He took over a struggling program in 1969 and immediately returned it to college football prominence, with a stunning upset of the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. He compiled a record of 194-48-5 in 21 years at Michigan and never had a losing season. His one big achilles heel was Bowl games, but even in that area he showed improvement as his teams went 5-5 in Bowls in the 1980s. His teams were known for basic, "smashmouth" offenses and hard hitting, stingy defenses. But he was also able to adapt to the times, making use of skilled pass receivers like Anthony Carter.

But the legacy of Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler is about so much more than games won and championships. Coach Schembechler ran a clean and honorable program at Michigan, where players and coaches did things the right way. Bo always upheld the Michigan Tradition of excellence in both academics and athletics, and the sort of "thuggish" behavior that has sadly become the norm at some schools was never tolerated by the Ol' Coach. His student athletes were truly both students and athletes, who earned their degrees and went on to success in life after football.

Coach Bo Schembechler passed away on Friday, November 17, 2006, but he will live forever in the hearts and minds of the Michigan Wolverine faithful. Whenever 100,000 plus gather in the "Big House" at the corner of Stadium and Main in Ann Arbor, the spirit of Bo Schembechler will be there, along with Fielding Yost, Fritz Crisler, Tom Harmon, Bob Ufer, and all the others who have been part of the greatness that is Michigan Wolverine football.

And I know that somewhere up there in the Great Stadium in the Sky, Coach Bo is exchanging plays with the other late greats of the coaching profession like Vince Lombardi and Bo's longtime friend Woody Hayes.

The Ol' Coach is gone...Long Live the Ol' Coach!

Hail to the Victors Valiant...and Those Who Stay Will Be Champions!