{{Short description|Nonfiction book}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Not Without Hope''}} {{Infobox book | | name = Not Without Hope | title_orig = | translator = | image = Not Without Hope.jpg | caption = First edition | author = Nick Schuyler and Jeré Longman | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = United States | language = English | series = | genre = Non-fiction; memoir | published = March 2, 2010 (William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) | media_type = Print | pages = 256 pages (Hardcover edition) | isbn = 978-0061993992 | dewey = | congress = | oclc = | preceded_by = | followed_by = }}
'''''Not Without Hope''''' is a 2010 non-fiction book by Nick Schuyler and Jeré Longman. The book describes a 2009 boating accident that Schuyler survived while his three friends, including NFL players Marquis Cooper and Corey Smith, died. ''Not Without Hope'' was a ''New York Times'' best-seller.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adult New York Times Best Seller Lists for 2010 |url=http://www.hawes.com/2010/2010.htm |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=hawes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - March 21, 2010 - The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2010/03/21/hardcover-nonfiction/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
== Summary == ''Not Without Hope'' describes a 2009 boating accident that took the lives of NFL players Marquis Cooper, Corey Smith and Schuyler's best friend Will Bleakley. Schuyler survived the incident. It was co-authored by Schuyler and Jeré Longman, a sports reporter and author of several sports related books.<ref name="HarperCollinsBIO-Longman">{{cite web |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/jere-longman | access-date=2020-07-21 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |title=Jeré Longman}}</ref>
On Saturday, February 28, 2009, at about 6:30 a.m., the four men embarked in a 21-foot single-engine boat owned by Cooper from the Seminole Boat Ramp near Clearwater Pass. They went fishing in the Gulf of Mexico about {{convert|50|mi}} off of Clearwater, Florida. At around 5:30 p.m., they tried to pull up the anchor and head back to port but it was stuck. When Cooper tried to thrust the boat forward to dislodge the anchor, the vessel submerged and capsized, tossing the men overboard. According to Schuyler, over the next several hours, his three companions eventually succumbed to hypothermia and Schuyler was the sole survivor. On March 2, 2009, he was found by the United States Coast Guard near death, clinging to the engine mount of the capsized vessel.
On March 25, 2009, a report was released based on a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation into the capsizing: it included interviews with Schuyler and an inspection of the boat.
The report concluded the following:<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.myfwc.com/docs/Newsroom/FWC_BoatingAccidentInvestigationFWSW_09_OFF_1335.pdf |publisher=Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |title=Florida Boating Accident Investigation Report |date=March 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331032546/http://www.myfwc.com/docs/Newsroom/FWC_BoatingAccidentInvestigationFWSW_09_OFF_1335.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-31}}</ref>
* the anchor line was tied to the port-side transom as part of a (mistaken) plan to free the anchor. * the vessel, which had a {{convert|200|hp|kW|adj=on}} motor, was then throttled forward. * the rear of the vessel was pulled into the water because its motor had been throttled without enough slack in the anchor line and * the capsized boat ejected the operator and occupants into rough gulf waters.
