After coach Lloyd Carr’s retirement, the term “Michigan Man” became very popular with Michigan related media. A few days ago I read an article from the Detroit Free Press titled “LUKEWARM ON RODRIGUEZ? Desmond Howard sad U-M didn’t hire a Michigan Man” and I decided to find out what is the big deal about a Michigan Man. To do so I read the biography of the great Bo Schembechler, the ultimate Michigan man.
Bo’s Lasting Lessons by Bo Schembechler’s and John U. Bacon.
After I finished reading the book today, it really brought meaning to the term Michigan Man. A Michigan man isn’t just a noun. It is an adjective and it describes the person’s values and the personal integrity that makes him a Michigan Man. The book really showed Bo’s characteristics. A strong will to win, extreme loyalty, great personal integrity, and the commitment he had to his players, his coaches, and his team. The way he instilled his values into everyone is just remarkable and almost unthinkable today. In today’s college football, where money is king and a coach’s word is about as stable as the stock market, Bo’s words were as good as gold.
Bo Schembechler – 1929-2006
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