And we're under way

The players reported yesterday, the first team training table was devoured last night, and the first practice was held today. Things are moving forward in the Rich Rod-era. This is always an exciting time of year for the team. In his book, Bo's Lasting Lessons, Coach Schembechler described in Chapter 7 (Lay Down Your Laws) how he conducted the opening of Fall Camp. Coach Schembechler wrote that his typed outline for the first team meeting of Fall Camp listed 23 categories of expectations with 197 bullet points under those categories. Bo described that when the players walked in, they picked up a thick Michigan football binder with everything they needed to know to be a Wolverine inside. Bo wrote that instead of spoon feeding them the opening speech by printing it out, he had the players write down everything he said so they would remember it. Bo stated that the thrust of all his rules was simple: There is a right way and a wrong way to do everything, and at Michigan Football they were going to do everything the right way. Bo wrote that the first meeting usually took about two hours. He stated in that first meeting, they defined who they were, where they were going, and how they were going to get there-and that's exactly what happened. Hopefully, Coach Rod's initial meeting with the entire 2008 team followed the same guidelines. Go Blue!

The 39-year war vs. OSU

The 2008 season marks the 40th season since Coach Schembechler took over as Head Coach of the Wolverines in 1969 and ushered in the modern-era of Michigan Football. In the book Bo's Lasting Lessons, Coach Schembechler wrote (at page 30):

From the very start, my entire focus was to beat Ohio State. That was a tall order, because they were the returning national champs, ranked number one in the nation, and had just beaten Michigan the year before, 50-14.

Coach Schembechler, of course, led his first team to a dominating 24-12 victory over the Buckeyes in the 1969 game. That contest was the first of the "Ten Year War" between Michigan Head Coach Schembechler and Ohio State Head Coach Woody Hayes. Bo got the best of Woody in the "Ten Year War" as Michigan went 5-4-1 vs. Ohio State from 1969-1978. For his career, Bo was 11-9-1 against the Buckeyes. Bo was followed as Michigan's Head Coach by Gary Moeller who had a sterling 3-1-1 record vs. Ohio State from 1990-1994. Coach Moeller was succeeded by Coach Lloyd Carr who went 6-7 vs. OSU (after starting 5-1 in his first 6 seasons). That means the Wolverines have a 20-17-2 record in the series vs. Ohio State during the modern-era (1969-present).

Although new Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez is familiar with the rich history surrounding the rivalry with OSU, Coach Rod has a different approach to the game than did Coach Schembechler. During his press conference at the Big Ten Media Days, Coach Rod was asked about the rivalry game vs. OSU and he stated (at the 17:00 mark), "I'm not the kind of coach that has a countdown to a particular game. Other than the game that is next." Coach Rod went on to remark (at the 18:25 mark), "We talk about it but nothing in particularly significant for just one team all the time." This is a markedly different approach than what Coach Schembechler took in 1969 and succeeding seasons. At the Monday (November 13, 2006) Press Conference the week of the 2006 Michigan/Ohio State game, when Bo was asked how much he would prepare to play Ohio State, he responded, "Every day. It was our strategy here at Michigan to do something to beat Ohio State every day, and even if it's in the first meeting to talk about it. But we're going to do something every day." Of course, Bo's approach was extremely successful in 1969 and subsequent seasons. Hopefully, Coach Rod's low-key approach will yield just as successful results in the rivalry game vs. Ohio State. To read more about the Michigan/Ohio State rivalry, you can go to the site Greatest Rivals which was just added to the blog roll. Go Blue!

