The Book Kickstarter Is Here
Seth and Jeremy have outdone themselves. Our annual preview mag is HAIL (to the victors); our championship book is (Hail to the) VICTORS; our mock-up is above. It is a very fancy book.
Our annual HAIL TO THE VICTORS previews are 128 pages of glossy softcover; this is 256 pages in a hardcover book format that is 50% larger. We have spared no expense on paper stock, cover feel, etc. This is as premium as we can ask our printer to make.
This book does not just cover 2023, but goes back to the start of this run in 2021. Inside you'll find:
HOW WE GOT HERE
A new piece from Brian recapping everything that led into the 2021 season.
THE STORY
Brian's season preview "The Story" pieces from 2021, 2022, and 2023, revamped.
GAME BY GAME RECAPS
MGoBlog game columns from 2021, 2022, and 2023 are collected, along with other items, notes, prognostications, visions, dreams, and whatnot. Technical breakdowns of how and why Michigan got to this place are interspersed, with a focus on the bigger games.
NECK SHARPIES
We've selected a few of Seth's detailed breakdowns to highlight the core components of Michigan's title-winning team: duo, the Ravens' amoeba defense, that kind of thing. The meat of the technical knowledge is in here.
ALL THAT NONSENSE
Alex Drain provides an all-new piece on the Connor Stalions tempest, contextualizing in the aftermath of Michigan overcoming all that to win the national championship.
THE YEARBOOK
Every player from the last three years to make an on-field impact is commemorated with all-new writing, from Christian Boivin to Blake Corum. An excerpt on Sherrone Moore will run later today.
PHOTOS
In addition to the photos speckled throughout the book, our photographers have a special section containing their favorite shots from this three-year run.
RUN DO NOT WALK
Kickstarter page is here. The Kickstarter ends at 8PM the day of the Spring Game. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Tell people you have no particular opinion on.
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this BETTER not be a #$^#$% april fool's joke, 'cause i just gave y'all my credit card number.
May your name be inscribed in the book of Victors.
Like the quickness I'm in.
I would buy this purely for Brian's version of how we got here. I hope that part is 50 pages so we can really understand the suck that led to these incredible heights. The emotions of this run are ones that will likely never be felt again by almost the entirety of the fan base
I'm in for this one. Truth be told, I was always interested but never pulled the trigger on HAIL before, because I just assumed that the season would be disappointing in some way, and I didn't want a physical representation of the failure to meet all hopes. BPONE and all that.
This is different. They did that. Business is finished. I want this on my bookshelf, where I can pull it down and reminisce whenever the mood strikes.
430+ Backers and counting have decided to "Pull it down!"
Just over an hour after posting and the Kickstarter has almost 3x the goal with 650+ backers...yeah, I think we're in agreement!
I love your whole comment geoffriau! I regret I have but 1 Upvote to bestow upon it.
While I have myself purchased HAIL pretty much every year, I laughed aloud at recognition of myself in your not wanting the memory of disappointment hanging around!
But yes, they did do that, and yes you will be able to pull this book down whenever you wish!
Now, I'm not smart at Kickstarter, but when I followed the link it showed over $200K had been pledged (of a $50K target). Are no further donations required then? What happens with the overage? Does it count towards purchase price of the book?
Smart people, enlighten me please...
@Schreibee How Kickstarter usually works is a project that needs start-up funds asks their audience to pledge that money up-front and in exchange they get the end product and/or other bonus perks.
So the target is usually set up to be some amount where the creator can say, "It is now feasible and worthwhile for me to make this book/movie/game/invention whatever. Brian's kickstarters always meet their targets and I'm sure that whatever doesn't go directly to making all those extra books, goes to supporting the editors/writers, etc who gave us all of this awesome MgoBlog content in the first place.
Also: If you want the book, go through the Kickstarter and pledge. They usually print some extra copies, but you end up having to go to a local AA spot and hope they didn't sell out. It's so much easier and more convenient through the Kickstarter.
You truly are the finest!
Thanks for taking the time to educate a person who lags far behind on internet participatory projects!
So far they have surpassed North America's projected paper production in 2024.
I'm definitely in but any chance we could know what you project the book to cost? I'm guessing the kickstarter contribution would cover the cost of the book if you pledge enough?
If the dollar amounts and what you get in return are there and I'm missing it can somebody point it out to me?
There are tiers. $150 gets you one copy of the book. $350 gets two copies and two names in the book. $450 gets three copies, two names. $600 gets five copies, two names. You select your tier when you back it.
thank you.
