A Bo home-visit recruiting story

Submitted by Michigan House '75 on
Not sure if this should be a forum topic, but thought some might enjoy. If not, or if the content is not appreciated please delete. I was having dinner with my brother-in-law, who played at Michigan from '69 to '73. He's an Irishman from the south-side of Chicago who can tell stories for hours - most of which I've heard hundreds of times. Tonight it was recounting stories about Bo. I loved hearing them, but one in particular about a recruiting visit to Tommy Coyle's south-side Chicago home in 1969 was classic. Tom's dad, "Old Man Coyle", was a house painter and what a character - think Quint in Jaws, but a little more light-hearted. He and Tommy had just gotten back from a job and were covered in paint. This and twelve other kids running around when Bo and Malony arrive. Old Man Coyle proceeds to pass beers around to everyone including Tommy. Bo is shocked, turns to Mrs. Coyle and says, "Excuse me Mrs. Coyle," and then turns to Tommy - "If you drink that beer, I'm going to kick your ass!" Tommy then picks up the beer and guzzles it down. Coyle's dad is having a good laugh and turns to Bo - "Sorry Coach, you're in our house now and need to follow our rules." Seems he met his match. Tommy Coyle went on to have a great career at Michigan and was co-captain of the '73 team. Sadly, Tommy Coyle died in 2012 at 62. Other stories like Ara Parseghian recruiting Tom were pretty amusing too. Again, please delete if this post does not belong here. I just never know.
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pz

February 16th, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^

Sort of unreal that people are so hesitant - frightened even - to post anything, including high quality content, on the MGoBoard for fear of negative community feedback. That should change...

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3765

father fisch

February 20th, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^

Okay...my first post will be a Bo story.

Back in 1985, #2 Michigan was on the road at #1 Iowa.  My roomate was in the hospital with a life-threatening illness.  I had been calling around getting local sports figures to send autographed pictures to him (Sparky Anderson, Chuck Daly).

I called Bo's office and asked for the same.  Instead of a photograph, he made a personal call to my buddy's hospital room and spoke to him for several minutes.  This was on the week leading to the biggest game of the year!  The man was class through and through.

:-)

Joined: 02/20/2015

MGoPoints: 4806

father fisch

February 20th, 2015 at 9:51 PM ^

Yes.  I know it's not an in-home recruiting story but a number of these went to the heart of the man.  Forget what he did for Michigan football and you would still respect a guy like that for the way he carried himself, the standards that he held himself as well as others, and for just doing the right thing.

Go blue!

Joined: 02/20/2015

MGoPoints: 4806

24-12

February 21st, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^

That was not the only time Bo had to deal with Tom Coyle's drinking.  Coyle got drunk one night and threw a firewwod log through the window of my fraternity house at 620 S. State Street.  Rather than call the police, we called Bo.  He thanked us for not involving the police and said he would take care of it.  The next day Tom Coyle showed up to aplogize and fixed the window.  Until now, I had no idea he had prior glazing experience as a house painter.

Joined: 02/21/2015

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