HTTV 2021: Let's Do It Anyway!
As you’re all aware by now, we’ve been running a little short-staffed on the football beat, let alone the annual all-hands-on-deck project. But we haven’t failed to put out a book since I made it and this my full-time job. So I put it to you, the same way we did nine books ago:
Let’s Kickstart HTTV 2021.
Yes, it’s a lot later than our usual production schedule. No, there was nothing we learned from spring practice. No, we didn’t learn that much from last year, either. No, nobody in the Editor’s roundtable at the end is predicting Michigan wins the Big Ten this time. Yes, Craig Ross is still going on about the 1890s. Also we’re running this short—you only have 10 days to get in on the Kickstarter. Also: no,
I cannot guarantee you will get your physical copy before the season. We are doing everything we can to get this out much faster than usual. The printer in Minneapolis is going to meet me half-way in Chicago, and we’ll mail them from our warehouse in Ann Arbor the same way we do our shirts. This means skipping media mail so we can use a faster, more reliable, and far more expensive (for us) mailing option.
It also means I’m doing a limited print run so that orders don’t get backed up. We will also try to have in-person pickup options again—plan on Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Beulah up north, at the very least. Everyone will get an electronic version by the beginning of August. You can also purchase an electronic-only option, which costs the same but doesn’t have shipping costs.
Also, no, Brian could not participate this year, though the previews are still largely informed by his analysis. If you’re still in…
Come get your books here! Here! Here! Not Here! But Definitely Here!
[Jump for what’s inside]
THE WINNINGEST MICHIGAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW AND FEATURE MAGAZINE IS BACK
128 pages, no ads, no filler, no stuff we've ever published before, and 120 of those pages won't make you sad about Michigan football. The first half is a comprehensive preview of the team and their opponents by the expert and irreverent staff of MGoBlog, who are guaranteed to be 100% more accurate about who Michigan is playing this year! Alex Drain and I tackled the positional previews and recruiting, and…
…divided up the opponent previews, with our official Rutgers Correspondent Bryan MacKenzie in charge of the Fightin’ Schianos. We’ve also updated the stat boxes:
After Maryland, there are four pages on Ohio State you can skip to get to the features, which were written by some of the best writers in the Michigan media sphere, and should still be worth reading long after you find out how wrong we all were in the first 70 pages. They are:
TWISTED BLUE STEEL
Breaking the Wheel
How did we end up with a systemic college football oligarchy of perennial playoff contenders? How does the present compare to other times in history when talent accumulated at the top? Can recent changes like open transfers, NIL, and the possibility of an extended playoff create more parity, or if not, get Michigan back in the club? By Michael Elkon
Just Me Tonight
What kind of kid does it take to become a five-star quarterback, and why would he want to come to Michigan? We talk to the family and coaches of JJ McCarthy to understand what makes this guy go. By Ethan Sears
TECHNICAL DOSSIER
Three Under Center The x's and o's wonk who has broken down a lot of Big 12 offense looks at Michigan's personnel to explain what they really want to be, and how the skills of each of their quarterback options might fit in that scheme. By Ian Boyd
The Multiple Defense Clues from the spring and the last few Ravens defenses are used to piece together what Mike Macdonald is trying to do with Michigan's defense, what principles it's working under, and what they're looking for to run it. By Seth Fisher
TALES FROM OLD BLUE
Finding Yost The author of two books on Yost and one on the history of Black athletes at the University of Michigan shares the complicated story of where Yost came from, where he got his ideas, what experiences shaped him on his way to Ann Arbor, and how all of that--good and bad--translated into the athletic program he built there. By Dr. John Behee
Rise, Men of the West Our serial epic on the early years of Michigan football continues into 1895, as Michigan and its administrators try to decide football's place in campus life, and whether they should continue to pursue their Ivy League dreams or join a new conference forming in the Midwest. By Craig Ross
Sweet Dreams We've waited long enough to tell the oral history of the 2011 Sugar Bowl from the guys who participated in it: Jordan Kovacs, Roy Roundtree, Craig Roh, and Denard Robinson share their version of that blessed season and goofy BCS bowl victory. By Adam Schnepp
Plus an editors roundtable that will be at least 75% wrong and 25% spicy.
