Calm down. You knew it was coming.
This entry was suggested to me by a good friend who feared it might be a bit "too soon" to faithfully execute. Fortunately, The Greatest Rivalry in Sports knows no such courtesies.
Top Five Annoying Things About Michigan: No. 3 False Idol
False Idol?
For twenty years (1969-1989), Bo Schembechler was a walking legend on the Michigan sidelines, his iron-taloned visage, down parka, and chrome-rimmed avaitor glasses reminiscent of a State Highway Patrolman. He was described as "a consummate 'coach's coach,'" with a "superb technical command of the game" and a "fiery disposition," attributes that led him to find success against mentor Woody Hayes in "The Ten Year War."
During his tenure in Ann Arbor, he compiled an impressive 194-48-5 record (.796 winning percentage) and led the Wolverines to 13 conference championships and 17 bowl appearances behind the populist banner: "Those who stay will be champions."
But he was wrong. After thirty-seven years of coaching a "'remorseless and punishing' brand of football" Schembechler walked away from the game having never sustained a program at an elite level -- and without a national championship.
Pathetic in Pasadena
In two decades Bo Schembechler followed the gold rush to Pasadena ten times. He walked away with just two Rose Bowl victories. Take a look:
| Jan. 1, 1970 | Rose | Southern California | L | 3-10 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1972 | Rose | Stanford | L | 12-13 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1976 | Orange | Oklahoma | L | 6-14 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1977 | Rose | Southern California | L | 6-14 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1978 | Rose | Washington | L | 20-27 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1979 | Rose | Southern California | L | 10-17 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Dec. 29, 1979 | Gator | North Carolina | L | 15-17 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1981 | Rose | Washington | W | 23-6 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Dec. 31, 1981 | BlueBonnet | UCLA | W | 33-14 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1983 | Rose | U.C.L.A. | L | 14-24 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 2, 1984 | Sugar | Auburn | L | 7-9 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Dec. 21, 1984 | Holiday | Brigham Young | L | 17-24 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1986 | Fiesta | Nebraska | W | 27-9 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1987 | Rose | Arizona State | L | 15-22 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 21 1988 | Hall of Fame | Alabama | W | 28-24 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 2, 1989 | Rose | Southern California | W | 22-14 | Bo Schembechler | |
| Jan. 1, 1990 | Rose | Southern California | L | 10-17 | Bo Schembechler | |
(Courtesy University of Michigan Athletics)
Schembechler's Wolverines finished the season in the top three only twice.
Perhaps most tellingly, Bo never got past his 1985 second-place finish. As my friend put it, "Larry Coker has won more championships."
But Bo sure has a lot more friends.