Bill's autograph on the title page
A galley proof is essentially how each page of the manuscript will look in final form. Also called a galley or page proof, it's used for promotional purposes and designed for review by authors, editors and proofreaders. So the galley proof often employs wide margins to facilitate corrections and notes. This late stage of the process allows the author a final opportunity to check for errors.
In early August of 2014, Bill and I spent almost a week combining on the 544-page galley proof in Saratoga Springs. After the conclusion of the intensive period, I requested Bill's autograph on the title page. I pointed out that he would end up signing plenty of books -- and only one manuscript. Obliging me, he did a neat thing: Coach used his birth name -- Duane Charles Parcells -- putting "Bill" in parenthesis. For almost all his autographs, Coach scribbles down his famous name. Conversely, he signs his real one on contracts, and just a few items.
Bill initially wrote on the title page of the galley proof: "A test of my integrity." I asked him to explain his comment. So he added a dash mark: "This was a hard undertaking."
Note: For one more example involving the galley proofs, click on the above image or on one of the arrows up top.
Late addition to Bill's Unsung Opponents
As we were scrutinizing the galley proofs, Bill said to me, "You forgot to put Roy Green on my 'Unsung Opponents.'" Translation: Bill caught his oversight of the ex-wideout while examining the compilation of underrated players who he had coached against. So I marked up page 517 -- the first of two pages in the book covering Bill's Unsung Opponents. Among several pithy summaries, Bill's quote on the former Cardinal and Eagle was the longest: "He came into the league as a nickelback, and moved to wide receiver. Blazing fast. He kept me up at night for about eight years."