Q&A: John U. Bacon On His New Book, Endzone Comment Count

Ace



Pre-order at Amazon or Barnes & Noble (or both!)

Mark the date: September 1, 2015. Two days before the Harbaugh era officially kicks off, John U. Bacon's latest book—Endzone: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Michigan Football—hits the shelves, and it's available for pre-order today on Amazon. In anticipation of the release, Brian asked Bacon a few questions about the book, and his answers should pique the interest of those reading this fine site.

BRIAN: So you have a new book coming out. What is it about? Is it about  anything that may be of interest to the readership of say, this blog?

JOHN U. BACON: Funny you should ask. We think it might well be of interest to Michigan fans in general, and MGoBlog readers in particular, because they seem to care a lot about Michigan football, and this book happens to be about Michigan football. In fact, MGoBlog’s vaunted leader – you – will make more than a few appearances therein, plus Ace, and even a few of your readers. 

More specifically, this is why I think the readership of MGoBlog might be interested in Endzone, from the first draft of the jacket copy:

Endzone: The Rise, Fall and Return of Michigan Football tells the story of how college football’s most successful, richest and respected program almost lost all three in less than a decade – and entirely of its own doing. It is a story of hubris, greed, and betrayal – a tale more suited to Wall Street than the world’s top public university. 

Endzone takes you inside the offices, the board rooms and the locker rooms to see what happened, and why – with countless eye-opening, head-shaking scenes of conflict and conquest. 

But Endzone is also an inspiring story of redemption and revival. When those who love Michigan football the most recognized it was being attacked from within, they rallied to reclaim the values that have made it great for over a century -- values that go deeper than dollars. The list of heroes includes players, students, lettermen, fans and faculty – and the leaders who had the courage to listen to them. 

Their unprecedented uprising produced a new athletic director, and a new coach – the hottest in the land – who vindicated the fans’ faith when he turned down more money and fame to return to the place he loved most: Michigan. 

If you love a good story, you’ll want to dive into Endzone: The Rise, Fall and Return of Michigan Football.

So, there it is. And that’s why I think your readers might be interested. 

So is this a follow-up to your previous books? In what way?

Short answer: Yes, it picks up where Fourth and Long left off. 

Long answer: it gives the reader a deeper understanding of how Michigan football got to where it is today – the bad and the good. Also, Endzone focuses more on the leadership of the athletic department and the university itself than on the team, though we have plenty of interesting stuff from former players, too. 

Because this book focuses entirely on Michigan – unlike Fourth and Long – I have the space to write a better biography of Dave Brandon, to shed more light on how the University administration works with athletics, and to include the eye-witness accounts of the decision-making the past four years, including the hiring of Harbaugh – which is an amazing story in itself. 

You were of course embedded in the locker room for the first book. For the second you were exiled to St. Helena, with nobody in the AD willing to give you any quotes. How difficult has it been to get inside the department this time around? 

I love this blog – and UM fans generally – because when you reference St. Helena, you don’t have to explain it, and your readers don’t have to look it up. That, to me, is the Michigan Difference – or at least one of them. 

Although I obviously wasn’t inside the department during the past four years, it hasn’t been hard getting inside the story, because so many people at all levels of the equation have been willing to speak, many even eager. I’ve sent out fewer emails for interviews than I’ve received. 

My strong sense, from these many conversations, is that they’re not calling to grind their axe but to explain where Michigan went wrong, and what Michigan could easily avoid in the future. I’ve already transcribed over 90,000 words of interviews – the entire “Bo’s Lasting Lessons” was shorter, by comparison – and not one of them wants Michigan to fail. To a person, they love Michigan, they were heartbroken watching the ship start to sink – and they’re relieved to see it back on the rise. 

One simple lesson I’ve already learned: You should not confuse the general with the soldiers. They didn’t always agree, but the soldiers often felt they couldn’t speak up. Now they can. 

Have any stories you might be comfortable relating right now to whet appetites?

Well, my publisher would kill me if I did that. But what the heck! 

By now most fans know the public narrative – and if they didn’t, your rundown last week hit the main events very efficiently – but it’s the stories behind the stories that Endzone will provide, from Brandon’s experience at Domino’s to how he got hired as Michigan’s AD, to his relationship with President Coleman, to how he fired Rodriguez and hired Hoke, to why he didn’t get Harbaugh or Miles, and how he and his staff faced the growing displeasure with his tenure last fall. (Perhaps you’ve read something about this?) 

More specifically, we’ll explore how the Notre Dame rivalry crumbled (not suddenly, as we’ve been told); we’ll explain how the students got the administration’s attention to affect real change; we’ll get to the bottom of the Shane Morris situation; and we’ll spell out how many people worked to get Harbaugh back – from old friends to Regents to Hackett himself, not to mention Jim’s wife Sarah – and how they did it. 

Why didn't you take the best advice I've ever given anyone and name this book "Brandon's Lasting Lessons"?

