John U. Bacon, author of "Endzone: The Rise, Fall and Return of Michigan Football" (St. Martin’s Press), has a sports story to tell – one that transcends victories, losses and on-field strategies.

Bacon's national bestseller describes the low point and, more importantly, the resurgence of Michigan football. The author returns to Traverse City for a National Writers Series presentation at 7pm on Thursday, Dec. 3, at the City Opera House. A longtime observer of Michigan sports, Bacon has a strong connection to Northwest Michigan.

“My parents have a place in Torch Lake,” he says. “I used to go to hockey camp in Traverse City and play hockey at the old Glacier Dome. I always went to Bardon’s Wonder Freeze. The whole area is a wonderful, hardworking place where your word has to be good.”

Ahead of his TC appearance - as well as today's (Saturday's) big Michigan-Ohio State match-up - Bacon spoke with The Ticker about Jim Harbaugh's coaching performance, how this year's squad compares with past teams, the impact of athletic directors Dave Brandon and Jim Hackett and the "religion" of Big Ten football.

The Ticker: Probably the question our readers are most interested in is new Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh. Is he living up to the hype?
John Bacon: By any reasonable standard, Harbaugh has greatly exceeded all expectations. He’s turned it around faster than anyone would have predicted. The team is tougher mentally and physically.

The Ticker: With a record – before the Ohio State game – of 9-2 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten games, how would you compare this year’s team with last year’s squad?
John Bacon: This team has arguably less talent than last year’s 5-7 team [coached by Brady Hoke]. That’s coaching.

The Ticker: Michigan now has an interim AD – former business executive Jim Hackett. How’s that working out?
John Bacon: I’d say he’s doing well. He brought in Harbaugh and brought in Nike, which is a big deal for fans and players. Beyond that, I’d say he’s in a holding pattern. He’s not making any sweeping changes.

The Ticker: You write about the failures and ultimate departure of former Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon. What did Brandon bring to the job, and what did he lack?
John Bacon: He brought business experience to the job. And there’s no doubt he loves Michigan. He gave Domino's Pizza [where he was CEO] a 500 percent return on their investment. At Domino's, he operated on the theory, “if it ain't broke, fix it.” He brought that idea with him. Maybe that would work out at a different time and place. Also, he had no experience in running athletics.

The Ticker: What’s Brandon’s legacy?
John Bacon: He inherited a gold plate department. But when he left it was in trouble in almost every way except ethically. 

The Ticker: Were there other – let’s say structural – reasons for the crisis?
John Bacon: Absolutely. The move away from experienced people to inexperienced AD’s, for example. Also the way Michigan had pulled away from a system of checks and balances. So Dave [Brandon] basically had carte blanche with no official pushback.

The Ticker: What’s wrong with using a business model for an athletics program?
John Bacon: I love Michigan football. But the goal isn’t the maximization of profits. Also consider the skyrocketing salaries for coaches. And I’ve seen student athletes’ welfare being neglected at times.

The Ticker: What’s good about Michigan sports?
John Bacon: Many student athletes wouldn’t be able to attend school without the scholarship program. I’d say Big Ten football does bring us together, and how many things do people do together these days? I’d even say there’s a spiritual element to all of this. In some senses it’s more a religion than a business.

Tickets for An Evening With John U. Bacon start at $15 and can be purchased at the City Opera House, by phone at 231-941-8082 or online.