Michigan was the cradle of coaches during the Bo-era

During his 21-year tenure (1969-1989) as the Head Coach at Michigan, Bo Schembechler always had excellent assistant coaches to help him with the team. Coach Schembechler was not only a great teacher to his players, but also to his assistant coaches. Under Bo, Michigan became the cradle of coaches. Twelve (12) of Coach Schembechler's assistant coaches went on to head coaching positions at major college programs. In fact, several of the coaches went on to achieve great success in their own programs. Three of the assistants have won a National Championship as head coach (i.e., Bill McCartney 1990 @ Univ. of Colorado; Lloyd Carr 1997 @ Michigan; & Les Miles 2007 @ LSU). Additionally, two others have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (i.e., Jim Young in 1999 & Don Nehlen in 2005). Following is a brief profile of each assistant coach under Bo who went on to be a head coach at a major college program:

• Jim Young (Michigan asst. coach: 1969-1972)

Coach Young was the first of Bo's assistant coaches to leave the Michigan program to become a head coach. Originally, Coach Young came with Bo to Michigan from Miami (OH) University in 1969. Coach Young was the Wolverines' Defensive Coordinator for Bo's first four seasons. Coach Young left to become the Head Coach at the University of Arizona in 1973. When he went to the Univ. of Arizona, he brought fellow assistant Larry Smith along with him to serve as his Defensive Coordinator. After four seasons leading the Wildcats, Coach Young returned to the Big Ten Conference when he became Purdue University's Head Coach in 1977. Coach Young led the Boilermakers from 1977-1981. Thereafter, he served as the Head Coach at Army from 1983-1990. Interestingly, Coach Young's first service as a head coach occurred while he was still an assistant at Michigan. Coach Young led the Wolverines in the 1970 Rose Bowl Game after Bo suffered a heart attack on the eve of the big contest. Coach Young was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

• George Mans (Michigan asst. coach: 1966-1973)

Coach Mans was one of only two assistant coaches from Bump Elliott's staff that Bo retained when he became the head man at Michigan in 1969. As a player, Mans had been the captain of the 1961 team. He served on Bo's staff for five seasons before becoming the Head Coach at Eastern Michigan University in 1974.

• Larry Smith (Michigan asst. coach: 1969-1972)

Coach Smith came to Michigan with Bo in 1969 from Miami (OH) University. He served on the Wolverines' staff for four seasons before departing for the University of Arizona to be the Defensive Coordinator under fellow Michigan assistant Jim Young who was hired to be the Wildcats' head coach. Coach Smith went on to become Head Coach at four major college programs [i.e., Tulane (1976-1979); Univ. of Arizona (1980-1986); Univ. of Southern Cal (1987-1992); and Univ. of Missouri (1994-2000)]. Coach Smith is best remembered for leading USC to three consecutive Rose Bowl games in his first three years as the Head Coach at USC. In fact, Coach Smith beat his mentor Bo Schembechler in the 1990 Rose Bowl Game which was the last game of Bo's storied career.

• Gary Moeller (Michigan asst. coach: 1969-1976 & 1980-1989)

Of all 36 assistants who ever worked under Bo at Michigan, Coach Moeller probably had the most long standing relationship. As a player, Moeller was the Captain of the 1962 Ohio State team on which Bo served as an assistant coach under Woody Hayes. In 1967 & 1968, Moeller served as an assistant coach under Bo at Miami (OH) University and Moeller came with Bo to Michigan in 1969. Coach Moeller became the Wolverines' Defensive Coordinator in 1973 after Jim Young left to become the Head Coach at the Univ. of Arizona. Moeller coached the Wolverines' defense to four stellar seasons before taking his first head coaching position. He became the Head Coach at the University of Illinois in 1977 and promptly lost his first game of his head coaching career to Bo when Michigan beat the Fighting Illini 37-9 to open the 1977 season. Moeller remained with Illinois for three seasons before re-joining Bo's staff at Michigan in 1980 as the quarterbacks coach. When Moeller returned, he brought with him one of his assistant coaches from Illinois. That assistant coach was Lloyd Carr. In 1982, Moeller resumed his duties as Michigan's Defensive Coordinator. In 1987, Moeller switched sides of the ball and became the Wolverines' Offensive Coordinator for Bo's final three seasons as head coach (i.e., 1987-1989). In 1990, Moeller ascended to the head coaching position at Michigan as the anointed successor to Coach Schembechler. Moeller led the Wolverines for five seasons and guided them to a win in the 1993 Rose Bowl Game versus Washington.

