Update(s) on The Longhorn Alphabet
We're four weeks-ish out from showtime.
Inside Texas posted a hilarious Man on The Street Video last week which highlighted how many current UT students need The Longhorn Alphabet: Texas Football A to Z. The helpful timeline at the beginning will allow them to brush up on their history.
It’s been an incredible two weeks since Longhornalphabet.com went live and I can’t thank all of you enough for your support. First, we launched pre-orders for The Longhorn Alphabet: Texas Football A to Z and they’ve been awesome. Thank you so much to all who have purchased or plan on purchasing. For the skeptics out there, I hope you’ll look past your objections about me personally and think about that Aggie coworker who annoys you and buy this book for his kids. I’ve also gotten some commitments from some great retailers who will carry the book locally. The Co-Op will bring it on before football season, which is huge. Last, I had to make a last-second adjustment before the book started being printed so I could add my third kid and second daughter’s name to the book (she was born on 2/10… both her and Skoal Sista are doing great). I didn’t want Numero Tres to feel left out and that be the reason she cited for why she went to OU in 18 years.
Anyone who has bought already or buys from my website directly between now and the 21st will see 10% of their purchase donated to Derrick Johnson’s Defend the Dream Foundation. I wrote about DJ’s foundation a few months ago. They’re actively seeking partners for their next library renovation coming in May and this donation will go towards that. DJ and his foundation director Ken were instrumental in validating this project when I connected with them in July and I cannot thank them enough. But, I also believe in what they’re doing immensely.
All the pre-orders are helpful because it allows me to pull the trigger on another print run sooner rather than later. I have an audacious goal for this book, to sell as many copies as there are butts that can fit into seats at DKR. There are many reasons for that goal, and I’m sure one of them is plainly obvious. But I also believe the book will spark connection between families and friends (and hopefully a lifelong love of reading and sports) which will all last longer than a kid’s book will sit on someone’s bookshelf. Some cool features about the book that complement that notion are the few pages at the back for kids to write their favorite Texas Football Memories, plus an autographs page.
If you have purchased for your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews and haven’t downloaded the coloring book pages - do it! It’s a great way to get hyped. Tag your kids masterful creations on Instagram #thelonghornalphabet. If you didn’t get the pages, shoot me an email at hello@longhornalphabet.com.
I am going to try and do a few events around the time of book launch, so be on the look-out for that. As always, you can find my writing about the Longhorns, sports and fandom here or on InsideTexas.com. Those who are subscribed to Dance With Who Brung Ya have been with me for a long time and I appreciate that so much, I hope you’ll share the book’s link with whoever in your life you think would enjoy it.
Texas played their first game at Memorial Stadium in 1924.
That man-on-the-street bit made me sad! That there are UT students who didn’t know who Earl is!