Overtime by John U. Bacon - New Book on Michigan Football
It will be out September 3rd. As usual, it looks like a good read. Here's a link to an article about the book, and here's a quote from the article.
Though the end of the season was a disappointment, with two consecutive blowout losses after building towards such promise, the end of the book has quite the opposite feel, thanks to Bacon’s deft hand. We come to realize that, four years into Jim Harbaugh’s tenure helming the team, we’re still at the beginning. Bacon’s assumed final entry on the Wolverines football program may be called Overtime, thus signaling a nearing end, but given the constraints in which Michigan and Harbaugh are limited, we come to understand why the program is, indeed, on the right track. When the Wolverines return to the top of the pyramid – and Bacon makes a compelling case through the vignettes why the team is trending in that direction – fans will appreciate how those in leadership, from Harbaugh to those now wearing a winged helmet, haven’t cut corners or sacrificed integrity like many others in the NCAA.
Only JUB knows for sure but I'd reckon JUB would be one of the first to expose bagmen or a Pedo State type scandal at Michigan.
August 6th, 2019 at 10:18 PM ^
JUB would be the first to report it.
August 6th, 2019 at 10:44 PM ^
I feel like I am always harping on this, but with the amount and level of factual errors in his book on Rodriguez and Michigan, I still doubt some of the basis of what he writes.
August 6th, 2019 at 11:33 PM ^
If I’m not mistaken wasn’t he rushed to release Three and Out to quickly and his staff had to rush to reprint the books with the fixed errors ?
" Do you think John U. Bacon would compromise journalistic integrity by proclaiming loudly that Michigan is running a clean program if he had evidence that it wasn't? "
Yes.
I like his writing - but by and large he'll do any water carrying the Athletic Department wants to maintain access.
I’m actually a little concerned that this book gets into some details of other schools’ impermissible benefits. Depending on how provocative, it could create a bunch of news cycles that read:
1) Michigan players/alum name names
2) schools deny any wrong doing
3) pundits pretend like they are shocked
4) pundits say it’s petty for Michigan to raise these things and Michigan is just whining because they can’t compete on the field. “Harbaugh should just focus on his own program and beating Ohio state.” Is something I can see being tweeted out by finebaum and his ilk.
5) pressers with Harbaugh are only about this. He responds his usual way and says “what’s in the book is true”. This does not put story to bed.
5) upheaval creates large distraction for team going into Wisconsin.
6) NCAA doesn’t do a damn thing regardless.
or maybe I’m reading too much into this.
You are reading way too much into this. I’m reality no one will know this book exists besides Michigan fans.
I'm a pretty big fan, but I can't imagine ever spending the time to read a book about a mediocre season of Michigan football.
At least we're winning... 10 games... with integrity.
Thanks Gucci Mane. I’ve given you a +1. Hope it helps get you out of the debt you owe MGoBlog society for whatever prior transgression that blasted you to your negative point total.
August 7th, 2019 at 12:44 AM ^
If you're reality, give me fantasy eight days a week.
It doesn't matter what names/schools are there when one can just redact the entire body of text messages. By way of comparison, Ohio State's FOIA response program is the technical equivalent if a tree falls in the forest but nobody is there does it still make a sound.
Bacon tells sports stories. He doesn't write trash. I have no concerns.
All I can possibly say is: .....
Hmmmm, Bacon.
August 7th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
bacon a day keeps the doctor away!!!
I never understand why Bacon waits until kickoff to release these books. You would think the month before kickoff would be more lucrative.
Bacon finished the book many months ago. It's the publisher that times the publication, and they are constrained by the time it takes to edit, proof, print the gallery copies, have Bacon read and approve those, and then physically print and distribute the books.
Bacon does not make decisions about release dates; his publisher does.
Having said that, as grumbler said traditional publishing requires a long lead time and Bacon could not have completed the book before the end of the season in January. He almost certainly needed time after the season to finish it as well.
The September 3 release date may have been the earliest that that Bacon and the publisher could realistically achieve.
August 7th, 2019 at 10:13 AM ^
don't question bacon
Here's the bigger question out of all of this: what will he call his next book about UM football? OT2? Booth Review? Post Season? The Two Minute Drill?
And what about the year we finally win a championship of some kind again (hopefully this year!)?
Like all of us, John’s not getting any younger. I hope this championship comes while John is still above ground, else he’ll need the help of a ghost writer! (I’ll show myself out now.)
Given JUB is in his mid 50’s, I really hope we win the CFB while he’s above ground.
I'm waiting to beat OSU with one foot...... the other on a banana peel. I might not make it another 4 games. : (
August 7th, 2019 at 11:10 AM ^
Given that I'm roughly the same age as JUB, I personally really hope we win the college football playoffs while he's above ground.
Championship= Best
Sorry to spoil it John.
"Keith Jackson is Dead"
-- by John U. Bacon.
The end of the beginning, I hope.
Integrity over wins. Games are things we make up to amuse ourselves, with rules that are totally arbitrary to help keep things level, and championships that usually only approximate the best team. And wins are fun, and some of us get carried away some times in our eagerness to win or root for a winning team. But integrity is part of who we are. Our character.
Despite the cliches of sports writing, you can't often simply decide to win. The other player or team has a lot to say about it, so do many extraneous factors (refs, injuries) and conditions (weather, home field). So does luck, a ball bouncing back to your team or to the other team. But you can decide your character.
You said it better than I did in a perhaps too quick reply above.
Well said
Y-UM from the top rope with the perfect comment.
All was lost for the pre-season top-10 ranked Wolverines, but through his prose, John U Bacon rescued their hopes.
August 6th, 2019 at 10:24 PM ^
John U Bacon probably tastes delicious
August 6th, 2019 at 11:02 PM ^
Only if it's a new BYND recipe.
August 6th, 2019 at 11:35 PM ^
Is WD mentioned in this book again ?
Nope.
August 21st, 2019 at 10:04 PM ^
Thank fucking christ
August 6th, 2019 at 11:50 PM ^
Excited to read it, but with the later release I don't know when I'll find the time. Wish it came out earlier.
August 7th, 2019 at 12:10 AM ^
Yeah it’s strange to me it doesn’t come out in August. Seems like a poor release schedule.
August 7th, 2019 at 12:34 AM ^
Yeah more participatiom trophies
I finished it a couple nights ago. Review in this space in a few weeks.
I thought he jumped the gun with his last book title which included "and the Return of Michigan Football". It hasn't returned yet until at least we beat OSU every half the time.
Did you read any of it past the title? The book is more about how everything went to shit after Bo died and a return to normalcy/stability after RR/Hoke/Brandon.
I can't wait to read Double Overtime!
August 7th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
Subtitled: JT was short!
August 7th, 2019 at 10:12 AM ^
I've enjoyed his other books, will certainly get this one.
If this is half as good as Endzone was, I'm going to love this book. Who else loved the story about Harbaugh on the boat blaring The Victors?
August 11th, 2019 at 9:56 AM ^
good book
August 11th, 2019 at 9:57 AM ^
enjoyed it