Bo

On Friday, Bo Schembechler died. It’s a terribly sad time for all those in the Michigan family. It’s also way too ironic that he would die one day before arguably the biggest Michigan-Ohio State game ever. He won’t be here to witness what looks to be another great game in this rivalry, a rivalry that he had a huge part in building. I’m not sure how the team and the coaches will fare on the field tomorrow. I suspect either they will play with great emotion and win one for Bo or they will be totally flat due to the weight of this tremendous loss.

When I first started watching Michigan football way back when, it was Bo who defined it. It was his fire and passion that brought Michigan back onto the center state of college football after some rough years in the 60s. When my dream to attend U-M came true in 1991, Gary Moeller was in his second year as head coach but Bo was still around. Shortly after I began working at the athletic department in 1992, I was lucky enough to meet Bo in the mailroom of Schembechler Hall. I was very nervous to speak with him as he always appeared so gruff and so grouchy but, when I introduced myself, told him where I worked and how long I’ve admired him, that rough exterior disappeared. He was sweet and engaging and I went back to work feeling lucky I had the chance to meet him.

All these years later, Bo still was around and you got the feeling he would ALWAYS be around – he seemed indestructible. Even after a brief health scare in October, you still got the feeling that he would beat all the odds and be around forever. But, no one lives forever and he is gone. I joke around a lot with Kevin about how Bo NEVER wanted to throw the ball or about how he fired Ernie Harwell when he was president of the Detroit Tigers but it was always in good fun. I know in my heart that Michigan football, and probably college football, would not be what it is today without Bo.

Rest in peace, Bo! You will be missed! Go Blue!