's team didn't even have a football. It was the humble beginning to a memorable journey. Bill Plaschke, longtime columnist for the Los Angeles Times, followed the Paradise Bobcats throughout a most remarkable season. In this gripping, deeply-reported story of tragedy and resilience, Plaschke reveals the unique power of sports to unite, to inspire, and to heal. As the Paradise players fought to rebuild their broken lives, they found strength in the support of their teammates—and as football returned to Paradise, so, too, did the spirit of the town itself. Fire On The Mountain Meets Friday Night Lights In This Tragic And Hopeful Story Of The Destruction Of Paradise, California, By Raging Wildfires And Its Resurrection Through The Heart And Grit Of Their Local High School Football Team, By L.a. Times Columnist And Espn Around The Horn Panelist Bill Plaschke. On November 8, 2018, A Hellish Fire Ravaged The Town Of Paradise, Ca, Killing 86 People As Its Residents Fled And Reducing Its Population From 25,000 To 2,000 In A Single Day, Ranking It As The Deadliest And Most Devastating Fire In California History. The Paradise High Football Team Has Long Been A Source Of Pride And Inspiration In This Small Town Often Derided For Being The Home Of Hillbillies. But In The Wake Of The Fire, The Team Was Left Devastated--physically And Emotionally--and Seemingly Beyond Repair. Their Season Was Abruptly Cancelled On The Eve Of The Playoffs. Their Championship Hopes Were Gone. Their Program's Mere Survival Was In Doubt. Coach Rick Prinz Had Planned To Retire That Year After Guiding The Paradise High Bobcats For Two Decades. But After The Fire Forever Altered His Beloved Town, He Realized He Couldn't Walk Away. What Ensued Was The Challenge Of A Lifetime. When Spring Arrived And Training Season Began, The Team, Once Made Up Of A 76-man Varsity Roster, Had Been Reduced To 36 Players. Most Were Homeless, Sleep-deprived, Lost. On The First Day Of Practice On A Debris-ridden Patch Of Grass At The School's Temporary Chico Airport Home, The Team Didn't Even Have A Football. It Was The Humble Beginning To A Memorable Journey. L.a. Times Columnist Bill Plaschke Followed Coach Prinz And The Rest Of The Team In A Rise From The Ashes Highlighted By An Unbeaten 2019 Regular Season And Unbelievable Playoff Run. In The Process, He Has Documented Something Remarkable: As Football Has Returned To Paradise, So Has The Spirit Of The Town Itself. Paradise Found Is A Comeback Story Like No Other. It's About Courage, Resurrection Forged From Rubble, And The Spirit Of Hope In A Small Town In America. Relates the devastating impact of the 2018 Camp Fire on the town of Paradise, California, and the efforts to rebuild the town's high school football team, describing how the revival of the football program helped to renew the spirit of the entire town