It Has Nothing To Do With Age Or Gender with guset George Parrott

Michigan 34 -Miami of Ohio 10

  Michigan 34-Miami of Ohio 10

Since Michigan lost big time last week to Notre Dame, there are some who want Coach Brady Hoke fired. They say, unless Michigan can beat both Michigan State and Ohio State, this year he should go. Well, it’s hardly a game anymore, instead it personifies big business, image, tradition, and of course, personal identification. Our identities can’t tolerate having lost a football game to our arch rivals. This is our state in 2014. Perhaps it’s a sad commentary about life today.

For a more upbeat version of Michigan football, I refer you to Bo’s Warriors. Bo is, of course, Bo Schembechler, the Michigan legend. In fact, he has his own statue, as well as the Schembechler Museum. This book is about him as seen through the eyes of his players: Jim Betts, Jim Brandstatter, Frank Gusich, Tom Curtis, Reggie McKenzie, Thom Darden, Fritz Seyferth and Mike Keller, along with one of his coaches Gary Moeller.

I have profiled each and tell their story from childhood to present. Although each attained unequaled athletic success, that doesn’t mean they were without challenges. They came from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds and yet blended together in one mosaic.

I find their stories, heartfelt and marvel at their ability (mental toughness) to overcome lives challenges (bumps along the way). Was their disappointments? Sure! However, learn about these Michigan men, and how they became Michigan men through and through. Brady Hoke, too bad they are not playing for you. Even though Brady Hoke’s Wolverines won today (34-10), his job is still not safe.

Michigan 34 and Miami of Ohio 10. Don’t forget that before Coach Bo Schembechler became Michigan’s coach, he was Miami of Ohio’s head coach. Further, Woody Hayes was also was a Miami of Ohio, head coach and Bo Schembechler played for him at that school. 

Notre Dame 31-Michigan 0

 Notre Dame 31-Michigan 0

On 6th of September Michigan played Notre Dame in South Bend. In thinking about Notre Dame a couple of things comes to mind: 1. My brothers favorite Detroit Lions player back in the 60s, was Leon Hart, who played for Notre Dame. 2.  Also in the 60s, the nation’s two leading teams- Michigan State and Notre Dame played in a historic gridiron battle. Michigan State was leading. 10-7, while Notre Dame had a fourth-down decision to make. Notre Dame’s coach Ara Parseghian could go either for the victory or the tie. Many were unhappy as coach went for the tie.

Jim Betts, one of the players profiled In Bo’s Warriors told the story that he was recruited to play for Notre Dame. Jim played quarterback on offense and safety on defense at a parochial high school. At the Notre Dame dinner, Notre Dame’s line coach John Ray told Jim that they wanted him to play defense because they had this quarterback named Joe Theismann coming that fall. Incidentally, John Ray, a line coach for University of Detroit recruited me to play there for the Titans. When Jim talked to his high school coach Augie, the former Notre Dame player, about his treatment, he told Jim to play somewhere else. For more about Jim, I refer you to my book.

When Mike Keller was playing for Catholic Central High School, the Sisters wanted him to play for Notre Dame. Mike did in fact, visit and talk with coach Parseghian. Notre Dame’s coach told Mike that they did not have a scholarship him for at the moment but that he was sure they would find one for him. Even though there was pressure from the faculty at Catholic Central, Mike chose to attend the University Michigan.

Notre Dame clearly outplayed Michigan. It was embarrassing and the game was very disappointing to say the least. I would’ve liked to a heard what Brandstatter, and Dierdorf had to say about the pitiful line play on the radio. And, what Thom Darden had to say about the defensive secondary as well.

Well, Michigan’s next game is against Miami of Ohio. For those of you that don’t know, Bo Schembechler was head coach there before coming to Michigan.