THE SHIRT
After last season's debacle and this season's uncertainty, we decided to just stick to the facts.
At least we can't argue about this. But if you don't think your torso can handle the hard truths, we'll have a selection of our old shirts you can choose from, including: Ypsi-Arbor, Feel Nothing, Space, and Shoelace.
The shirts are the same fancy, cotton Bella Canvas kind we switched to last year.
Consume! Consume! Consume! and Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! If you back us every year because you think you can tell the content is different from anything else like it, I will not let you down.
MonuMental is a steely eyed missile man.
High praise. John Aaron is a hero of mine!
Thanks Seth and crew for tirelessly putting out this preview book even in the face of a pandemic, short staff, depressing recent history of the program, and frustrating era of OSU and SEC dominance. I have a hard copy from every year since you guys started these and they are prominently displayed in my man-cave.
On a serious note, is Brian okay? I know he went through a rough time during the pandemic and I know this program is not exactly something that motivates you to get up and publish content....but I had assumed the lack of non-MattEM content lately was due to the focus on HTTV. If he's not contributing to that I'm hoping that he's okay and still plans to be a major contributor to this awesome site & community.
I think Brian's personal status is Brian's business to share. Long-term no change--this isn't about the blog or the community or Michigan football (mostly--I mean no more than the rest of us). Short-term he's going to take a break and I'll be running things.
oh, my.
brian, whatever is happening, i sincerely wish health, happiness, and safety to you and your family.
Well, I've been irritated with Brian's BPONE and stated so in the past. I now see that I was being a bit of a a graceless jerk without thinking there might be other issues besides football that can affect someone. For that I apologize and hope his time away helps him.
Respect to you for that, sir.
Best wishes to Brian as well. I miss his spectacular writing which drew me to MgoBlog 16 years ago.
Same here. Brian's writing hooked me beginning with Flight Aware updates re: RR.
Stay healthy & safe, Brian!
Seth,
Understanding better now just how short staffed you are, I want to say that you have been doing a phenomenal job. It is amazing to know that without Brian or Ace, you are getting out the annual preview, still getting out some great content from Matt and now Brendan and still finding time to write some very good stuff of your own.
Thanks for holding down the fort and keeping the community that is MgoBlog going,
Brian is an important person to many people. Thanks for all you do Seth. MGoBlog is a great place.
Do we know what's going on with Brian? This is the second time I'm seeing Seth refer to him being out, and I don't know I've seen an explanation. Not that we necessarily are owed one, just wondering if it's been mentioned somewhere and I missed it.
I don’t know. This is consistent with Brian being very quiet during the last WTKA MGoBlog round table. I hope he’s OK. Daily blogging for 10+ years can really wear someone down.
Shhhhh. You're asking too many questions that he can't answer from my shed.
Thanks for putting this together, Seth. One of the highlights of the summer, even with all that's going on with the program. I wonder if this is the year to revisit the basketball/hockey HTTV idea for later in the year? I'd definitely purchase one.
Best wishes to Brian, hope he's doing ok.
Thanks Seth and everyone for all the hard work in still putting this together! Just wondering, can we still expect to pick up a physical copy in AA (UGP, etc.) with the later schedule?
Echoing everyone in best wishes to Brian – it's the least we can do for the hundreds of thousands of words he's given us over the years.
Probably at UGP. Yes at an event for KS backers.
Big thanks to you guys and the team here at MGoBlog. Even in the worst or most turbulent times, HTTV is a welcome and comforting read in the dredges of summer. Mad props for getting this out the door despite all the challenges with the site, the staff, and the team itself. Cannot repeat it enough that you guys earn those dollars every year and the magazine is always superbly crafted.
Hope all is well and that you guys get some time to enjoy yourselves and relax this summer!
Excited to have the PDF version in my greedy little hands just in time for my week off work.
Good vibes to BC.
Here’s to hoping Brian is well and preparing to run for Ann Arbor City council when the conclusion of a recall campaign of a certain current member comes.
I’m only 5% kidding.
Seriously - eff that guy, he's a walking talking internet comments section with zero value-add to the city.
(the council member, not Brian, obsv.)