• Chuck Stobart (Michigan asst. coach: 1969-1976)

Coach Stobart was another one of the assistant coaches who was on Bo's first Michigan staff in 1969. Coach Stobart worked under Bo at Miami (OH) University and followed Coach Schembechler to Michigan where Stobart worked on staff for eight seasons. In 1977, Coach Stobart became the Head Coach at the University of Toledo. His 1981 team went 9-3 and won the MAC title. The following season Coach Stobart became the Head Coach at Utah where he stayed for 3 seasons. He later became the Head Coach at Memphis where he coached from 1989-1994.

• Don Nehlen (Michigan asst. coach: 1977-1979)

Coach Nehlen was hired by Bo in 1977 to replace the departed Chuck Stobart who took the head coaching job at the University of Toledo. Coach Nehlen came to the Wolverines with head coaching experience as he helmed Bowling Green University for the nine previous seasons (1968-1976) where he compiled a 53-35-4 record. However, it was in the three seasons under Bo that Coach Nehlen would learn the techniques and philosophy that were an integral part of his approach in his next head coaching job. Coach Nehlen became the Head Coach at West Virginia University in 1980 and he had a tremendously successful 21-year run. Twice during his head coaching tenure at WVU, the Mountaineers went through the regular season undefeated (1988 & 1993). Of note is the fact that Michigan's new head coach, Rich Rodriguez, played for Coach Nehlen as a defensive back and won three letters (1982-1984). Coach Nehlen was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005. Coach Nehlen authored a book titled "Don Nehlen's Tales from the West Virginia Sideline" that chronicles his coaching career at WVU.

• Bill McCartney (Michigan asst. coach: 1974-1981)

Coach McCartney was hired by Bo to join the Michigan staff right from the high school coaching ranks. McCartney had been coaching at Dearborn Divine Child High School where his teams won state titles in both football (1971 & 1973) and basketball (1973). In 1977, Coach McCartney was named the Wolverines' Defensive Coordinator to replace the departed Coach Moeller who took the head coaching position at Illinois. Coach McCartney, a Riverview Community High School (RCHS) graduate, was only 36-years old at the time Bo tapped him to be the Defensive Coordinator. After a tremendously successful five year run as DC, Coach McCartney was hired by Colorado to be its head coach. Coach McCartney led Colorado from 1982-1994 and he guided his team to the AP National Championship title in 1990.

• Jack Harbaugh (Michigan asst. coach: 1973-1979)

Coach Harbaugh was in charge of the defensive backfield during his seven-year stint on Bo's coaching staff. Coach Harbaugh was later named the Head Coach at Western Michigan University in 1982 where he replaced Elliot Uzelac who then joined Bo's staff. However, Coach Harbaugh is probably best known as the father of legendary Michigan QB Jim Harbaugh. Back in the 70s, Coach Harbaugh would take his son Jim to Michigan practices and Jim even worked as a ball boy during games. Jim Harbaugh, of course, went on to be an All-American QB at Michigan under Coach Schembechler. Also, Jim is now the Head Coach at Stanford University.

• Elliot Uzelac (Michigan asst. coach: 1982-1986)

Coach Uzelac, like Coach Nehlen, was hired by Bo after having left a head coaching position at a MAC school. Coach Uzelac was the head coach at WMU from 1975-1981. Interestingly, Coach Uzelac was replaced at WMU by former Michigan asst. coach Jack Harbaugh. Coach Uzelac worked under Bo for 5 seasons before taking the head coaching job at Navy where he led the program for three seasons (1987-1989).

• Cam Cameron (Michigan asst. coach: 1987-1993)

Coach Cameron was on Bo's staff for Coach Schembechler's final three seasons. He remained on staff when Coach Moeller became the Head Coach at Michigan in 1990. Coach Cameron was on the Wolverines' staff for a total of seven seasons. He was named the Head Coach at his alma mater Indiana University in 1997 where he served from 1997-2001. Also, Coach Cameron has worked in the NFL as a head coach as he was the Miami Dolphins Head Coach in 2007.

