Cyclone fans buy 55 copies of “Home Sweet Dome” at signing

 HARLAN (Aug. 11) -- Fans of Harlan Community football showed up in large numbers Wednesday afternoon, purchasing 55 copies of “Home Sweet Dome” during a two-hour book signing at The Buck Snort Restaurant.
 “Home Sweet Dome,” co-authored by award-winning Iowa sports writers Craig Sesker and Doug Newhoff, is regarded as the most comprehensive history of the Iowa high school football playoff era ever produced.
 Chapter 2 of the book, entitled Cyclone Warning, was written by former Omaha World-Herald and Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil sports writer Kevin White. It examines the rich history and tradition of the Harlan Community football program and recalls some of the greatest players and teams directed by Hall of Fame coach Curt Bladt - along with an outstanding staff of assistants - during his 42 years as the team’s head coach.
 The Cyclones won 11 of their 12 state championships during Curt Bladt’s tenure and also earned eight state runner-up trophies. Last fall, the Cyclones were state runner-up again under Todd Bladt (Curt’s son) in just his second year as head coach.
 Curt Bladt stated that being interviewed for the book stirred up a lot of old memories.
 “It brought back a lot of things; not necessarily (just) on the football field but relationships with people outside, whether it be coaches or players or community members,” he said.
 “You think back to a lot of things that have happened over the last 42 years or whatever it happens to be. You’ve got a lot of memories there and a lot of them are good - some of them aren’t so good - but it’s the up and down and the thrill of the pursuit. We’ve had a really good time over the course of the years making all those statistics in that book.”
 About 15-20 Harlan Community football players were on hand for Wednesday’s book signing. Also present were Curt Bladt, Todd Bladt, assistant coach Mark Kohorst, White, Sesker and Newhoff.
 “Home Sweet Dome” can be purchased online at www.domeplayoffs.com or by sending a check or money order for $35 (includes shipping) to Home Sweet Dome, 5407 Glacier Dr., Cedar Falls, IA., 50613. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of “Home Sweet Dome” will be donated to the Ed Thomas Family Foundation.