Michigan Football Legend Bo Schembechler Passes Away

Schembechler was appointed head football coach at Miami of Ohio in 1963, a position he held until taking over the Michigan program prior to the 1969 campaign.

(ANN ARBOR, Mich.) - Legendary football coach Bo Schembechler passed away Friday morning at Detroit Providence Hospital at the age of 77.

As the winningest head coach in Michigan football history, Bo Schembechler’s teams won or tied for an impressive 13 Big Ten championships during his 21-year tenure.

Under Schembechler’s guidance, Michigan’s 96-10-3 regular season record through the decade of the 1970s was the nation’s best.

He guided 17 teams to postseason bowl games – including 10 Rose Bowls – and another 17 to top 10 finishes in the final wire service polls (AP and/or UPI).

In his 27 years of coaching, Schembechler’s teams never had a losing season. Upon stepping down after the 1989 season, Bo retired as the winningest active coach in the nation (234-65-8) and fifth on the all-time list, behind only coaching legends Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Glen ‘Pop’ Warner and Woody Hayes.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Schembechler served as Michigan’s Director of Athletics between 1988-90, and is a past president of the American Football Coaches Association.

Schembechler was a prep all-state player at Barberton (Ohio) High School. He continued his football career at Miami of Ohio where he was an offensive tackle for three seasons, playing under George Blackburn and Woody Hayes.

He graduated in 1951 and received a master's degree in 1952 at Ohio State where he served as a graduate assistant coach.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Schembechler was a line coach at Presbyterian College in 1954, a line coach at Bowling Green in 1955, and then joined Ara Parseghian's staff at Northwestern in 1958 before serving as an assistant at Ohio State.

"This is a tremendous shock and an irreplaceable loss for the University of Michigan family. Bo Schembechler embodied all that is best about Michigan – loyalty, dedication and the drive for ever-greater excellence. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those who loved him, a number as great as the Michigan community in every corner of the world.

"This university’s deep tradition is our immense pride and our common ground. No one represented Michigan tradition better than Bo," President Coleman continued.

"Bo was the icon of Michigan football. But he was connected with this university far beyond athletics. We watched with pride as he received an honorary degree. We watched with gratitude as he extended his considerable talents to the University of Michigan cancer center and so many other worthwhile programs.

"And even this semester we watched with a smile as he enjoyed becoming a student again in the Ford School of Public Policy.

"Bo had an unmistakable twinkle in his eye, and I will miss that spirit and so much more. I am grateful for this remarkable man and all his contributions that make Michigan Michigan."

"This is a profoundly sad day for Michigan athletics, for the University of Michigan, and for all of college football. I find it difficult to express what Bo has meant to this program for close to 40 years. He was a giant of a coach and giant of a man. His life touched generations of players, families, staff, students and alumni. His energy fueled not only athletic success but the incredible pride of all Michigan fans. His impact was immeasurable. On behalf of the athletic department, I express our deep sadness at his loss, and extend our sympathies to his wife Cathy and their sons."

Miami (Ohio) Head Coach, 1963-68 » 1963: Record: 5-3-2overall, 4-1-1 Mid-American Conference Finish: 2nd

Michigan Head Coach, 1969-89 » 1969: Bo Schembechler's first season as head football coach at Michigan was highlighted by the Wolverines’ 24-12 victory over Ohio State and Bo's mentor, Woody Hayes. Many consider this one of the greatest college football upsets of all time.

Record: 8-3 overall, 6-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten co-Champions Final Ranking: No. 9 AP, No. 8 UPI

» 1970: The Wolverines went undefeated until meeting Ohio State in November. Michigan beat powers Arizona, Washington and Texas A&M, and Bo got his first victory over Michigan State, a 34-20 win in Ann Arbor.

Record: 9-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: 2nd-place tie Final Ranking: No. 9 AP, No. 7 UPI

» 1971: This time, not even Ohio State could ruin the regular season for Bo and his Michigan team. The Wolverines ran roughshod over their opponents, posting three consecutive shutouts (vs. Virginia, UCLA and Navy), and allowing just two teams to score double digits.

U-M beat Woody and the Buckeyes, 10-7. With a possible national championship in the Wolverines' grasp, Michigan was upset by Stanford in the Rose Bowl, 13-12.

Record: 11-1 overall, 7-0 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten Champions Final Ranking: No. 6 AP, No. 4 UPI

» 1972: With 10 straight wins and an unblemished mark, Michigan rose as high as No. 3 in the land in 1972, but fell to Ohio State, 14-11, to spoil the perfect season.

