It was announced at 12:33 p.m. today that legendary University of Michigan head coach Glenn "Bo" Schembechler passed away at the age of 77 while taping a weekly show with a Detroit sports anchor.
Last month, the 77-year-old Schembechler, born April 1, 1929, had a pacemaker and defibrillator installed after he had dizziness and other symptoms while taping the show.
This make tomorrow's hugely hyped contest between Ohio State and Bo's Wolverines not as important as it was 15 minutes ago.
Schembechler was a living legend in Ann Arbor. When he arrived at UM after coaching at his alma mater, Miami, Ohio, in 1969, he took the campus by storm by amassing an 8-3 record and taking his squad to the Rose Bowl. That would put the rest of the college football world on notice because while at Michigan, Schembechler became one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. He won a school-record 194 games, lost only 48, and tied five for a winning percentage of .796. His Michigan teams won or shared 13 Big Ten titles and made 10 Rose Bowl appearances.
Schembechler led the Wolverines to 17 bowl games in 21 years, placing him ninth in all-time bowl appearances, while never posting a losing record. He was voted national Coach of the Year during his first season as a Wolverine.
I'm sure he would have been on his way to Cloumbus to take in tomorrow's game with the hopes that his team could pull out a win and have a shot at a possible national title.
I'm not sure what kind of an affect this will have on the roster or the coaching staff, though. If this were a Disney film, Chad Henne would complete 75 percent of his passes, Mike Hart would rush for 175 yards and LaMarr Woodley would have six sacks. But I don't know what this is going to do to the group.
I'm going to put my Spartan allegiance aside and say that this is a big loss for college football. And, honestly, this has me pulling for the Maize and Blue now. It's a bigger loss for the Michigan family, though.
One of the things I first read about Bo took place when he served as Michigan athletic director from 1988-1990. Just prior to the start of the 1989 NCAA basketball tournament, head coach Bill Frieder announced that he would be taking the vacant head position at Arizona State University. Bo fired Frieder almost right on the spot, saying, "A Michigan man is gonna coach Michigan." The squad went on to take its only basketball title.
I know a lot of people say they bleed a certain color. But I'm sure that whenever he fell, whenever he got a paper cut, Maize and Blue blood dripped from his body.
Yea, I know I said I'm a Spartan through and through. And I stand by that. But how bad it is that this had to happen the day before the biggest game in the biggest rivalry in ALL of sports?
Ohio State-Michigan.
1 vs. 2 for the first time in the 103-year history of this match-up.
Winner take all.
His school against his most hated rival.
He'll still be watching. And, hey, maybe him and Woody Hayes can watch together now and exchange a few pleasantries.
Disclaimer:I graduated from Michigan State. You know, the first power conference school to fire its head coach this season. So I could give 28 @&*!# about Michigan or Ohio State. However, I do realize the ginormousness of their impending battle on Nov. 18, so I took the liberty of sending an e-mail to both head coaches before their games this week against Northwestern (OSU) and Indiana (UM).
I know you’re busy with getting ready for those EXTREMELY tough games this weekend, but I feel the need to make you two fine gentlemen aware of something.
I hate both of you. I hate your schools, your cities, those stupid winged helmets and that overgrown, cheap peanut butter cup you call a mascot. I’ll admit, my vitriol may seem unwarranted, but my alma mater is 0-8 against you two %^#(* the last four years. I guess that’s not all bad, since you helped get that caricature of a football coach fired, right? Right?
Anyway, even though I’d probably siphon gasoline out of someone’s car and pour it on both of you if you were on fire, I love football. I realize that next week’s game is exceedingly important to you two and a host of other people. Myself included. Whoever wins the “big game” will most likely be a heavy favorite no matter what team opposes it in the BCS title game Jan. 8.
I’m sure both of you know what winning this game means. Especially you, Sweatervest, since you’ve beaten Jimmy Stewart 4 of 5 times. But it also means a lot to our conference.
It’s been said that the Big Ten has been “down” for a few years now — basically since O$U bought, I mean won the ’03 national title. A classic contest next week, coupled with a national title win, would bring some respect back to the Big Ten.
But first things first, fellas. You both have to hold up your end of the bargain by beating Northwestern and Indiana Saturday.
And I can say, from watching my beloved Spartans battle both the Wildcats and Hoosiers earlier this season, those are some tough teams. You better not overlook them the way you did Ball State (Lloyd) and Illinois (Jim).
A loss by either of your teams — or even worse yet, both— and your game next week goes from being one of the most highly anticipated games ever regardless of sport to just another Saturday afternoon game between rivals. Sure, it’ll mean a lot to the NASCAR psychos in Ann Arbor and some humpbacked people in Columbus, but nobody else’ll care.
Tressel, if you lose to Northwestern, which happened the last time your group played in Evanston, then follow that up with an L to the Wolverines, you go from Penthouse to Champs Sports Bowl.
If you lose to Indiana, Mr. Carr, and follow that up with your fifth loss in six games versus Tressel — UM lost 37-21 in its last trip to The Shoe — Go Blue goes from possibly holding that shiny ball to playing in El Paso, TX on a Wednesday night. For the second year in a row.
Losses by both of you, coupled with a Michigan loss to the Bucks, would put Wisconsin the Rose Bowl and send you both to purgatory. It would also ruin a perfectly good fall Saturday for millions and MILLIONS of college football fans.
So, please, don’t mess up. I already put the deposit down on my keg and a 12-foot party sub.