• Les Miles (Michigan asst. coach: 1980-1981 & 1987-1994)

Coach Miles not only was an assistant under Bo but he also played for him in the mid-'70s. Miles was a two-year letterwinner (1974 & 1975). Miles had two coaching stints with the Wolverines totaling 10 seasons. Coach Miles was first hired as a head coach by Oklahoma State where he served from 2001-2004. In 2005, Miles became the Head Coach at LSU and in 2007 he guided the Tigers to the National Championship title. In doing so, Miles became the third former asst. coach of Bo Schembechler to guide a team to the national title.

• Lloyd Carr (Michigan asst. coach: 1980-1995)

Coach Carr had served as an asst. coach for Illinois Head Coach Gary Moeller for two seasons (1978 & 1979) before Coach Moeller re-joined the Wolverines' staff in 1980. Both Bill McCartney, who graduated from the same high school as Carr, and Moeller recommended to Bo that he hire Carr on staff. Bo hired Carr and the rest, as they say, is history. It is worth noting, however, that Head Coach Carr led the Wolverines to the AP National Championship title in 1997.

Go Blue!

Meet Michigan's Meanest Man (Bo) [and the players who kept him on his toes]

Currently, the fourth most popular article at "The Vault" on SI.com is a piece on Bo and the Michigan Football program from 1970 entitled "Meet Michigan's Meanest Man." The article captures how Bo was tough but was beloved. The article takes note of the role that safety Jim Betts and offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf played as they "tried to keep everyone loose with a running string of gags." In particular, the article highlights the amusing antics of Betts who is also referred to in the piece as the team's best athlete. The funny anecdotes are meant to show that despite Coach Schembechler's all-business reputation, that he let the players have fun and the team was incredibly devoted to him. As Dierdorf explained, "As Bo says, he runs a tough football program. Run and run and run. The track team doesn't run as much as we do. And their coach isn't as mean, either. But this team has a sense of humor. Practice is serious but there is always time for a laugh."

Tough coach. Lots of running. Still time for a laugh. No wonder the 2008 Spring Practice was giving me a sense of deja vu. Go Blue!

*Note: Photo of Bo's pranksters Jim Betts (top left) and Dan Dierdorf (bottom left) with Coach Rich Rodriguez on 2/5/08.

Back to the Future

The Schembechler-era (1969-2007) is over. The Rodriguez-era (2007-20??) has begun. Despite the fact that there were two head football coaches that followed Bo [Gary Moeller (1990-1994) and Lloyd Carr (1995-2007)], most observers count the past 18 years as part of the Schembechler years as both men were assistants under Bo and continued the Bo way of doing things. However, the hiring of Coach Rodriguez -an outsider- has brought an end to the Schembechler reign. This is the first time Michigan has gone outside the program for a hire since the hiring of Bo Schembechler himself prior to the 1969 season. In fact, there are many parallels that can be drawn to Bo's first days as Michigan Head Coach and Coach Rod's first days at the helm of the Wolverines. There are also some important distinctions.

When Bo was hired by A.D. Don Canham in December, 1968, he had been the Head Coach at Miami (Ohio) University for the previous six years amassing a 40-17-3 record. Bo replaced Bump Elliott who had coached the Wolverines for 10 seasons. The Wolverines were coming off a humiliating loss to Ohio State by the score of 50-14 that had ended Michigan's season. Ohio State went on to win the National Championship that season. When Bo came on as Head Coach, Bump Elliott was moved up into the Athletic Dept. as an Associate Athletic Director. Bo thought to be successful he needed to have his own people with him so he brought six assistants from Miami University. Bo retained two assistants (George Mans & Frank Maloney) that had been on the Michigan staff and Bo brought in one assistant (Louie Lee) from the outside.

