University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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I University scholars award Bo Schembechler with a Doctor of Laws degree during the Spring 2005 Commencement ceremony. Schembechler received more cheers from the graduates than any other honorary degree recipient. L. Worcester photo Students sign a banner in honor of Schembechler at his candlelight vigil, held on the Diag. The banner displayed Schembechler ' s famous quotation, Those who stay will become champions. R. Peplinski photo :hembechler cont

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1 1 Bo Schembechler gathers his 1 976 team for one of his inspirational talks during practice. Schembechler was known for emphasizing the importance of the team over the individual. Photo courtesy Steve Kagan Michigan paraphanalia and flowers adorn the sign outside Schembechler Hall. Students, alumni, faculty and Ann Arbor locals decorated the gates of the Big House as well as their own homes with signs in Bos memory and to show spirit for the OSU game. R. Peplinski photo features 83

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Continued from pg. 85 football when no one else did, managing to pull the team out of a dark age of unpopularity and losing records. Today, Michigan football has not seen a crowd of less than 100,000 in over 100 home games. The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry was sometimes noted as the biggest and best in all of college football. Everything that Wolverines and Buckeyes fought over each year, though, really began with Schembechler. After assisting under legendary Ohio State Head Coach Woody Hayes for four years, Schembechler accepted a head-coaching job at Miami of Ohio only to move to become Michigan ' s head coach six years later. Schembechler ' s first year at Michigan started strong, going 6-3 overall and ending No. 9 in the Associated Press poll. However, what made the 1 969 season so rial was what was considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history. Ohio State held a 22 game winning streak in the series and Michigan trounced Woody Hayes and the Ohio State football team, 24-12, sparking the bitter rivalry we know today. Schembechler was voted Coach of the Year for the 1969 season. Schembechler coined one of the most well know phrases in Michigan football: Those who stay will be champions. And stay he did. For the 21 years he was at Mich igan, Schembechler captured 13 Big Ten Championships, 17 bowl appearances, 10 Rose Bowl appearances, 16 Top Ten finishes, an 11-9-1 record against Ohio State, 39 Ail-American players, and 4 Hall of Fame Inductees. Schembechler did not need a National Championship Title to prove that he was a great coach and a legendary icon. His continued support of the University forever encapsulated him in Michigan memory. Schembechler served as the University Athletic Director from 1988- 1990. In 1997, he volunteered his time to support a fundraising effort called Campaign for Michigan. As a co-chair, he helped the campaign raise just under 1.5 billion dollars. Schembechler was also a huge supporter of cancer research at the University. Grateful for his love for the University, an athletic training facility was named in his honor, Schembechler Hall. Built in 1990, this was the largest training facility on campus, players from football, men ' s basketball, hockey, wrestling, and men and women ' s golf. In the mornings, the facility did injury rehabilitations and in the afternoons, the facility also did pre and post practice treatments. Finally, the building held a medical suite containing three exam rooms and offices for all the athletic physicians. In 2005, Schembechler received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree during the Spring Commencement Ceremony. Schembechler addressed the sea of graduates in his acceptance speech and joked, It only took you four years to get an opportunity to sit on the 50-yard line. He continued, When I look out at this group of graduates, I can see that you are champions... And now it ' s your opportunity, since you are the leaders and the best... You have the credentials now to lead, so lead. Be tough, be , work hard and be the right kind of person. Bo Schembechler was tough, honest, worked hard, was more than the right kind of person, and led this tremendous University into greatness. He would forever live in the heart of the University. Fans salute the memory of Bo Schembechler in the stands of the Horseshoe at the football game versus The Ohio State University. Schembechler went 1 1-9-1 against OSU as Michigan ' s head coach. L. Worcester photo features 85