Thank you both for your time
P.S. If either of you ever want a change of scenery, you’ll be welcomed with open arms in East Lansing ;-)
He didn't have an awesome showing against Minnesota last weekend, but Ohio State QB Troy Smith remains at the top of my Heisman list. There's a new entrant into the top five, too.
Troy Smith, Sr. QB, Ohio State: Smith had a very pedestrian day in the Buckeyes' 44-0 win over the Gophers: 14-21, 183 yards and a TD. He did have a nice 21-yard rushing score, though-his first of the season. YTD: 1,878 yards, 21 TDs, 2 INTs, 67.8 completion percentage.
Steve Slaton, So. RB, West Virginia: Slaton and the Mountaineers were off last weekend. They have a huge showdown with Louisville on Thursday. I'm sure the Cardinals remember Slaton after his five touchdown performance against them last season. YTD: 151 carries, 1,059 YDS, 9 TD, 7.0 yards per carry.
Brady Quinn, Sr. QB, Notre Dame: The USC game Nov. 25 doesn't mean as much after the Trojans' loss at Oregon State last weekend. But Quinn's stock can continue to improve is he continues to have days like he did Saturday as the Irish routed Navy, 38-14. Quinn completed 18 of 25 passes for 295 yards and 3 scores. He also scampered for a 19-yard score. YTD: 2,233 yards, 21 TDs, 4 INTs, 63.7 completion percentage.
Michael Hart, Jr. RB, Michigan: In Michigan's 17-3 win over Northwestern last weekend, Hart failed to reach the 100-yard mark for the second time in nine games this season. He was close, though, as he tallied 95 yards on 20 carries and ran for a score. YTD: 234 carries, 1,127 yards, 9 TDs, 4.8 yards per carry.
Colt McCoy, Fr. QB, Texas: McCoy orchestrated a Horns second-half comeback at Texas Tech last weekend. Down 31-21 at halftime, McCoy led Texas on two scoring drives to eek out a 35-31 win. The youngster went 21-31 for 256 yards, 4 TDs and a pick. His numbers on the season are actually better than Smith and Quinn;s, too. YTD: 1,705 yards, 24 TDs, 4 INTs, 67.7 completion percentage.
It's less than three weeks until the (presumably) epic showdown between Ohio State and Michigan. USC's 33-31 loss at Oregon State makes it even more likely that, in the event of a close game, the two Big Ten powers could face off twice this season-on Nov. 18 in Columbus, and again on Jan. 8 in Tempe for the naitonal title.
It's almost safe to say the Heisman race is all but over. It seems like once a week, Ohio State senior quarterback Troy Smith has at least one -- if not more -- eye-popping plays that let teamates, coaches, opponents, opposing coaches, fans and everyone else know he's the best player in the country. On Saturday, during a 44-3 win over Indiana, Smith took a three-step stop, saw trouble coming and spun out of a sack, backtracked and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Ted Ginn Jr. Unbelievable.
Troy Smith, Sr. QB, Ohio State: Pretty much on cruise control until Michigan comes to the Horseshoe on Nov. 18. All he really needs is a win over his arch rivals and he can start writing his acceptance speech. Smith completed 15 of 23 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the Buckeyes' win over IU. YTD: 1,715 YDS, 21 TD, 2 INT, 67.9 completion percentage
Steve Slaton, So. RB, West Virginia: Slaton was corralled for much of the first half of the Mountaineers' 37-11 win at Connecticut last Friday, yet he still managed to rush for 128 yards and a score on 19 carries. Slaton now has nine days off before his, and his team's, first big test at Louisville next Thursday night. YTD: 151 ATT, 1,059 YDS, 9 TD, 7.0 yards per carry
Michael Hart, Jr. RB, Michigan: 27 carries a game is a lot for anybody, let alone a college kid in one of the nation's toughest, hard-hittingest conferences, but Hart just keeps chuggin' along. The junior scored two touchdowns and ran for 126 yards on 31 carries in a 20-6 win over Iowa. He also had what would have been his first fumble in more than 630 carries erased by an official's review. YTD: 214 ATT, 1,032 YDS, 8 TD, 4.8 yards per carry
Brady Quinn, Sr. QB, Notre Dame: The Irish were left for dead last Saturday. Notre Dame was down, 17-14, to UCLA at home with 1:01 left in the final stanza before their senior signal-caller led a three-play, 34 second scoring drive that covered 80 yards for the winning touchdown. Quinn completed passes of 21, 14, and 45 yards, respectively on the drive, capping off a day where he completed 27 of 45 passes for 304 yards and two TDs -- without throwing an interception. YTD: 1,938 YDS, 18 TD, 4 INT, 62.9 completion percentage
James Davis, So. RB, Clemson: He doesn't have as many carries or yards as the other two backs on this list, due in part because he splits time with another standout runner -- freshman C.J. Spiller. But Davis has put up some gaudy numbers this season. In a prime time matchup with ACC leader Georgia Tech, Davis ran 21 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns as his Tigers clobbered the Jackets, 31-7. YTD: 139 carries, 961 yards, 16 touchdownss, 6.9 yards per carry
My name is Jason Carmel Davis, and I am a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Yes, we do go to class in East Lansing, not just to bars and the liquor store.
I'm almost positive I had an SI with me in the womb, checking out Ralph Wiley. He's the main reason I ever decided to pursue a career in sportswriting .
I even remember the first highlight I ever saw on SportsCenter. I don't remember who was reading it, but it was Michael Jordan's 63-point game against the Celtics in the Garden in the 86 Playoffs. I've been hooked ever since.