While I greatly appreciate the best advice you’ve ever given anyone – and feel fortunate to be the sole beneficiary thereof -- if I’d named this book “Brandon’s Lasting Lessons,” it would probably come off as disrespectful to Bo, and maybe just a little sarcastic toward Brandon, too. One reader suggested I title it, “I told you so,” which I thought sort of comes off as an “I told you so.”

Plus -- I hate to tell you -- I will do my best to be as fair to Brandon as I can. I’ve already talked at length to a Regent, a player and others who love him. It’s clear that Brandon was very good on academics, for example, and very popular with many student-athletes. 

That said, I get your point. If you held Bo’s Lasting Lessons in one hand and Endzone in the other, you might think the previous athletic director was consciously trying to do the opposite of Bo’s advice at every turn – and Endzone will address that, too. In fact, your suggested title is the answer to your readers who wonder why we need to know more about this saga: there are lessons to be learned here, lessons that go deeper than just the list of crises, and if Michigan doesn’t learn them, more mistakes will follow. 

Another reason not to title it that: while Brandon is obviously a central figure in this book, the Harbaugh story will comprise the third and final act of Endzone. For once, I’ve got a happy ending to write. 

You do realize that I'm going to call it that anyway?

Yes, you’ve made the very clear. 

No matter what you do? 

Yes, it is understood. 

You can't stop this train, Bacon?

I don’t think that’s a question, is it?

Comments

Yostbound and Down

February 23rd, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^

He was more accurately exiled to Elba...after all, he's not dead yet, and he's making a triumphant return.

 

Also, Harbaugh follows Bacon on twitter. You think he's read any of his stuff over the last few years?

Yostbound and Down

February 23rd, 2015 at 12:56 PM ^

No I was serious...not in terms of whether they talk or anything, they were childhood friends (or allies, in Harbaugh's words). Moreso if Harbaugh had time or interest in reading Bacon's stuff...I would think that would be pretty atypical of a coach.

Obviously Jim was pretty busy at Stanford and San Francisco but I was wondering whether he ever cracked open Three and Out, Fourth and Long, or took a look at any of the blog entries. I'm pretty confident he read Bo's Lasting Lessons...

bmacjr11

February 23rd, 2015 at 1:16 PM ^

Right?!?!  The return?!?!  I am as hopeful as the next person that we will return under Harbaugh, but to publicly release a book already claiming a "return" following our 2014 season and prior to even taking the field as a Harbaugh-coached team is unsettling to me to say the least!

My guess the reasoniing behind this bold of a title is that if/when Harbaugh does restore this program to our normal standards, Bacon may come out of it looking like a genius(I know, a bold title for JUB) where as if we continue to struggle a bit, the book will probably just be a forgotten novelty and he will be hated (worse than he is now)..  So from his perspective, the risk vs. reward seems logical, but from a fans perspective  (at leas my own) I am very uneasy about that title.

bmacjr11

February 23rd, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^

Yeah, I may be reading into it a bit, and I do like "Rebuild" as well.  But I also think, as other posters have said, that there was probably a cognizant reason behind choosing that wording.  I don't know, if I was to publish a book, I would most likely choose a more bold/dramatic wording in my title this day and age to get more readers.

Would the book be as interesting if it were titled "and the hopeful return/rebuilding"?  I would imagine he knew the repurcussions of that bold of a claim.  It certainly seemed to stick out to a bunch of us and got us talking.

Either way, it sounds like we are all on the same page here.. Moving on.

hailtothevictors08

February 23rd, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^

I don't think so. Maybe by a few who don't like people (in the athletic department and this blog) airing dirty laundry about Michigan, but otherwise no. 

 
I have said it before as have many others on this blog. Bacon was one of the very best professors I had in college and he is only after TRUTH, no matter what that truth is. In doing so, he upholds the values we should hold deepest as students/alumni. As he would say, our motto is Artes, Scientia, Veritas. Truth is our motto. 

bmacjr11

February 23rd, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^

I agree, I have no ill-will towards him personally.  I just find that if you don't recognize certain other bloggers views of some analyst/journalist/author that they don't like, you get negged to death. But you are right, I probably went to far to say "hated".

cutter

February 23rd, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^

You are correction about your concern IRT how stating that Michigan has returned is premature.  It reminds me not only of "Return to Glory" about Tyrone' Willingham's first season at Notre Dame, but also the Charlie Weis "No Excuses" book.

I really do hope Jim Harbaugh's hiring means the return of Michigan football to the national stage.  But Bacon seems to be willing to make the same error in judgement that the two authors of the ND books I mentioned above in order to make money.  Let's face it--if for some reason Michigan football doesn't reach the goals a lof of fans envision now that Harbaugh is in charge, Bacon might get some heat for jumping the gun, but he'll already have lined his pockets.