So the cost of the book is $150 and if you contribute that amount to the kick starter then you are guaranteed a copy of the book?
Will there be a chance to purchase the book if you don't contribute to the kickstarter?
I have not used kickstarter before or ever ordered HAIL but I am pretty confident that you will get the book with your pledge.
As for whether there will be an opportunity to order after, maybe but I imagine they will be doing one run on printing based on the number of pledges with as few overs as possible. So if you want to be sure, just do it now.
- All information found here, including any ideas, opinions, views, predictions, forecasts, commentaries, or suggestions expressed or implied herein, are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only and should not be construed as personal investment advice. While the information provided is believed to be accurate, it may include errors or inaccuracies.
Jon Snow knows something.
Haha, they hit the 50% mark ($25k) in about 10 minutes, I think it's safe to say the goal will be met.
They're at 46K now.
Add another $40k in 20 minutes... 86k now.
After 0.9 hours (54 minutes), they have doubled their goal and are north of $100k. We need a gif to represent the Michigan Money Cannon.
Nothing has ever been more apropos of the Mgoblog community than the fact that this book has received 4x the goal (so far, and rising), but the same people say "Wait, we're supposed to pay the players?!"
The Money Cannon is real, but selective...
Its true. Such a large portion would wear a lapel pin that said "Im not paying the players" if such a thing existed. Those times are slowly changing. At $100mil surplus it is VERY stupid to pay a player anything from the fanbase. But we are the people that thought our best baseball coach wasnt worth a $500k investment so who knows.
By the end of this, Brian will be taking his staff and families for an expenses paid visit to Tahiti!
I'd have no qualms about my purchase if he did -- but I suspect the per-book production costs are going to be pretty high. Limited-production-run printing is expensive. :)
Is $50K / $150 the ballpark break even number of backers.....?
I'd assume it reaches the minimum order that the printer can economically fulfill. Going over that minimum presumably improves the economy of scale and brings down the per-unit cost. Up to a point of course....I hope we don't totally overwhelm the printer; the Kickstarter is at 600% of its goal with 18 days left!
WAHOO!!! Let's GO!
Seth and Brian, Any stretch goals?
New MGoBoard hosting software?
Patrick Barron never-before-seen OMG Shirtless photo collection $1M stretch goal
Approaching $40k of $50k goal within the first 20 minutes. I think we might hit the goal. Fingers crossed
If there was ever any doubt about how much people wanted this. The kickstarter has almost already hit its goal 20 minutes after posting lol.
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY. ALL OF IT.
TAKE MY MONEY, PLEASE
Aaaaand we're done. Can't wait!
Goddmanit. That's a lot of money for a book. So now I'm going to try and find ways to justify buying it for the next 18 days then eventually just breakdown and buy it at the last minute and not tell my wife. And I new skis for the kids. Sorry kids.
Buy it. Don’t over think it. It will stay with you forever. National championships are rare. This era of excellence is rare. Having a professionally produced contemporary history of the period from the definitive source for college football fandom is something you will look back on in 20 years with profound feelings of nostalgia and contentment. That is priceless.
You stole the words out of my mouth, no way I can justify this with my wife on two educator incomes, but I'm gonna buy it anyways!!!
My wife and I have an understanding that book purchases lie outside of our budget considerations. It has generally been a positive for enriching our lives, but a negative for space around the home.
We have that rule in my house as well. But the unspoken rule for that is that it generally involves books purchased at our excellent used book store in town. Not. leather bound type books that go along with rich mahogany.
Where are you teaching? My wife and I pull 200-220k per year teaching in Michigan. Might be worth considering going somewhere that values you financially.
Both you and your wife make $100k teaching? Congratulations. I'm serious -- that is good and appropriate.
However, let me just say quite a few school districts in Michigan don't pay near that amount and even if they do or are close to it, times are tough in certain places (e.g., both Ann Arbor and Westland, to name two, are facing significant cutbacks due to budget mistakes by their boards / exec admin). So like any profession, teachers contain multitudes.
Yep, likewise gotta check with the wife for this purchase, but I know what she's gonna say because she's as far deep into M football as me. :)
SAME. And I doubt there will be any chance of getting a digital copy or a 2nd run print for a cheaper price. I know for an absolute certainty that it would be worth every penny, I just don't have that many pennies at the moment. Travel volleyball season is a bitch.
Anyone wanna grab two books and ship me one? (kidding, but only kinda)
I'm the wife in my home, and I was in on the kickstarter as soon as it popped up. No need to ask the husband, right? Right.
It took 20 min hahahaha
Spend that Birthday money early and hopefully have this in time for the actual day
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