The conclusions were accompanied by additional details from interviews with Schuyler. According to Schuyler, after the capsizing, he and the other three men, all wearing flotation devices, struggled overnight to remain atop the hull of the capsized boat, with water reaching chest-high over the partially submerged hull and waves of about six feet. Cooper and Smith became non-responsive and separated from the vessel between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. on the morning of March 1 and Bleakley became non-responsive and separated about 24 hours later, less than six hours before Schuyler was rescued. The investigator described the symptoms Schuyler displayed as characteristic of hypothermia.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.myfwc.com/docs/Newsroom/FWC_BoatingAccidentInvestigationFWSW_09_OFF_1335.pdf |publisher=Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |title=Florida Boating Accident Investigation Report |date=March 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331032546/http://www.myfwc.com/docs/Newsroom/FWC_BoatingAccidentInvestigationFWSW_09_OFF_1335.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-31}}</ref>
== Accident victims == * William Ward Bleakley (born November 20, 1983, in Crystal River, Florida) was 25 years old. He graduated from Crystal River High School with honors, where he played varsity football, baseball, and soccer. Bleakley earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida (USF) in finance and accounting. At the beginning of his college career, he was invited to walk-on to the USF Bulls football team. He played in USF's first two bowl games, including its first bowl victory. Bleakley and Schuyler met in the sixth grade,<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/florida-boat-accident-survivor-2-nfl-players-gave-up-hope Florida Boat Accident Survivor: 2 NFL Players Gave Up Hope]</ref> played football together at USF, and became best friends. In the early morning of March 2, 2009, according to Schuyler, Bleakley became non-responsive, exhibited signs of hypothermia, and separated from the fishing boat. This was less than six hours before Schuyler was rescued by the United States Coast Guard. Bleakley's body was lost at sea; he is missing and presumed dead. * Marquis Victor Cooper (born March 11, 1982, in Mesa, Arizona) was age 26. He was a linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. Cooper also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the University of Washington. Cooper owned the 21-foot single-engine boat. In the early morning of March 1, 2009, according to Schuyler, Cooper became non-responsive, exhibited signs of hypothermia, and separated from the fishing boat. According to Schuyler, this occurred approximately one hour before Smith did the same, and approximately a full day before Bleakley did likewise. Cooper's body was lost at sea; he is missing and presumed dead. * Nicholas L. ("Nick") Schuyler (born January 18, 1985, in Chardon, Ohio) was 24 years old.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2009/3/5/3682548.aspx |title=Will Bleakley Memorial Service Information |date=March 5, 2009 |publisher=South Florida Bulls}}</ref> In 2003, he graduated from Chardon High School, where he played on the school's basketball and football teams.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lubinger |first=Bill |date=2010-03-03 |title=Chardon High School graduate Nick Schuyler still deals with guilt of being lone survivor of boating accident |url=https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2010/03/chardon_high_school_graduate_n.html |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=The Plain Dealer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lubinger |first=Bill |date=2009-03-03 |title=Chardon's Nick Schuyler rescued, 3 NFL players still missing from fishing boat |url=https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2009/03/former_chardon_student_rescued.html |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=The Plain Dealer |language=en}}</ref> He then graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) in 2008 with a degree in communications. At USF, he played on the football team as a walk-on, along with his best friend Bleakley, whom he had known since sixth grade. Schuyler worked as a personal trainer and, in 2014, opened a gym in Lutz, Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Years after tragic boating accident, ex-USF football player Nick Schuyler achieves dream of opening gym |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/years-after-tragic-boating-accident-ex-usf-football-player-nick-schuyler/2204396/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Skope |first=Mckenna |date=2014-10-30 |title=Alumnus opens fitness center with second chance |url=https://www.usforacle.com/2014/10/30/alumnus-opens-fitness-center-with-second-chance/ |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=The Oracle |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 14, 2015, Schuyler married Paula Oliveira.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} Their son was born in 2017. The sole survivor among the four men, Schuyler was stranded for 46 hours in 60-degree water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-25 |title=Florida Boat Accident Survivor: 2 NFL Players Gave Up Hope |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/florida-boat-accident-survivor-2-nfl-players-gave-up-hope |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> When rescued by the United States Coast Guard, he was within five to ten hours of death.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-27 |title=Probe: Improper anchoring caused boat mishap |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4020753 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He was nearly dead from exposure; at the time of his rescue, his body temperature had dropped to 88.8 degrees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=2010-04-07 |title=Death and disbelief: Sole survivor of accident that killed three tells his story |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/06/AR2010040603874.html |access-date=2025-07-18 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> * Corey Dominique Smith (born October 2, 1979, in Richmond, Virginia) was age 29 when he was lost at sea. Smith was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions. Smith played college football at North Carolina State. According to Schuyler, after the boat capsized, Smith experienced symptoms of hypothermia and became increasingly combative. Smith was the first man to become separated from the fishing boat. His body was lost at sea; he is missing and presumed dead. Smith's family established the Corey D. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund in his honor. The Detroit Lions held a memorial service for him on March 21, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-20 |title=Lions to hold memorial for missing boater Smith |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3998374 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The Detroit Lions announced that they would retire Smith's jersey number (#93) during the 2009 season in his honor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-21 |title=Lions to retire missing boater Smith's No. for '09 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4003668 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Smith was (posthumously) named the 2009 recipient of the Detroit Lions/Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association/Pro Football Writers Association's Media-Friendly "Good Guy" Award, which is given yearly to the Detroit Lions player who shows consideration to, and cooperation with, the media during the season. Smith's family accepted the award on his behalf.
