U of M Football and Cherished Memories

*This picture was taken in Bo Schembechler's office. L to R is Dad, Johnny, Bo and myself.


Those of you who follow sports know that we lost a football legend last Friday, Coach Bo Schembechler. "Bo" was the head football coach at The University of Michigan for several years. It's hard to reflect on my childhood without thinking of "Bo."

I grew up going to Michigan football games every Saturday in the fall. My Dad had four season tickets so it was usually Dad, one of his friends, Johnny (my younger brother) and I. I have so many memories. I remember sitting in crowds of 110,000 people and being so hot I thought I was going to melt. And I remember watching Ohio State/Michigan one year and being so cold that my Dad was concerned we would get frostbite. So many memories...

This was the routine, which we NEVER deviated from...

We would leave early in the morning (a little after 7:00AM) because the games were almost always at noon. We would then stop at the local IGA grocery store and get a few chocolate donuts, a bucket of chicken, chips and pop. We would dig right into the donuts and save everything else for the "tailgate." It was about a 1.5 drive to the stadium so we would get there around 9:00AM. We would always park at the Ann Arbor Church of Christ (make a $$$ donation, of course) open the back of the minivan and party. Johnny and I would usually throw the football around, eat a few pieces of chicken and then off to Chrysler arena. Chrysler arena is the basketball arena that sits next the football stadium. Dad had "connections" so we were able to get into the locker room and listen to "Bo" address the recruits. This was always a treat! One of the things that I will never forget about those speeches is that when "Bo" would enter the room everyone would immediately take off their hats...total respect! Little did I know that at such a young age I was getting some great pre-game speech training that I would be able to use with my own team someday... After the speech we would walk over to the stadium. Walking into Michigan stadium (which is the largest football stadium in the country, seating close to 115,000!!!) was always exciting. We would watch the team warm-up, then watch the band perform and then the players would run out of the tunnel, hit the flag and then...kickoff!!! Typically, Michigan would win and we would wait for the crowd to clear out. After the stadium emptied out, we would make our way to the locker room tunnel where the players came out and Johnny would get his Michigan football signed. I think he eventually got everyone's autograph on that ball, I mean the thing is covered in autographs! I never was into getting autographs, I always preferred a handshake. After all the players were out we would head back to the minivan and drive home...another Michigan football Saturday in the books.

I went to the opening game this year vs. Vanderbilt. I must admit things weren't quite the same. No more season tickets, Dad bought them off the internet. No donuts or chicken...the old IGA grocery store is now a health club. We didn't park at Ann Arbor Church of Christ as it has relocated. We didn't hear "Bo's" pregame speech as he's no longer the coach and has since past away. We didn't even stay for the entire game; we left early in the 4th quarter.

But most of all, things weren't the same because Johnny wasn't with us. My memories of U of M football will always be memories of spending time with my brother and my Dad.

And those memories...I will always cherish.