Hail to the Victors 2022 Comment Count

Seth August 17th, 2022 at 4:11 PM

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY

WHAT?

We made the book! The whole book! You can buy the digital edition right RIGHT HERE, or HERE, or even HERE and start reading it RIGHT NOW (digitally).

coverpdf

You can also RESERVE A PRINT COPY WITH A SHIRT RIGHT HERE but you have to do it *BY NEXT MONDAY, 8/22/2022.* The shirt and hard copy probably can't get to you before the season, but fortunately your order also comes with Digital Edition you can read IMMEDIATELY (ie as soon as I see the order and send you the link).

image

Standalone print copies, if there are any left, will be available when they get in. We're only able to print 1500 copies this year, so there's a very limited supply.

WHAT'S IN IT?

The Enemy

The Team: Brian, Alex and I previewed the team.

The Enemy: Alex, myself, and Official MGoBlog Rutgers Expert Bryan MacKenzie previewed the opponents.

Features:

  • Scott Bell (@sbell021) on how Michigan used the running game to set up more efficient 2nd and 3rd downs.
  • Kyle Jones (@Jones) of 11W on how Mike Macdonald flipped the script on Ryan Day, whodunnit it to Brown, whodunnit it to Urban.
  • Michael Elkon (@BravesAndBirds) on what happens after you make The Playoff.
  • John Behee on the story of Willis Ward, an excerpt from his 1974 book that he's currently updating.
  • Adam Schnepp (@aeschnepp) on how Michigan is approaching NIL.
  • Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics), formerly of PFF, now co-host of the Take the Points Podcast, on how Michigan is incorporating analytics.
  • Ian Boyd (@Ian_A_Boyd) on how Michigan's coverages worked, and how they'll incorporate more Ravens stuff on D.
  • Dr Sap (@DrSap4UM) on Rick Leach, why he's not in the CFB Hall of Fame, and how we fix that.
  • Craig Ross on the 1896 season, the founding of the Big Ten, and the first indoor game.
  • The Roundtable.

WHY ARE YOU PRINTING SO FEW COPIES?

The cost of wood. Securing paper of a high enough quality this year while still keeping the book affordable/profitable was a major challenge. My printing agent, JS Print Group in Duluth, MN, alerted me when enough paper for 1500 copies suddenly became available at a decent rate, and we locked it in. So that's the number.

NO KICKSTARTER THIS YEAR?

No Kickstarter this year. We were too late to handle things and provide the level of service you deserve. For a time it was up in the air if we could get the book done. Then I saw an otter in Lake St. Clair for the first time in my life and I took it for a sign.

And yes, it was totally the otter, and not the "NIL package" from Matt Demorest of HomeSure Lending that got me committed, whatever rumors you might have read on some message board. Where's the proof?

BUT I WANT TO DONATE TO THE BLOG!

image

Donations for the next month will be considered HTTV-related.

THE LINKS AGAIN?

DIGITAL EDITION HERE. $15.

PRINTED COPY+SHIRT+DIGITAL EDITION HERE. $50.

[After THE JUMP: FAQ]

---------------------

WHY IS IT SO LATE?

No good excuses. Not happening again.

HOW DO I GET A PRINT COPY (WITHOUT THE PDF AND T-SHIRT)?

From our store when they get here (probably in 10-12 days).

Once these are at our warehouse, whatever wasn't sold with the shirt package we will make available from our store until they sell out. The reason there's no pre-sale is I don't know if we can get them in and turn them around before the season starts. I would rather people buy them knowing whether or not they'll be late instead of setting up an expectation and not meeting it.

If they're here in time I'll try to have a box at the UM Club of Greater Detroit Kickoff Dinner on the 29th but it'll be a tight thing.

WILL THEY BE IN STORES?

No. I expect them to sell out online pretty soon after they're available.

WILL IT BE ON KINDLE

Yes. Probably in a week.

WHAT'S WITH THE BOOK+DIGITAL+SHIRT PACKAGE?

Screenshot 2022-08-17 112606

It's $50 on our store RIGHT HERE, for now. The deal ends at 11:59 PM next Monday, August 22.

If you get in, you get:

  • Digital Magazine (emailed to you within 48 hrs after placing your order, IE as soon as I see the order come in)
  • Limited Edition T-shirt (as soon as the magazines come in). It's a super soft tri-blend Bella+Canvas shirt (very nice).
  • Limited Edition Physical Magazine (as soon as the magazines come in)

image
Good life advice

We have a very limited number of print copies this year, owing to lateness, supply chain issues, and the staggeringly high cost of paper lately. Also it takes time to print and prepare shirts. So we decided anyone who was going to do the normal $50 package this year should get first crack at reserving a print copy, and while we wait for those to be printed and delivered we could get started on printing the shirts.