Prior to the OSU game, Michigan did not allow a single opponent in double digits, shutting out Northwestern, Michigan State, Minnesota and Iowa.

Record: 10-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten co-Champions Final Ranking: No. 6 AP, No. 6 UPI

» 1973: Michigan again entered the Ohio State game undefeated at 10-0, and came out with a 10-10 tie. In a surprise vote, the Big Ten athletic directors voted to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl, despite Michigan's higher ranking in the polls.

The Wolverines' dominant defense posted shutouts against Navy, Oregon and Michigan State.

Record: 10-0-1 overall, 8-0-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten co-Champions Final Ranking: No. 6 AP, No. 6 UPI

» 1974: Ranked nationally in the top six all season, the Wolverines rattled off 10 straight wins in 1974 before falling at Ohio State, 12-10. Included in the wins were shutouts over Colorado (31-0), Navy (52-0), Minnesota (49-0) and Purdue (51-0).

Record: 10-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten co-Champions Final Ranking: No. 3 AP, No. 5 UPI

» 1975: Despite early season ties against Stanford and Baylor, Michigan won its next seven games, including a 69-0 shutout against Northwestern. Fifth-ranked Michigan earned a bid to the Orange Bowl, but fell to No. 3 Oklahoma, 14-6.

Record: 8-2-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: 2nd place Final Ranking: No. 8 AP, No. 8 UPI

» 1976: Michigan was upset at Purdue, 16-14, after winning its first eight games of the season. The Wolverines posted shutouts against Stanford (avenging the 1971 Rose Bowl loss), Wake Forest, Indiana and Minnesota, and topped it off by keeping the Buckeyes off the scoreboard, 22-0.

It would be Bo's lone shutout over Ohio State. The Wolverines entered the Rose Bowl ranked No. 2, facing No. 3 Southern Cal. The Trojans took a 14-6 win, dropping U-M to a final No. 3 ranking.

Record: 10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten co-Champions Final Ranking: No. 3 AP, No. 3 UPI

» 1977: With six dominating wins to open the season, No. 1 Michigan suffered an upset at Minnesota, falling 16-0, the team’s only loss of the regular season.

Despite convincing wins over Michigan State (22-14), Wisconsin (56-0), Purdue (40-7), and Ohio State (14-6), Michigan lost to Washington in the Rose Bowl, 27-20.

Record: 10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten co-Champions Final Ranking: No. 9 AP, No. 8 UPI

» 1978: Rick Leach completed his Michigan career under Bo by winning all but one regular-season game. Once again, the trip to Pasadena was riding on the U-M/OSU game, and the Wolverines did not disappoint, winning, 14-3. U-M earned a trip to the Rose Bowl, but lost to Southern Cal, 17-10.

Record: 10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten co-Champions Final Ranking: No. 5 AP, No. 5 UPI

» 1979: Ranked as high as No. 6 during the season, the Wolverines avenged their loss to Michigan State the previous year, winning 21-7 in East Lansing.

They provided one of the most stirring victories in college football as Anthony Carter hauled in a John Wangler hail Mary pass on the game's final play to beat Indiana, 27-21. The season concluded with an appearance in the Gator Bowl, losing to North Carolina, 17-15.

Record: 8-4 overall, 6-2 Big Ten Conference Finish: 3rd place Final Ranking: No. 18 AP, No. 19 UPI

» 1980: For the first time, a Bo Schembechler-coached team went into the Big Ten schedule with a losing record in 1980.

The Wolverines regrouped and shut out Indiana, Wisconsin and Purdue consecutively before beating Ohio Sate, 9-3, to clinch a Rose Bowl berth. Michigan, on a roll, won its first bowl game for Bo, 23-6, over Washington.

Record: 10-2 overall, 8-0 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten Champions Final Ranking: No. 4 AP, No. 4 UPI

» 1981: Michigan entered 1981ranked No.1 by AP and UPI, but suffered a season-opening loss to Wisconsin. It went on to win its next four games, including Bo's second victory over Notre Dame, 25-7. T

he Wolverines went on to claim four more wins and record their second consecutive bowl game victory, a 33-14 decision over UCLA in the Bluebonnett Bowl.

Longtime U-M announcer Bob Ufer, who nicknamed the Michigan coach "General Bo" and called Michigan Stadium "The house that Yost built, Canham carpeted and Schembechler made famous," passed away that year.

Record: 9-3 overall, 6-3 Big Ten Conference Finish: 3rd place tie Final Ranking: No. 12 AP, No. 12 UPI

» 1982: Anthony Carter's final year saw a 20-9 season-opening victory over Wisconsin, but U-M dropped games at Notre Dame and to UCLA before a seven-game winning streak ensued.

