Friday, November 17, 2006

A Michigan Man

Word has come that legendary former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died today at the age of 78. This comes on the heels of the biggest Michigan-Ohio State game ever.

Coach Schembechler won multiple Rose Bowls and Big Ten championships, and sent many players to the NFL. I best remember him in his capacity of athletic director, as the Wolverines' basketball team was set to play in the NCAA tournament. Michigan coach Bill Frieder took the same position at Arizona State, but wanted to coach Michigan through the tournament. An upset Schembechler turned him down, and told the press, "I don't want an Arizona State man coaching the Michigan team. I want a Michigan man to coach the Michigan team". Schembechler hired Steve Fisher as interim coach, and Michigan won six games in a row to win the national championship. Fisher then stayed on as permanent head coach.

Though Bo came from Miami of Ohio, he made his mark at Michigan. He was truly a Michigan man. The Maize and Blue Nation will miss him.

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