Bo held his first team meeting in January, 1969. Bo decided to set the tone right from the beginning. He wrote that his entire focus was to beat Ohio State. Back then, the Michigan Football program had fallen on hard times. Bo has written that when Don Canham took over the athletic department from Fritz Crisler in 1968, the year before he hired Bo, Canham inherited a $250,000 debt, a half-empty football stadium, and facilities that were about to collapse. Bo noted that Michigan had won just one Big Ten title in the previous 18 years. That was all about to change. One of the first things Bo did to set the tone was to mandate the players' living arrangements. "From now on," Bo said, "everyone is going to live in the city of Ann Arbor. Freshmen and sophomores are going to live in the dormitories, upperclassmen will live in apartments near campus, and married students will live in university married housing." After the initial meeting was over, Bo concluded he had accomplished his goal. Bo wrote, "I wasn't there to tell them how great they were. I was there to change the tone of that team. From the looks on their faces after I finished, you'd have to say I succeeded. "

When Coach Rod was hired by A.D. Bill Martin in December, 2007, he had been the Head Coach at West Virginia University for the previous seven seasons amassing a 60-26 record. Coach Rod replaced Lloyd Carr who had coached the Wolverines for 13 seasons. The Wolverines were coming off another tough loss to Ohio State (fourth in a row). Ohio State went on to play in the BCS National Championship title game. When Coach Rod came on as Head Coach, Lloyd Carr moved up into administration in the Athletic Dept. as an Associate Athletic Director. Coach Rod thought to be successful he needed to have his own people with him so he brought six assistants from West Virginia University. He retained one assistant (Fred Jackson) that had been on the Michigan staff and he brought in two assistants (Scott Shafer and Jay Hopson) from the outside.

Coach Rod held his first team meeting on Monday, January 7, 2008. Coach Rod is bringing a new scheme (the spread offense) into the program and he wants the players to sign on to the (radical) changes that are being made. Coach Rod is taking over a program that has won 8 Big Ten titles and a National Championship in the 18 seasons since Bo stepped down after the 1989 season. Additionally, the program has had 200+ consecutive home games of 100,000 or more fans in attendance. Nevertheless, Coach Rod wants to implement change. He wants to do things his way to keep the program moving forward. During his first week, he revolutionized the weight room. During the week of January 7th, Coach Rod held two team meetings and he let the players know that he and the assistant coaches would be dropping by the players' residences to check on them and their living situations. Regarding his players embracing his program, Coach Rod was quoted in The Free Press as saying, "They're all either fully committed or they're not committed at all. There ain't no halfway." I would say that Coach Rodriguez, like Bo before him, is setting a tone. Go Blue!

*Note: Photo of Coach Schembechler from collection of Bentley Historical Library, U-M.
*Note 2: Photo of Coach Rodriguez standing on sidelines during 2008 Capital One Bowl by REINHOLD MATAY/AP Photo

In memoriam- Bo Schembechler (1929-2006)

As the winningest head coach in Michigan football history, Bo's teams won or tied an impressive 13 Big Ten titles during his 21 year tenure. (Photos of Bo's career). Under Schembechler's guidance, Michigan's 96-10-3 regular season record through the decade of the 1970s was the nation's best. He guided 17 teams to post-season bowl games (Ten Rose Bowls) and also 17 to top ten finishes in the final wire service polls (AP and/or UPI). In his 27 years of coaching, Schembechler's teams never had a losing season. Upon stepping down after the 1989 season, Bo retired as the winningest active coach in the nation (234-65-8) and fifth on the all-time list, only behind coaching legends Paul 'Bear' Bryant, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Glen 'Pop' Warner, and Woody Hayes. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Schembechler served as Michigan's Director of Athletics, 1988-1990.
After earning his diploma from Miami (Ohio) University in 1951, Schembechler received his master's degree from Ohio State in 1952 while serving as a graduate assistant coach. He continued his coaching career with brief stints as an assistant at Presbyterian College (1954), Bowling Green (1955) and Northwestern (1958) before spending five seasons as an assistant at Ohio State. In 1963, Schembechler was named head coach at Miami of Ohio, a position he held until taking over the Michigan program prior to the 1969 campaign. Go Blue!

*Note: Photo of Coach Schembechler conferring on the sidelines with QB Rick Leach (7) on the sidelines during the Purdue game in 1978 from the Bentley Historical Library, U-M.

