Getting back to the actual question asked in the O.P., does anyone have a list of the dates that the game hints for past years have been released?
EDIT:
Did some investigating myself:
2012 (Kickoff Date: 1/7/12) =
1st Game Hint (12/02/11)
2011 (Kickoff Date: 1/8/11) =
1st Game Hint (12/21/10),
2nd Game Hint (1/4/11)
2010 (Kickoff Date: 1/9/10) =
1st Game Hint (12/24/09),
2nd Game Hint (1/6/10)
2009 (Kickoff Date: 1/10/09 ) =
1st Game Hint (12/4/08),
2nd Game Hint (12/11/08),
2008 (Kickoff Date: 1/12/08) =
1st Game Hint (12/15/07),
2nd Game Hint (12/21/07),
3rd Game Hint (1/02/08)
2007 (Kickoff Date: 1/13/07) =
1st Game Hint (12/21/06)
2006 (Kickoff Date: 1/7/06) =
1st Game Hint (12/23/05)
2005 (Kickoff Date: 1/8/05) =
1st Game Hint (12/30/04)
2004 (Kickoff Date: 1/10/04) =
1st Game Hint (1/6/04)
I can't find the date for the 2003 game hint, though.