CAN I CHOOSE A DIFFERENT SHIRT (LIKE NORMAL?)

Sorry. It's a one-week, one-time deal, and streamlined so we can get these out the door.

OR NO SHIRT?

Ya know, for the hassle it would create, it wouldn't save us that much on our end. If you need to retire an old shirt to make room, Brian recommends throwing out any of those with his face on them.

BUT IT SAYS BY "MIDNIGHT ON 8/22/2022" SO TECHNICALLY…

And yet it will stay open all day Monday. Sorry, can't change the language, but I appreciate your attention to detail.

DO YOU HAVE BACK ISSUES?

A few. UPDATE: No more 2017s or 2016s, very few 2014s, and just turned up a couple of battered 2012s. I have plenty of Hoops & Hockey 2013, HTTV 2013, HTTV 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and Hail to Old Blue is still available from our store. Other than that one, Email me with what you want, but expect a slow turnaround.

THOSE LINKS ONE MORE TIME?

DIGITAL EDITION HERE. $15.

PRINTED COPY+SHIRT+DIGITAL EDITION HERE. $50.

Comments

StephenRKass

August 17th, 2022 at 7:00 PM ^

Normally I'm not in a huge hurry to get HTTV, but not this year. I signed up and paid up and have already received the link, downloaded, and read the roster and Brian's piece on QB on p. 8. If I read an article or two a day, that will space it out all the way through the season opener.

My only additional request:  I think 1500 copies is way too low of a number, but maybe I'm too optimistic. I'd like to know the following:

  • How many copies have you typically printed and sold?
  • Can you post the day and time when you sell out of 1500 copies?

Thanks again for putting this out. I also have to say, I am so very pleased to see the number of articles authored by the one and only Brian Cook.

Chaco

August 17th, 2022 at 7:35 PM ^

Thanks for the work Seth and crew - AND for the reminder (serious!) on the donation option.  I get so much enjoyment out of this blog and feel it is worth supporting.  I hope that you all rake it in.

rob f

August 17th, 2022 at 8:00 PM ^

 

If you need to retire an old shirt to make room, Brian recommends throwing out any of those with his face on them

Hell no, NEVER throwing away my classic Brian M Go Blog t-shirt!!

bossmania

August 17th, 2022 at 8:24 PM ^

Thanks for putting this together. One question, is the book + t-shirt available to ship to Canada? Couldn't find anything on the website about that. Obviously there would be an additional cost, that's fine.

Decatur blue

August 17th, 2022 at 9:11 PM ^

So what do I got to do to get it signed by Blake, how much extra would that cost or have you thought about looping a player in for NIL purposes in the future? 

I know this was cutting it close, but maybe something for the future to include. 

GuloGulo

August 17th, 2022 at 10:25 PM ^

Seth,

Already received the digital copy, just hours after ordering the "Shirt" package. It looks great on the iPad! Thank you and everyone involved for the work that went into this, and you again for everything else that you do. Looking forward to the shirt and the hardcopy (would have been the first that I had missed in a long time, the library would have felt empty somehow). Worth waiting for them, but glad that I pulled the trigger to get "The Content, The Content, The Content" in hand right away!

Rufus X

August 18th, 2022 at 8:12 AM ^

I'm otterly confused...

Sorry if I am just a complete dipshit, but I bought the $50 package but I can see an obvious way to download the pdf (I was promised "immediately!) and I have re-read the entire post several times.  What am I missing?

 

mGo Go Gadget Play

August 18th, 2022 at 8:18 AM ^

IN! 

I was thinking about posting a query to the board about when / if this would happen, but I didn't want to sound like a nag. Just goes to show that if something is irritating you, the best course of action is to suffer in silence until some stranger recognizes your need and solves your problems.

OldBlueVa

August 18th, 2022 at 9:15 AM ^

This sets a great tone for the day. So glad you guys put it together.

BTW my digital edition was available immediately.

Oh, and the cost and availability of paper ... sheesh. I already knew it was bad (work-related insights), but when Britney Spears' memoir is delayed because of a shortage, you know it's a real issue (and arguably a blessing in that instance).

rhenson2000

August 18th, 2022 at 9:38 AM ^

Thanks Seth !  

The only downside is not being able to come and pick up the book and Thank You properly in person. Your dedication is deeply appreciated ! Until next year, Cheers !