Bo passed 13 years ago tomorrow.
Thirteen years ago tomorrow Bo passed. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was driving down US-23 when I heard the news. It was just before noon. I drove right to the stadium and got in through a gate that was loosely chained. I went into the bowl and sat there for about 20 minutes all by myself. I was the only one in the place. Shortly after there was 600 or more people walking around. Some on the field, some just sitting like me. Of course the next day we played OSU and lost the #1 vs. #2 game at OSU. What a sad day it was. Rest In Peace Bo. You are still loved by this fan.
November 16th, 2019 at 11:17 PM ^
Felt like not only the end of an era but the spelling of doom for Michigan football for a long time to come. 13 years later we still have not won a big 10 title or even played in the championship game. I hope this dark period is wiped away soon by a new period of glory but its hard to see that with Ohio State in the way
November 17th, 2019 at 5:46 AM ^
It's almost like we all spit into the worst possible football timeline after that week.
I'm just wondering if Day is just riding off of OSU's momentum from the last 2 decades or is he just that good of a coach? Granted that they look much more complete team this year. But what are the odds that OSU never misses on a coaching hire (or a qb for that matter)? He completely guts his defensive staff and appears to have hit a home run.
I realize that I'm in denial at this point, but it's just that unbelievable. Their luck has to end sometime right? I truly believe any team can win on any given day, and we do have a chance. The only advantage I can think would be they haven't played in a close competitive game this year. The jury is still out on Fields/Day might react.
Sorry for the rant. At least there's a lot to feel good about this week!
November 17th, 2019 at 2:33 PM ^
Michigan, aside from 2006, 1997, and 1997, had been declining/underperforming for quite sometime. Michigan's lack of success in the modern era can be traced back to its unwillingness to leave the past and play modern football. This is due, in part, to the overfetishization of Bo and ilk. The RR and Hoke hires were made without any thought to actual coaching capabilities: RR was a good coach, but his system was never going to work with the roster (and he was not a good cultural fit for some folks [I never minded, we didn't hire him to have tea with the Queen]). It was a kneejerk reaction to getting embarrassed by App St. and Oregon with a senior laden roster. There's no reason why the offense the team ran in bowl game could not have been instituted sooner and with as much success. Michigan didn't need to be blown-up; it just needed to adjust but it was unwilling to do so because it's written in stone and sent from the gods that you need to run a particular offensive system apparently.
Hoke was another, similar kneejerk reaction: not a good coach, but he "fit" and said the right things and ran the kind of offense Michigan is "supposed to run."
Bo was a good coach. I'm not sure anyone outside of Michigan fans out put him in the "elite" category (never produced a Heisman winner, never won an MNC, routinely lost bowl games). Honestly, the moment this fanbase and school move on from Bo can't come soon enough.
November 16th, 2019 at 11:19 PM ^
Don't remind me. It's my wedding anniversary.
November 16th, 2019 at 11:31 PM ^
And things haven’t been the same since nor will they ever be the same.
I am amazed to think how Bo has influenced our lives, especially in late summer and throughout the fall. This blog probably would not be a reality had someone else received the call from Don Canham in late 1968.
November 17th, 2019 at 12:23 AM ^
Joe Paterno was that someone else. We should all be grateful that didn't happen.
RIP Bo.
November 17th, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
When Bo was hired in 1969, the local newspapers said "Bo-Who?" They couldn't pronounce his last name, as well as spell it correctly.
November 16th, 2019 at 11:36 PM ^
Miss watching Bo on the sidelines. Alas, UM is on the uptrend, and our time will come again. Jimmy has us moving the right direction.
November 17th, 2019 at 8:23 AM ^
“Alas?”
November 16th, 2019 at 11:44 PM ^
Okay.
November 17th, 2019 at 5:19 AM ^
Do you have to try to be this much of a piece of shit human? Or does it just come naturally?
November 17th, 2019 at 9:26 AM ^
A very strange comment for an alleged Michigan fan.
November 16th, 2019 at 11:56 PM ^
Schembechler loved Jim Harbaugh, as a player and a person. We are in good hands.
November 17th, 2019 at 12:09 AM ^
Brutal week. At the time I thought there was no way UM would lose that game while playing for Bo. We thought things were bad because the boys couldn't win the Rose Bowl. My how times have changed.
November 17th, 2019 at 12:51 AM ^
Times had changed - under RR/Hoke. But our program now is pretty close to that level again.
This also reminds me how the Game used to be before Thanksgiving. I miss that. It's more of a hassle on Thanksgiving weekend.
November 17th, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
At the time I thought there was no way UM would lose that game while playing for Bo.
It is a tragedy we failed in that game and allowed OSU to have the final word on Bo's legacy.
November 17th, 2019 at 12:51 AM ^
At the last game he corched. Ticket to prove it.
November 17th, 2019 at 2:01 AM ^
Crazy that it's been that long. I was only in my teens when it happened but I still remember getting home from school and seeing the news on ESPN. I didn't fully understand what it meant at the time but I'll never forget the feeling.
November 17th, 2019 at 6:39 AM ^
Still think the Eleven Swans post after Bo’s passing was Brian’s best work in this space.
November 17th, 2019 at 6:59 AM ^
Got to meet and talk to Bo at a wedding. He talked to me about some of his past players like I was a good friend. He was not the least bit precocious and seemed to enjoy that I remembered some of his players and formations from years past. Took a picture with my wife and I and one day when I knew he was making an appearance I had him autograph it. Absolutely the nicest guy and as a Michigan fan that picture means the world to me.
November 17th, 2019 at 7:26 AM ^
That whole week felt surreal.
November 17th, 2019 at 8:27 AM ^
Bo died almost 5 years to the day my grandfather died(November 18th, 2001).
When I heard that Bo died I cried. It was a painful reminder of what I had lost 5 years prior.
Gramps was ten years older than Bo, but like Bo was Ohio-bred with a funny name who was one tough SOB(amateur boxer, US Marine).
Being Italian Catholic in a Protestant-dominated country meant that growing up Gramps was a Domer. He attended the ‘43 1 vs 2UM-ND game in Ann Arbor that ND ended up winning 35-12.
Though his affection for ND never faded he became a Michigan fan.Bo’s physical, blue collar brand of football appealed greatly to this son of a miner and former factory worker. Bo’s Michigan teams personified the working class ethos so many adhered to.
When he passed Gramps was buried in a Michigan sweater.
Rest in Peace, Gramps and Bo.
November 17th, 2019 at 8:53 AM ^
The Ki8ng is dead , The King will live forever.
November 17th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
Damn , it sure doesnt feel like its been that long :(
November 17th, 2019 at 12:00 PM ^
Bo was a great man on and off the field. He will always be missed. I sometimes wonder "What would Bo say..." about the current state of college football. His opinions in his latter years were so on point.
November 17th, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^
I didn't realize it was this early in November. I had forgotten that we always used to play Ohio State before Thanksgiving week.