Thursday Pre-Game Speech

Under Coach Schembechler the pre-game speech was given on Thursday night before a game. According to Bo, that would give two nights for what he said to sink into the minds of the players. (1) Rather than give a fiery speech on Friday, Bo and his assistants would go room to room during bed check and pass out hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. (2) During Friday night bed check, Bo would talk to the players about anything BUT the game that was to be played the next day. He had already said what he had wanted to say during his pre-game speech of Thursday night.

Last season, Coach Carr had Coach Schembechler address the Wolverines during the traditional Thursday night pre-game speech before the Ohio State game. Bo did not focus on the chance for a national championship or the fact that the schools were ranked #1 and #2 in the nation entering the game. Rather, Coach Schembechler spoke to the team about his friend Tom Slade (1971 Michigan starting QB who had passed away a few days earlier) and what it meant to be a "Michigan Man." (3) Bo then, as we all know, passed away the next day- the day prior to the playing of the game.

Assuming he sticks to the traditional schedule, Coach Carr will be giving the Ohio State pre-game speech tonight. If the rumors of Coach Carr's impending retirement are true then this will be Coach Carr's final Ohio State game. Coach Carr's pre-game speech tonight will likely not be about "getting to the Rose Bowl" but will rather focus on how the team stayed together despite early adversity this season and that if they can play AS A TEAM on Saturday then good things will happen. At least that is what I imagine Coach Carr's pre-game speech will be like. If nothing else, I know the team will be motivated. Go Blue!

(1) Bo's Lasting Lessons, p. 224-226, by Bo Schembechler and John U. Bacon, published by Business Plus.

(2) Bo's Lasting Lessons, p. 214, by Bo Schembechler and John U. Bacon, published by Business Plus.

(3) Bo's Lasting Lessons, p. 299, by Bo Schembechler and John U. Bacon, published by Business Plus.

*Note: Photo of Coach Bo Schembechler from Bentley Historical Library, U-M.

Michigan to honor Bo & Pres. Ford with helmet sticker for Rose Bowl game

Michigan will adorn their helmets with a "48/BO" sticker during the Rose Bowl game in honor of President Gerald R. Ford and Coach Bo Schembechler both of whom passed away in the past couple of months. The number "48" is being used to represent President Ford because that was his jersey number during his playing days (1932-1934) at Michigan. President's Ford's number is one of of only five in Michigan football history to be retired. Go Blue!

*Note: Photo by Eric Seals/Detroit Free Press

Two men, one picture and very different paths

The picture to the right was taken on the field of the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1977. O.J. Simpson, a former Heisman trophy winner for USC, was present to watch his Trojans take on Coach Schembechler's Wolverines (led by QB Rick Leach) in the 1977 Rose Bowl game. Both Coach Schembechler and Simpson were in the news again last week but for very different reasons. Their careers took wildly divergent paths in the almost 30 years since this photograph was taken. While Coach Schembechler's passing was being mourned across the nation, Simpson was being lambasted in the press for his participation in a book (now canceled) that was entitled, "If I Did It." The dichotomy of the lives of the two men could not be more stark. However, back on 1-1-77, their paths crossed and they were just two guys talking football. Who knew what the future held for each of them. Go Blue!

Paying respects to Bo

As reported on wxyz.com, Bo will be laying in rest in a closed casket on Sunday, November 19, 2006 at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church located at 306 N. Division (on the corner of Division and Catherine) in Ann Arbor. The public is invited to come and pay their respects from Noon to 3:00 p.m..

Also, as previously posted, there will be a public memorial service (celebration of life) for Bo at Michigan Stadium on Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 1:00 p.m..

Lastly, per wxyz.com, if you would like to honor the former University of Michigan coach with a donation, the Schembechler family has asked that you support the U of M Cardiovascular Center's Bo Schembechler Heart of a Champion Fund.
You can support the fund by sending a donation to:
University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center Bo Schembechler Heart of a Champion Fund 300 N. Ingalls 8B02 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109

Go Blue!