== Film == {{main|Not Without Hope (film)}}
''Not Without Hope'' was adapted into a film. The film was originally to be produced, distributed, and financed by Relativity Media. Dwayne Johnson was cast to play Schuyler and was also executive producer. After the project was tied up at Relativity Media for four years as a result of the company's 2015 bankruptcy, 36films and its founder Michael Cuccolo acquired the rights to produce the survival drama.<ref>{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |author-link=Dave McNary |date=May 30, 2017 |title='Not Without Hope' Survival Movie Leaves Relativity, Lands at 36films |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/not-without-hope-survival-movie-leaves-relativity-36films-1202448133/ |access-date=March 30, 2022 |work=Variety}}</ref> The UK production/financing company Goldfinch later purchased the film rights and hired Rupert Wainwright as director.<ref>{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |author-link=Dave McNary |date=October 15, 2019 |title=Film News Roundup: 'Galaxy Quest' Documentary Set for Release |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/galaxy-quest-documentary-screening-1203372346/ |access-date=March 30, 2022 |work=Variety}}</ref> Miles Teller was cast in the role of Schuyler, and production was set to begin in early 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |author-link=Dave McNary |date=June 12, 2020 |title=Film News Roundup: Patrick Wilson Joins Halle Berry, Josh Gad in Science-Fiction Epic 'Moonfall' |url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/patrick-wilson-halle-berry-josh-gad-sci-fi-epic-moonfall-1234633607/ |access-date=March 30, 2022 |work=Variety}}</ref> With the outbreak of coronavirus delaying film production, the filming date was moved to September, with pre-production beginning at the water facility in Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2020/film/markets-festivals/dominican-republic-poised-for-post-pandemic-return-1234646369/|title= Dominican Republic Poised for Post-Pandemic Return|date= June 24, 2020|access-date= March 30, 2022|first= Anna Marie|last= de la Fuente|work= Variety}}</ref> However, Wainwright later left the director's chair, citing creative differences, before filming began.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2020/film/news/rupert-wainwright-miles-teller-not-without-hope-1234725021/|title= Rupert Wainwright Out as Director of Miles Teller Survival Drama 'Not Without Hope' (EXCLUSIVE)|date= August 4, 2020|access-date= March 30, 2022|first= Brent|last= Lang|work= Variety}}</ref> An adaptation written and directed by Joe Carnahan was ultimately produced with Zachary Levi and Josh Duhamel in the lead roles.
== See also == * 2010 in literature * Memoir * Survivor guilt, to which Schuyler admits suffering<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Jamie |date=2009-08-19 |title=A grateful Nick Schuyler admits survivor's guilt from boating accident that killed 3 friends |url=https://www.cleveland.com/nfl/blog/2009/08/a_grateful_nick_schuyler_admit.html |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=cleveland.com |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|90em}}
== Further reading == * [https://www.cleveland.com/books/index.ssf/2010/03/nick_schuyler_writes_not_witho.html Nick Schuyler writes 'Not Without Hope,' his detailed account of the boating accident that killed three other men, including NFL players Marquis Cooper and Cory Smith] * [http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/nick-schuylers-survival-story Nick Schuyler's Survival Story] * [http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/report-improper-anchoring-caused-boat-accident/article_5675df86-deeb-5719-bba5-1bb7e6489d2b.html Report: Improper anchoring caused boat accident] * [https://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/5973/2015-12-11/soon-be-motion-picture-from-ceo-film-producer.html Soon to be a Motion Picture: From CEO to Film Producer] * [https://www.soundingsonline.com/features/lessons-from-a-tragedy Lessons from a tragedy]
== External links == * {{IMDb name|nm3823580|Nick Schuyler}} * {{cite report |url=http://www.myfwc.com/docs/Newsroom/FWC_ACISS_%20BoatingAccidentInvestigativeReportFWSW_09_OFF.pdf |publisher=Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission |title=ACISS Investigative Report |id=FWSW09OFF1335 |date=March 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331032546/http://www.myfwc.com/docs/Newsroom/FWC_ACISS_%20BoatingAccidentInvestigativeReportFWSW_09_OFF.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-31}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2010 non-fiction books Category:American memoirs Category:English-language non-fiction books Category:Boating accident deaths Category:Maritime incidents in 2009 Category:People lost at sea Category:William Morrow and Company books