Ty Reads "Overtime"

As I wrote last week, I am catching up on some books that I have long wanted to read, and now since I have more than ample time, I just furnished a second one that I have had on my shelf for a few moments. Now, I have been waiting to read this book because I knew I would breeze through it, and I wanted to read it when I was feeling down.Lately I have been feeling a little blue, due to the pandemic, we all go through ebbs and flows with this thing I imagine, so I finally read John U Bacon's book "Overtime".

This book is about, and most definitely for, Michigan Wolverines football fanatics. For those that may not know, Bacon is the consummate author on all things Michigan football, at least for me and my dad. He has written so many books about the Wolverines. He even makes a comment about it in "Overtime". He wrote the last book Bo ever published, or had published. He wrote about the turmoil surrounding the Rich Rodriguez era. Basically, he has seen it all since he was a student and now teacher at the University of Michigan. He's been around for the super high highs and very low lows. "Overtime" solely focuses on the 2018 team, one of their better teams in recent memories, and the things the families, players, coaches and staff all go through for that season. It was an amazing, amazing read. Now, full disclosure, this book is a book for Michigan fans. It is written by a Michigan football fan for Michigan football fans. It is very big on paying lip service to the school, the team and the players and staff. I knew that going in, and of course, I loved every single word of the book. That being said, Bacon does talk about some of the things in Harbaugh's past that have upset Michigan fans. He talks about the down year he had in year three. He mentions that Michigan wasn't always the gold standard academic school that it is now. And of course he talks about the downfalls against the higher regarded NCAA football teams, especially that one that resides in that hellhole known as Columbus Ohio. While Bacon is a Michigan Man, he is not afraid to point out the downfall and the problems. But picking 2018 was a great choice. I am sure it was dumb luck, but still, perfect. This was a team that was considered middle of the road starting the season, lost an opener at Notre Dame, rattled off ten straight wins, including demolitions of MSU, PSU and Wisconsin, and then the blowout at the hands of the University of Ohio State at the end of the season and the blowout defeat to Florida in the pointless Peach Bowl. This team started slow, rose all the way to the number 4 ranking in the country, seemed destined to make the playoff, only to end the season with a thud and end right where they started. This team was also full of big time recruits with interesting, and different personalities. Bacon got to interview the soft spoken, yet number one overall recruit in 2016, Rashan Gary. He's a good kid. He got plenty of time from Chase Winovich, who is just a ball of energy. His interviews were at times hilarious, filthy and wild. Devin Bush Jr proved to be one of the most determined individuals that I have ever read about. John Wangler and Joe Hewlett had to step out of their dads shadows, and they did in their very own unique way. Grant Newsome's story is heartbreaking, yet has a great ending. It should be made into a movie. Reading Karan Higdon's interviews, and hearing his full story, it made me love him even more than I already do. I will forever root for him. I loved Noah Furbush's story, and while he has had to deal with some real disappointment, that kid is going to do something special in the near future. The little stuff they got with Shea Patterson was an interesting read. All the player interviews were great. So were the coaches. Everyone and their mom knows and has an opinion on Jim Harbaugh, but Bacon showed me a whole different side of him that made me respect him more. I now love Don Brown as much as Karan Higdon, and I will defend him to anyone that bad mouths him. The staff that works for the school, the unnamed people, man do they put in crazy hours and get zero attention. They do wonders. The same thing with the recruiting staff, and what they have to go through, especially trying to get top flight recruits to come play at Michigan, but also make sure they do it the right way, and that the kids have the grades to get in. Michigan is a HARD school to get in to.

While the book focused on the 2018 season, and there is a chapter for each game, this book more focuses on the outside stuff. The stuff that goes into getting the team to buy into culture, school, coaching, bonding, all the stuff we don't get to see. Bacon got all the behind the scenes stuff that I have always craved. This is the stuff I like to read about. I like knowing everything that goes into making a football team this good, this prepared and this fun. Also, this book made me realize that maybe I should stop yelling at my TV when a player drops a ball or misses a tackle. These kids are doing their very best. I mean, I can't promise I won't yell at the TV when/if there is a season, but hopefully I will think back to reading this book and give it a second thought.

I was predisposed to liking this book, and I loved it. I cannot recommend this book, or anything John U Bacon has written about the Michigan Wolverines, enough. "Overtime" is a beautiful behind the scenes retake of a solid college football season. Check it out, especially if you are a Michigan fan. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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