Jon,

This seems like a good time to tell the story of the time I met Bo Schembechler.

All freshmen entering the University of Michigan go through an orientation session early in the summer when they learn some of the school traditions and register for classes. We can also place our football season ticket orders.

A mountain of man, 6’7″ and 300 pounds, across the hall from me was recruited to play offensive line. He suggested that if I wanted to play football for Michigan, I should talk to Bo. “If he likes you, you’ll be on the team,” said the lineman.

So I did — after being sure to turn in my ticket order form. The first thing he asked: “How much do you weigh? And don’t lie to me.” Well, I wouldn’t have been able to lie even if I wanted to, so I answered honestly that I weighed 140 pounds. “You know you’ll die out there in practice, then what would your mother think of me,” was his response and the end of my football career.

The Michigan – Ohio State football game was an epic struggle in the ten years he coached against Woody Hayes, and Coach Schembechler was enjoying its prominence this year. One of Bo’s statements, shortened, became a sign above the locker room door: “Those who stay will be champions.”