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.

Michigan 52,Appalachian State 14

 "Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."
– Muhammad Ali

Michigan 52, Appalachian State 14

Late last week I had conversations with Thom Darden, the first Wolfman for Bo Schembechler and Mike Keller, who played linebacker and defensive end for the Wolverines. Both were All-Americans and played professional football. Thom was considered one of the top Cleveland Browns in their history while Mike became the first player- scout in NFL history for the world champion Dallas Cowboys. Mike said, because of his play, that he made Thom All-American and, of course, Thom made the same claim regarding Mike.

I talked with both former players about Michigan’s first game with Appalachian State on August 30 and their enthusiasm about watching the game. I taped the game because I did in early morning trail run. After my run of about 10 miles or so, Linda and I watched the slaughter. Gardner, Funchess, Smith and Green and the offensive line were superb on offense. I’ll ask Darden and Keller for their critique regarding the defense. I’m looking forward to our book signings this coming September.

Also, Jim Brandstatter , the voice of the Wolverines is joined this year by Dan Dierdorf. Dierdorf retired from CBS TV where he was a color analyst for NFL football. Dierdorf was not only an All-American, but also is in the NFL Hall of Fame. Brandstatter played behind Dierdorf while at Michigan. According to Jim, the reviews for the two of them were great.

For more about Darden, Keller, Brandstatter, and Dierdorf I refer you to “Bo’s Warriors.”  I’m also looking forward to meeting and sharing the stage with Michigan’s head football coach Brady Hoke in Ann Arbor. I’ll keep you posted regarding other events.

In the meantime, Go Blue Go! Looking forward to next Saturday’s game in South Bend with Notre Dame on September 6.

For my take on depression and aging, check out my other blog “It Has Nothing to Do with Age.”

It Has Nothing To Do With Age Or Gender with guest Dr. Sandra Goodwin

Mike Keller"s Reply

Thought you might enjoy a small amount of classical information following your Sunday morning newspaper ritual.

 

I am not attempting to blow my own horn...quite the opposite.

 

While Beowulf was a difficult read and little known to many...sitting around the dinner table discussing its pluses and minuses gave me much more appreciation for the food I was eating and the pressing need to escape that same dinner table and get back out to a field...any field...any sport...to un-jumble my poor Beowulf laden brain.

 

So...this is my tribute to sport and the release it provides us all from the confusing and mundane!

 

Thank you, Frank, for adding to my Sunday ritual!

Mike Keller

Plato,Achilles,Beowulf and Mike Keller

"Passion , though a bad regulator, is a powerful spring."
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 I read an essay in the New York Times, dated August 17, 2014 written by a professor of English. In his essay, this professor advocated teaching the writings of Plato, in order to assist many of our troubled athletes (involved in such crimes like rape and assault) in order to further development of their human psyche. Mark Edmundson wrote about the Greek term thumos (used to denote recognition, emotions, desire, and internal urges). This Greek term does not have an English equivalent and professor Edmundson suggested that spiritedness comes close as it encompasses bravery and the urge for glory. His point was that Homer glorified Achilles (a warrior that exemplified the beast in man (the inhuman element). However, it was Plato that suggested that knowledge and reason should rule the drive for glory (thumos). In other words, don’t allow the hunger for domination, glory, recognition or other dangerous emotions to rule or dictate behavior.

Edmundson suggests that athletes should be taught and learn about the writings of the Greek philosophers in order to create a more unified body and spirit ratio. In so doing, the athletes, he concluded would then be in a better position and be able to control their thumos while playing a brutal sport like football. Not only that, they would exhibit more human behavior (less violent) off the field as well.

I have no issue with teaching reason, clear thinking and self-knowledge (know thyself). However, Edmundson omits the psychological development of athletes. In order to develop a proper amount of narcissism (to be able to love, work and create productively) ,the athlete must have parenting without  great deficits of love, have consistency, nurturing, limit setting, along with proper modeling, etc. if these conditions are deficient, it is then likely to impair the development of  the necessary amount of narcissism. If the individual develops an unhealthy or excessive amount of narcissism, the individual can develop a necrophilia orientation (a most inhuman quality) instead. Further, Edmundson may or may not know that the successful and highly skilled football player plays the sport and is at his best when he relies on instinct and muscle memory. In-depth thinking and reasoning does not help in the heat of battle when a 275 pound pulling offensive guard is running down the line, wanting to knock you on your butt. Just ask Mike.

Let’s use   Mike Keller, one of the principals in my book Bo’s Warriors, as an example. Mike was a University of Michigan All-American and the 64^th pick in the NFL draft. Mike’s mother taught English literature in college. Mike grew up learning about Beowulf .Beowulf was a hero of the Geats in Scandinavia. He came to the aid of the king of the Danes (Hroogar) by slaying the monster known as Grendel. After this heroic act, he returned home to Geatland in Sweden and later on became king of the Geats.

Did Mike Keller develop the necessary amount of narcissism, simply because he learned about Beowulf at an early age, I think not? Both parents were there for him, nurtured him, taught him, reinforced athletics and modeled responsible behavior. Incidentally, Mike also attended parochial school. This gifted athlete not only excelled on the field, but also models being a terrific human being with trustworthy character. He was a terrific example of a team player and didn’t allow his narcissism to get in the way of the team concept. Yes, he was a warrior, and learning about the great warrior Beowulf had an impact on him, but far from his entire story.

To learn more about Mike, the warrior and his evolution, I refer you to Bo’s Warriors. At the moment, the book can be pre-ordered through Barnes & Noble. In the fall it will be coming to your favorite bookstore.