It comes from Mike Keller, a member of the 1969 Michigan Wolverines. He lived through the Bo Schembechler transformation of Michigan football and posted this:
 I am a little bit late in posting my comments so maybe no one will read them but they also need to be said. This is a witch hunt, largely by players no longer in the program who have an axe to grind and quite simply are a bunch of spoiled cry babies.Those of us who were in Bo Schembechler's first off season conditioning program and subsequent off seasons and years will recount the massive quiting that went on by players unable or unwilling to pay the price of excellence. The Michigan football team went from 150 members to less than 75 for the 1969 season...many of the casualties were scholarship players. The drills we went through would make water boarding seem like a walk in the arboretum! This year in Michigan football is what generated the team motto "Those who stay will be Champions". Bo was trying to do anything to stem the tide of quitters...but he wouldn't change the way he coached and drove us harder. The result was that we did become Champions...and we loved it. Nobody died, everyone (mostly) kept up their grades and those of us who made it through became closer and more dedicated to the ideals of Michigan football and the University. Everyday...before crossing the "Blue Line" guys with names like Seymour, Brandstater, McKenzie, Taylor, Darden, Seyferth, Grambeau, Oldham, Gusich and Murdock plotted on how we would quit the team and hang out on the Diag with the coeds. It sounded so wonderful compared to the Schembechler torture regime. The fact is none of the above ever quit and they led a team that won almost thirty games in three years and played in two Rose Bowls. "Nuff said". Let Coach Rodriguez, his staff and the players who want to stay, work as hard as they want! Mike Keller |
Thanks Mike!
We are honored you read our blog and feel compelled to post here.
Go Blue !
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18 comments:
Andy, Great job on posting Mike Kellers comments. Just as I posted a note on the helmet post to point this out, your update came through. Thanks for bringing this to everyones attention.
Thanks to Mike. Good to hear from one of the "Leaders and Best". Go Blue.
This gives our blog a little bit of actual significance. We've come a long way from "Dirty Jokes and Beer" to being an actual M blog. Well done.
Also well said Mike. Unfortunately your words will fall on a lot of deaf ears as the media is always out for one purpose - to serve it's own needs. I have always held a high distaste for all things media and it seems to grow stronger every year. It'd be amazing to think the world we would live in without the media's hand playing a part in things.
Great comments Mike. I probably would have quit though. I'm not that tough.
Anyway, GO BLUE!
Mike ... GO BLUE! You are a champion and we the fans appreciate your efforts back in the day and the support you continue to provide!!
Mike,
Did Bo ever cry in a press conference?
Sru-
Bo never cried but he never punched an opposing player either.
Hey Sru:
24-12
uh what's wrong with beer and dirty jokes BAH???
Not a thing. I recommend picking up that book it's good.
Bo usually made others cry. I loved the Bo and Woody 10 year war days.
Bo's emotion was always close to the surface but he exhibited it in many ways.
He might choke up from time to time but he was a tough old German and I don't remember him ever crying.
He saved alot of his emotion for referees...but even when he would finish one of his tirades, he would turn around towards us and wink! He nearly always knew what he was doing and the affect he had on people.
The only time I ever kinda got the best of Bo was in my sophomore year and we all wanted to wear our hair longer and he wouldn't allow it. We were in a stadium...Illinois, I think, and he said..."Keller, damn it, get your hair cut...you're a mess." I told him "Bo, my Dad's bald, my brother's are bald and I have only a year or two of hair before I lose mine...cut me some slack" He said, "OK, but you better be bald by the start of your senior year or you and I are going to have a talk."
He never forgot that conversation...and for years afterward...graduation and all, I would come back to visit, reunions and all and he would look at me, walk over and rub my head and say..."Still got your hair, huh?' When are we going to have that talk?"
Too funny.
I miss that old man.
My 4 years on campus where his last 4 in coaching. The effect and impact he had on all of my friends that played football was incredible.
Great Bo story, Mike - thanks for sharing.
Threadjack- are the Oregon Duck "feathers on sleeve" unis bad or what?
There are sooooo many potential things wrong with the Oregon possible uniforms combos.
I laughed when I saw them wearing "white on white on white" today.
I just put the finishing touches on KYF. I hope you all will enjoy it tomorrow.
Can't wait.
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