A football franchise as unique as the Edmonton Eskimos deserved unique recognition.
That’s where Grant Lovig came in. Recognizing that the team’s legacy had never been totally chronicled in one publication, the former publisher of the successful family-run Company’s Coming cookbook series set about to fill the void.
To say the limited edition, hard cover final product is spectacular would be an understatement.
Start with writer Terry Jones, whose 45-years of reporting on the team brings experience second to none.
Flip open the cover and see authentic photo reproductions of the team’s 14 Grey Cup rings. Go through the book to see stories on all teams that have been in the championship game.
There’s pages that chronicle the careers of all Eskimos Wall of Honour players.
There’s copies of personal letters from players inserted right into appropriate sections, enhancing the sense of history.
Since fans are always an important part of the picture, there’s an entire section of fan photos, creating a historical record they and their grandchildren can look at.
There’s even a standalone record book tucked into a pocket in the back cover, something usually only available in the team’s media guide, and many more small touches that are sure to give years of enjoyment.
Weighing in at 10 pounds (4.54 kg), the Epic Legacy of the Edmonton Eskimos delivers on its original concept as a totally immersive experience.
“Nowhere did it come together for the benefit of fans for generations to come,” said Lovig, whose idea was totally embraced by the Eskimos. “The concept came to me from a friend in Australia. There’s a publisher there doing something similar for Aussie Rules football teams quite successfully.”
The reaction when Lovig showed the Aussie Rules books to people here convinced him it was a project that could work in Canada.
“When I got all these wows, I though to myself ‘something’s going on here,’ ” said Lovig, who ran with the project by himself after five years out of the publishing business. “On my way to the Eskimos office, I thought to myself if the history of the Eskimos had not been fully published, what a shame.
“Any pro sports team is going to have its die-hard fans. They need to get this story done. Wouldn’t it be good if I could do some good and that’s what I set out to do.”
The difference is that the Eskimos are not just any other pro sports franchise and there was a gold mine of stories that were already told, but needed to be compiled in light of the team’s latest Grey Cup victory.
“I wanted to try the concept and wondered where I should go,” said Lovig. “I thought about one of those big U.S. teams or big eastern Canadian teams. It would have been real hard to do far away from home. I really wanted to start with my home-town team.”
There were challenges for the printers with the innovative presentation, including personal letters from eight former Eskimos players.
“They had to open up and slide in,” said Lovig. “At first, they didn’t know how they were going to do it. We got into the engineering of it all. We did things like that to set the book apart, to make it interactive, something you could really engage with.
“It’s a shame people can’t get this, so I thought I’d give it to him and the club was totally behind it,” said Lovig. “The fan photo upload pages … I had people ask me at the games while I was showing the prototypes, some people asked me if they could put pictures of their kids in. I said please do. Imagine, in 50 years your kids will lift up this book and see a picture of you with your kids. Take them with you because this is for generations.
“I really think it will be kept in families for generations to come.”
The book sells for $249 plus shipping and tax. It can be ordered here. Enjoy.