Texas sports journalist and author Jim Dent has made his mark as one of the foremost chroniclers of college football in the country, having written the New York Times bestselling work The Junction Boys, about Alabama’s team under Bear Bryant, and Resurrection, about Notre Dame’s comeback season. Now, he returns to his Texas roots with Courage Beyond the Game, which he will read from and sign today at the River Oaks Barnes & Noble.

Think of Courage Beyond the Game as UT’s answer to Rudy. An undersized Freddie Steinmark arrived on the UT campus in 1967, vowing to start every game as a varsity freshman, despite his coaches telling him he was too small to play. Steinmark’s tenacity earned him a spot as UT’s star safety, but it was the tragic turn his life took that earned him a spot in the school’s history. Today’s UT football players tap a picture of Steinmark on their way onto the field as a sign of respect. Hear what Steinmark did to deserve such an honor at 7 p.m. 2030 West Gray. For information, call 713-522-8571 or visit www.barnesandnoble.com. Free.

Tue., Aug. 23, 7 p.m., 2011

This article appears in Aug 18-24, 2011.