LIVE OAK, Fla. — The football connection between Suwannee High School and Florida State University has been going strong for several decades.

Dale McCullers is one of the many SHS graduates that played for the Seminoles. He was an All-American linebacker at FSU, where he set the school record with 29 tackles in a single game, and then played professionally for the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins.

You can now add author to McCullers’ impressive resume. McCullers, along with FSU teammate John Crowe, have released their book titled “FSU’s Sons of the Sixties: A case for the Defense.” It’s a look back at some of the great defensive stars of the era. There are 12 individual stories — each one is a chapter long — about FSU Hall of Fame players.

There is also an entire chapter dedicated to the parents of “the sons of the sixties.”

“This is kind of a nostalgic look back,” McCullers said. “John Crowe and I got together last year and came up with the concept. The theme is defensive football.

“The reason we call it sons of the 60’s is to recognize those parents that endured The Great Depression and World War II and gave us opportunities — like an education — which they never had. They taught us integrity, mental toughness and a strong work ethic.”

Legendary coach Bobby Bowden wrote the introduction for the book. Lee Corso, well-known for his television role on College GameDay, is the first of 12 players featured.

The chapter written about McCullers, which is titled “a quiet leader and the assassin,” was written by Crowe. It’s a great look at what made McCullers an outstanding player on the football field. It’s also a glimpse into his childhood and then life after professional football where McCullers worked as an NCIS agent.

All proceeds from the book will go toward the Johnnie Stephens Scholarship Fund. Stephens, who played football at Florida State alongside McCullers, was killed in action in Vietnam in 1969.

“Johnnie Stephens was a center and long snapper. We called him ‘ironman’ because he played for three seasons and never missed a snap,” McCullers said. “Johnnie Stephens was a true American hero.”