«`Sports and Freedom is the best book ever written on the history of American intercollegiate athletics.' Reviews in American History»

«`Smith's careful study, the first in the Oxford University Press new Sports and History series, provides much needed historical perspective on an important contemporary issue.' Allen J. Share, Louisville Courier-Journal»

«`Smith carefully details the inception and rise of college sports and describes those factors leading to the gradual transfer of control from students to faculty. While tracing sports' extensive changes, he still reminds us of the pervasive elements of continuity. Appropriate for graduate students and upper-division undergraduates.' W.F. Gustafson, San Jose State University, Choice»

«'Ronald Smith ... displays the same fastidious attention to detail research that distinguished his earlier work, The Saga of American Sports, in this timely and readable narrative. The extensive appendix, a product of many hours spent in search of primary sources in several college archives, anchors the discussion in each of the sixteen skilfully crafted, cleverly connected chapters.' John M. Charles, College of William and Mary in Virginia, Journal of Educational Administration and History, Volume 24, Number 1, January 1992»