Bo Schembechler Public Memorial Service to be held Tuesday at Michigan Stadium

Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said Friday night that a public memorial service for Bo Schembechler will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at Michigan Stadium. Private services had not been announced. Schembechler is survived by his wife, Cathy, and sons Geoffrey, Matthew and Glenn E. III (Shemy). His former wife, Millie, died in 1992; another son, Donald (Chip) Schembechler, died in 2003.

The Detroit Free Press has an 8 page special section on Bo in today's print edition. Here are some of the highlights:

• Article by Mitch Albom: A True Blue Legend
• Article by Drew Sharp: Bo's charm snared even unlikely recruits
• Article by Michael Rosenberg: Not even generals could match Schembechler's commanding presence
• Bo Schembechler Photo Gallery (15 photos)
• More Bo Schembecler Photos (27 photos)

Go Blue!

Books on Bo

Over the years much has been written about Bo and he was also the subject of many photographs while the Head Coach of the Wolverines. Since his retirement from coaching in 1989, Bo participated in numerous Michigan Football books that have been published. However, for insight as to the man behind the legend, the definitive book is "Bo" by Bo himelf and co-author Mitch Albom. (book cover pictured above). This book (published in 1989) details the life of the ultimate Michigan Man who guided so many young men so successfully for 21 years. While many of the other books Bo participated in provide his recollections about certain games, players and practice stories this biography provides a rare look at the man himself. For any young Wolverine fan who is watching The Game and is curious to learn more about the legend who just died that the announcers keep talking about, reading this book is a great way to learn about the Coach who made this generation of success possible. Go Blue!

Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler 1929-2006

Coach Bo Schembechler died today at the age of 77 on the eve of the biggest game in the history of Michigan Football. He will never be forgotten for how he transformed the Michigan football program after he arrived in 1969. He made the Wolverines the best of the best, both on and off the field. Here is some biographical information about the greatest Michigan coach that ever walked the Wolverines' sideline:

• Born: April 1, 1929
• Hometown: Barberton, OH
• College: Miami of Ohio, 1951
• Prior Coaching Experience: Ohio State, 1952-53 (graduate assistant); Presbyterian College, 1954 (assistant);Bowling Green, 1955 (assistant);Northwestern, 1958 (assistant);Ohio State, 1959-1963 (assistant);Miami of Ohio, 1964-1968 (Head Coach)
• Career Record: 234-65-8
• Years at U-M: 1969-1989 (21 seasons)
• U-M record: 194-48-5
• Big Ten Record: 143-24-3
• Record vs. OSU: 11-9-1
• Bo vs. Woody: 5-4-1
• Big Ten Titles: 13
• Rose Bowl record: 2-8
• All Bowl games: 5-12
• National Coach of the Year: 1

Bo Schembechler died today at age of 77

Here is a link to the Detroit News report regarding Bo Schembechler being rushed to Providence Hospital today because of a "cardiac episode" while taping the weekly college football show, "Big Ten Ticket" at the Channel 7 studios this morning. Bo died at the age of 77 years old. Words cannot describe how much he will be missed.

The "Old Man" weighs in

Harkening back to the glory days of the 70's and 80's, former coach Bo Schembechler stepped to the podium and participated in the Monday morning Football press conference. Coach Schembechler's comments covered a variety of topics. When he was asked on how much he would prepare his team to play OSU when he was coaching, Coach Schembechler responded, "Every day. It was our strategy here at Michigan to do something to beat Ohio State every day, and even if it's in the first meeting to talk about it. But we're going to do something every day. So that's nothing new." As for whether Coach Schembechler will address the 2006 team prior to The Game, he stated that, "I don't anticipate that. You have to understand, these kids that are playing are three years old when I coached, so I don't think they remember much about what I did. Although they practice in a building with my name on it, and I hang around there, I get to know some of these guys. I know a lot of players, but I don't think that will happen. They can handle that themselves." As for predictions, Coach Schembechler merely responded, "I don't make any predictions, none at all. I'll just tell you one thing, it will be a whale of a battle. Unless I miss my guess, it will be a heck of a battle." I don't think the "Old Man" will be missing his guess. Go Blue!