The Wolverines went through the Big Ten schedule unscathed, until losing to Ohio State, 24-14. Michigan earned a trip to the Rose Bowl, but lost to UCLA, 24-14.

Record: 8-4 overall, 6-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten Champions Final Ranking: No. 15 UPI

» 1983: The Wolverines split two contests with Washington teams -- a 20-17 victory over Washington State, and a 25-24 loss to Washington.

They then went on a five-game winning streak that featured consecutive shutouts against Michigan State and Northwestern.

A 16-6 loss against Illinois spoiled the Wolverines' perfect Big Ten mark. Michigan then lost to Auburn on a last second field goal, 9-7, in the Sugar Bowl.

Record: 9-3 overall, 8-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: 2nd place Final Ranking: No. 8 AP, No. 9 UPI

» 1984: This season began with a 22-14 victory over Bernie Kosar and the University of Miami, but concluded with a 6-6 mark.

The Wolverines ended the season with a loss to No. 1 Brigham Young in the Holiday Bowl. In the Michigan State game, young quarterback Jim Harbaugh, a future All-American, broke his arm and was lost for the season.

Record: 6-6 overall, 5-4 Big Ten Conference Finish: 6th place tie Final Ranking: Not ranked

» 1985: The Wolverines opened the season with five straight wins, including a 31-0 whipping of Michigan State and non -conference wins over Notre Dame, South Carolina and Maryland.

In a game pitting the nation’s No. 1 (Iowa) and No. 2 (Michigan) teams, the Hawkeyes spoiled U-M’s perfect season with a 12-10 victory as Rob Houghtlin kicked a field goal with no time remaining.

The Wolverines also tied Illinois, as Dieter Heren blocked a Chris White last-second field goal attempt.

The Wolverines finished the year with four consecutive victories, including a 27-17 win over Ohio State and a 27-23 win over Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl to finish the season with a No. 2 ranking.

Record: 10-1-1 overall, 6-1-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: 2nd place Final Ranking: No. 2 AP, No. 2 UPI

» 1986: Ranked among the AP’s top six all season, only a 20-17 loss to Minnesota in the 10th game of the season spoiled the Wolverines' regular season.

With Jim Harbaugh quarterbacking, Michigan won four games by three points or less along the way: Notre Dame, 24-23; Florida State, 20-18; Iowa, 20-17; and Ohio State, 26-24.

The Buckeye game was highlighted by Harbaugh's 76-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown pass to John Kolesar. The Wolverines earned a Rose Bowl berth, but were defeated by Arizona State, 22-15.

Record: 11-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten co-Champions Final Ranking: No. 8 AP, No. 7 UPI

» 1987: The season began with a 26-7 loss to Notre Dame, but the Wolverines rebounded to defeat Washington State and blanked both Long Beach State and Wisconsin by identical 49-0 scores.

The Wolverines were invited to the Hall of Fame Bowl and defeated Alabama, 28-24. Gary Moeller coached the Wolverines in the bowl game while Bo recuperated from his second open-heart surgery.

Record: 8-4 overall, 5-3 Big Ten Conference Finish: 4th place Final Ranking: No. 19 AP

» 1988: The first of Bo's two outright Big Ten championship seasons started with tight losses to Notre Dame, 19-17, and Miami, 31-30.

Michigan rebounded though, claiming victories that included a 17-3 win over Michigan State, and a 34-31 victory over Ohio State, highlighted by John Kolesar's 100-yard effort in the final minute of play (a 54-yard kickoff return and a 46-yard TD pass from Demetrius Brown).

Only a 17-17 tie with Iowa marred the Wolverines' Big Ten mark. Bo won his second Rose Bowl, a 22-14 triumph over Southern Cal and finished the year ranked No. 4.

Record: 9-2-1 overall, 7-0-1 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten Champions Final Ranking: No. 4 AP, No. 4 UPI

» 1989: Bo's final season was a strong one, becoming the first coach to guide his team to back-to-back solo Big Ten titles since 1965-66.

The season included wins over UCLA, Michigan State, Illinois and Ohio State. Its only setback was a 24-19 loss to Notre Dame thanks to two kickoffs returned for touchdowns by Rocket Ismail.

The Wolverines had a rematch against Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl, but fell in Bo’s final game, 17-10.

Record: 10-1 overall, 8-0 Big Ten Conference Finish: Big Ten Champions Final Ranking: No. 7 AP, No. 8 UPI