The setting of this novel is in a small town called Messina, which would explain how they are all so involved in their high school. This is a fiction novel, however it is also realistic. It happens today all the time in some towns that have tight knit communities. Football is an American tradition everywhere, but some places are more involved than others. The time period is set in the early 21st century, but their stories range all the way from the 60’s. Those were the golden years of football and the time at which Eddie Rake became the caoch in the novel. The time period helps kick start the Spartan tradition that will last forever in this small town. The story in this novel may be fiction since it has not occured, but stories of glorious football teams are seen all the time. A winning streak such as the one mentioned in the book would be difficult to accomplish, but not impossible.