Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Bo Knows Rivalry
By John Chandler
Bo Schembechler must've felt like a traitor, looking into the irritable eyes of Woody Hayes staring back at him.
Years had passed since he led the 12th-ranked Michigan Wolverines to an upset of Ohio State, a consensus #1 in 1969. It was no small bump in the Buckeyes' road to a championship; it was more like a roadblock. And Woody was still steaming over it.
"He looked down the podium at me, and said 'Damn you, you'll never win a bigger game that that one," said Schembechler this week.
"(Woody) was the most irrascible guy who ever lived, and the worst guy in the world to work for."
With that, Schembechler reminded us of his unique twist on college football's most talked-about rivalry: he owns a graduate degree from Ohio State. Many are quick to forget that coach Bo earned his stripes as Woody's assistant for six years.
Listening to the living legend of a coach speak, it occurs to you that there is no one alive who is a better authority on Ohio State-Michigan than Schembechler. That is an indisputable fact.
Bo knows Ohio State. Bo knows Woody. And Bo knows Michigan... shoot, Bo IS Michigan! Sure the coach retired from his sideline 15 years ago, but he remains a constant in Ann Arbor, like the block "M" that is ubiquitous around campus.
You listen, as he spits fire & brimshaw about this rivalry, and you begin to understand the depth of The Game. You also get a lump in your throat, thinking that one day, soon, the increasingly ill Bo Schembechler will no longer be around to tell these fantasticly fascinating stories.
He stands at the podium, with dozens of reporters gathered in front of him like grandchildren, hanging on his every word.
He is asked how often his Michigan teams prepared for Ohio State in a season. The coach's eyes widen in wonderment, as if to question the question, itself.
"EVERYDAY!" is his answer, incredulously thrown back at the reporter like a daggar. "It was our strategy here at Michigan to do something to beat Ohio State everyday," said Schembechler.
Then, the old coach had another point to make. Two years ago, Ohio State officials notoriously demanded Michigan players and coaches off their buses in Columbus to be searched. Security was their thinly-veiled excuse to coverup an obvious attempt at gamesmanship.
Bo doesn't want to hear it.
"They didn't do it to any other team, " said Schembechler, his voice throaty and threatening at the same time.
"By God, they better not do it to Michigan. And you can take that back to them."
Yes, Bo knows this rivalry. At 77, he's still living it.
Buckeye Nation, I want to hear your favorite memories of Ohio State vs. Michigan. Send them in to 5sports@newsnet5.com ... And remember to keep it on NewsChannel 5 for your most comprehensive coverage on Ohio State Football. Sports Director Chris Miller is live in Columbus all week to preview The Game. And on Saturday, our pregame coverage kicks off at 2:00 PM.
Bo Schembechler must've felt like a traitor, looking into the irritable eyes of Woody Hayes staring back at him.
Years had passed since he led the 12th-ranked Michigan Wolverines to an upset of Ohio State, a consensus #1 in 1969. It was no small bump in the Buckeyes' road to a championship; it was more like a roadblock. And Woody was still steaming over it.
"He looked down the podium at me, and said 'Damn you, you'll never win a bigger game that that one," said Schembechler this week.
"(Woody) was the most irrascible guy who ever lived, and the worst guy in the world to work for."
With that, Schembechler reminded us of his unique twist on college football's most talked-about rivalry: he owns a graduate degree from Ohio State. Many are quick to forget that coach Bo earned his stripes as Woody's assistant for six years.
Listening to the living legend of a coach speak, it occurs to you that there is no one alive who is a better authority on Ohio State-Michigan than Schembechler. That is an indisputable fact.
Bo knows Ohio State. Bo knows Woody. And Bo knows Michigan... shoot, Bo IS Michigan! Sure the coach retired from his sideline 15 years ago, but he remains a constant in Ann Arbor, like the block "M" that is ubiquitous around campus.
You listen, as he spits fire & brimshaw about this rivalry, and you begin to understand the depth of The Game. You also get a lump in your throat, thinking that one day, soon, the increasingly ill Bo Schembechler will no longer be around to tell these fantasticly fascinating stories.
He stands at the podium, with dozens of reporters gathered in front of him like grandchildren, hanging on his every word.
He is asked how often his Michigan teams prepared for Ohio State in a season. The coach's eyes widen in wonderment, as if to question the question, itself.
"EVERYDAY!" is his answer, incredulously thrown back at the reporter like a daggar. "It was our strategy here at Michigan to do something to beat Ohio State everyday," said Schembechler.
Then, the old coach had another point to make. Two years ago, Ohio State officials notoriously demanded Michigan players and coaches off their buses in Columbus to be searched. Security was their thinly-veiled excuse to coverup an obvious attempt at gamesmanship.
Bo doesn't want to hear it.
"They didn't do it to any other team, " said Schembechler, his voice throaty and threatening at the same time.
"By God, they better not do it to Michigan. And you can take that back to them."
Yes, Bo knows this rivalry. At 77, he's still living it.
Buckeye Nation, I want to hear your favorite memories of Ohio State vs. Michigan. Send them in to 5sports@newsnet5.com ... And remember to keep it on NewsChannel 5 for your most comprehensive coverage on Ohio State Football. Sports Director Chris Miller is live in Columbus all week to preview The Game. And on Saturday, our pregame coverage kicks off at 2:00 PM.
Posted at 12:46 PM
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