Bo Knew When To Go Lightly

BO KNEW WHEN TO GO LIGHTLY
By Wayne DeNeff

DETROIT—Michigan’s Bo Schembechler is known as a tough football coach who can deliver a severe tongue lashing. But he says “if there is one smart thing I ever did” it was to take the soft approach at the half of the Michigan-Minnesota game.
At the time the Wolverines were 3-2 on the season, 1-1 in the Big Ten, smarting from a loss to Michigan State and trailing the winless Gophers, 9-7.
“I could have made the biggest mistake of my life if I had climbed all over them,” said Schembechler. “We talked only in terms of winning the game.”
Perhaps Schembechler sensed the inner dedication of the Wolverines because everyone knows what happened starting with the second half against the Gophers at Minneapolis.
The Wolverines came out and rammed in four touchdowns for a 35-9 victory and then cleared the path to the Rose Bowl by smashing Wisconsin, 35-7; Illinois, 57-0, and Iowa, 51-6, before humbling top-ranked Ohio State, 24-12, in what many have called the greatest upset of all time.
Now the Wolverines are headed for the Rose Bowl and a date with unbeaten Southern California on Jan. 1.
Schembechler was the featured speaker here last night at the annual awards banquet of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, Detroit chapter, and was introduced by Tom Harmon, Michigan’s famed All-America tailback, who was toastmaster.
Schembechler said that the Wolverines would start practice for the Rose Bowl game a week from today and would have full equipment sessions through Dec. 13 before there’s a break for final first-semester examinations.
The Wolverines will be leaving for the West Coast on Thursday, Dec. 18, and will be back the day after the game.
Rose Bowl rules allow only 16 days of full equipment drills and Schembechler says “I don’t think we’ll be able to get all 16 in.”
Schembechler again praised this year’s Wolverines as high-quality, purposeful individuals.
“But rather than praise them individually,” he continued, “let me speak of one player who I think more than any other guy typified Michigan this year—defensive back Barry Pierson.
“He’s only six feet tall and doesn’t weigh 170 pounds,” said Schembechler, “but he came on and did a fantastic job this year.”
“He didn’t play much his sophomore and junior years. Until I saw him play and I didn’t know what he had inside.
“In my opinion, he’s one of the greatest defensive backs in the country for what he did this year.”
The Detroit News all-state high school team was honored at the gathering in which 25 All-Americas of previous years were guests of honor.