In December 2014, the University of Michigan’s storied football program was in shambles. Over the previous eight years, the perennial Big Ten powerhouse had barely risen above the .500 mark. But on December thirty, a savior was proclaimed in new head coach Jim Harbaugh, a former NFL Coach of the Year, larger-than-life personality, and a legendary former All-American Michigan quarterback.
Harbaugh quickly righted the ship, leading the Wolverines to back-to-back ten-win seasons. After a disappointing eight-five season in 2017, Michigan returned to glory in 2018 with a ten-game winning streak that elevated U of M to #4 in the polls.
John U. Bacon, New York Times–bestselling author and “poet laureate of Michigan football” (Joe Drape) offers a thrilling insider’s account of the Harbaugh era, based on unparalleled access, hours of exclusive one-on-one interviews, and his years of deep contacts in the Michigan community. Overtime takes readers inside one of college football’s most revered programs and into the lives of the players, families, and coaches, including Harbaugh; star quarterback Shea Patterson, rival Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, a lightning rod for controversy; and others.
Overtime is a window into big-time college sports, and a legendary coach, that only John U. Bacon could write.
Includes twenty-five color photos.
“A brilliant look into the wild and wonderful world of U.S. college football.” —Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History at Rice University and author of American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race
John U. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller The Great Halifax Explosion and five bestselling books about college football, including Three and Out, Fourth and Long, Endzone, and Bo’s Lasting Lessons, co-authored with Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. A former feature writer for the Detroit News, his writing has been recognized three times in The Best American Sports Writing series. He appears often on NPR and national television, including ESPN’s 2019 documentary series on college football. He has taught at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and the University of Michigan. A popular public speaker, he lives in Ann Arbor with his wife and son.