Seth, I'm with you on the shirt, but I'll do you one better. If asked, "Present a scenario where Michigan beats Ohio State last year," here you go:
On a rainy, cold day, Michigan comes out with Dan Villari under center in a double wishbone running the triple option. This takes Ohio State completely by surprise and Michigan scores touchdowns on their first 3 possessions while academy style killing the majority of the clock. Ben Mason has 17 carries for 55 yards and 2 TDs. Meanwhile, Ohio State has 2 drives end in fumbles that go right to a Michigan player for an easy recovery, one drive go 3 plays 80 yards for a TD, and miss a FG. Michigan botches a 2 minute drill and their final drive of the half ends on the OSU 45 with 2 timeouts still remaining.
In the second half...you know what, I just can't do it. It would have been an 80-3 beating at best. The only thing possible in the last paragraph was the last sentence.
You just answered one of the roundtable questions.
When you do the handoff in Chicago, if you could use a break before turning around & driving back, some of us around here might be able to meet you & pick up our copies.
Happy to save you an envelope & postage and get our books a little early at the same time!
Seconded. Happy to BYO Deep Dish, tavern-cut, beefs, sausages, or combos.
Ignorant non-Chicaoan question... exactly how would you tavern cut deep dish? I know it's common in Chicago (and objectively wrong, since they also do it in Columbus) to square cut the regular thin crust pizza that most people eat but I gotta think that's a logistical challenge to do that for a Malnati
You wouldn't. Tavern pizza is different from deep dish.
E: Eater Chicago has a solid explanation of the differences between (and origins of) the two styles.
Yeah, us Chicagoans eat a lot more tavern cut than we do deep dish. I was listing the 5 basic Chicago food groups above.
I think I would be down for that.
When you do the handoff in Chicago
What does Seth look like to you, a tight end??
Brian, whatever's going on, I wish you and your family all the best! We'll be here for you when you get back!
You can also purchase an electronic-only option, which costs the same but doesn’t have shipping costs.
Maybe next year you can offer a third option: injection straight into my veins.
With or without MGoMicrochips?
With, of course. I want the full experience.
I want the extra MGoMicrochips option
Careful. You will become magnetic to the Big House.
How about an audio book version read by James Earl Jones?
2022 HTTV Kickstarter Stretch goal? that would be awesome ?
While it used to be 30 videos in 30 days "Countdown to Kickoff" that was the light at the end of the off-season tunnel, now its Hail to the Victors book that signals the end of the drought. More than happy to back this year after year.
Unfortunately I have to go with "delivery" as with current border rules I won't be able to come down from Canada to pick one up, and who knows, maybe not even see a game live this year.
Also, I have a spare 2014, 2015, 2016 HTTV handy, so if anyone is missing one of those years and its driving them nuts to have that gap in their bookshelf, hit me up in a reply and we'll see about coordinating a send to you. No cost of course.
Go Blue!
I need to find someone to smuggle them in. Too bad I won't have the books in time when sap comes into town. If you are willing to sail out into Lake st. Clair I can meet you halfway and throw it at you.
I appreciate the offer to meet to grab it, but I think I'll stick with the delivery for this year. Who knows whats gonna go on with the border over the next few months and "variants" popping up.
Just hoping to get to see a game this year in the Big House, last year was not possible (fortunately....) would love to at least see 1 this year, goal is 2.
Seth... you have my email. Any help I can be, just let me know. I'm AA adjacent and have a very free schedule. I'd love to give back.
Don’t know if you’re gonna see this, but it would be my pleasure to take those extra copies of past years off your hands :)
Seth, you're a freaking machine my man!
I hope Brian takes the time he needs and feels better. He’s a brilliant guy and his work has meant a lot to so many people. And thank you, Seth, for all the work you’re doing these days. That also means a lot
well said - many thanks to seth, too.
I've been more than pleased to sponsor HTTV at the "The Sponsor" level for the past five years or so.
Considering the amount of time I spend on this blog...and the entertainment and information value it provides...it's the least I - and many others - can do.
All the best to Brian and wishing he overcomes whatever struggles he is currently facing.
Getting Rick-Rolled in 2021 feels like still getting stuffed in the same locker at your high school 10yr reunion... When will I ever see it coming? (Well done Seth)
I thought my instructions were clear.
Comments