I also have to question the overall timing of the book.  The release date is less than a year after Brandon's firing and I imagine there are still some fairly raw emotions out there about it--that includes the authors of MGoBlog.  I think fans who would be interested in a book about Michigan football's recent history would be better served if we had a two- or three-year hiatus before another lengthy account was published about UM"s football trevails.

In that respect, Bacon's book seems rather self-serving at this point.   I really don't think he has the interest of the university, the athletic department or the current football players in mind here at all.  While he professes his own admiration and appreciation for Michigan and the UM program, I just don't see it here with this latest book based on the Q&A session I read above.

For a man who decries the increasing professionalism in collegiate sports, the writing and publication of the book seems a hypocritical move by Bacon.  Also. like many of the pieces here on MGoBlog itself, there will be no input from the main player himself, i.e., David Brandon.  Will this be the fair accounting that Bacon claims it will be?  I have my doubts.

 

 

 

CompleteLunacy

February 23rd, 2015 at 2:47 PM ^

"For a man who decries the increasing professionalism in collegiate sports, the writing and publication of the book seems a hypocritical move by Bacon."

Yeah, how dare a writer and sports journalist write and publish a book in his area of expertise about events that have happened in the past. Sheesh, what a hypocrit.

YVDS

February 23rd, 2015 at 7:04 PM ^

Cutter, 

I can assure you, JUB's contributions to UofM have been understated.  I've personally witnessed his atruistic contributions and I can assure you many great M men would tell you there's no bigger lover of Michigan. (BO included)  Nobody wanted to listen when Dave Brandon's cracks began to widen, but fortunately JUB owned(s) a platform which enabled him to expose the deep, deep fissures Brandon created at UofM. (megalomania tends to do this btw...Think of Brandon as Brando in Apolcalypse Now...that is, if Brandon were likable, anyway)   

I'm sure JUB must be thrilled for the opportunity to put the unvarnished truth out there about Dave Brandon. (but it's only the truth; truth is stranger than fiction)   DB's misdeeds need to be listed, filed and verified.  Fortunately, for JUB, there is a VERY LONG line of misdeeds and a much longer line of people who are happy to share their personal experiences with DB. (most narcisscists create such antipathy)   I guarantee you that JUB would LOVE to interview and get Dave Brandon's side of the story.  He's publically offered DB to debate his findings previously.  DB has been notably quiet and there've been no lawsuits to date.  Do the math; Wealthy egomaniac+publically slandered= LAWSUIT.  Hasn't happened because his actions were confirmed and were indefensible AND witnessed by many. (publisher has signed witness affadavits)   

I don't know if you have an axe to grind on JUB, but I think, "it's less than a year since DB was fired and there are some really raw emotions out there" is an understatement.  I feel like William Wallace in Braveheart when he screamed, "FREEDOM" or perhaps a guy who's been tazed in perpetuity for the last five years with Douche Brandon holding the taser.  The veil of megolamania has been lifted and theres hope once again for Michigan. (kinda like how Dominos stock rose 950% after DB)  

Sorry for the rant!  Give JUB some credit.  There is NO ONE who has more insight, access and integrity as it relates to Michigan athletics. (as far as journalists go.  Who you gonna trust Rosenberg?)  JUB genuinely fought for the truth, when it was unpopular (early Brandon years) and took his foot off the gas when was popular. (later Brandon years)  Though I think he was likely taking good notes.  

Harbs will have us back in black!  

Go Blue! 



YVDS

 

Baughlieve

February 23rd, 2015 at 4:56 PM ^

Big fan of Bacon's writing style, he could write a book about curling and I would read it. Can't wait for the updated version of Blue Ice. It will be fun to read about Hunwick and that run to the national championship game. 

BTW-John Kryk(author of Natural Enemies) is also writing a book about the Yost era called Stagg vs. Yost: The Birth of Cutthroat Football.

 

 

bigfan2959

February 23rd, 2015 at 12:45 PM ^

Might want to wait a couple years or so before you say the return, assuming he's taking about our old year in and year out winning ways.  We aren't back yet. 

I don't know about anyone else but after the last several years, I need to see it before I believe it. 

Yostbound and Down

February 23rd, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^

I skipped around Fourth and Long a bit...I read the Michigan parts and found the Northwestern parts interesting. Meyer might come off as a little bit less of a sociopath. 

Bill O'Brien seems pretty well respected by Bacon, but he obviously isn't the coach at PSU anymore, and wasn't when I read the book, so I didn't really care about that as much...also because screw Penn State.

CompleteLunacy

February 23rd, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^

"Rebuild' and "Recovery" are both good suggestions, but to me "return" isn't all that strong anyway, at least not in and of itself. We're only grimacing because of the whole "Return to glory" lol ND thing, but this makes no mention about what Michigan is returning to in the title so it's not really that presumptuous to me. I mean, "return" doesn't imply that a destination has been met necessarily. It could mean you are in the process. In the context of what it's referring to, I think "return" means that Michigan has turned a corner and is, at least currently, on the right track to actually regaining its former identity.