Bo Schembechler's 'team' speech remains essence of Michigan football, 30 years later

Submitted by Cold War on

Sometimes you hear something that is so mesmerizing, you can't forget it.

You don't want to forget it.

The words, so forcefully punctuated without being corny or contrived, were delivered by a man who earnestly believed that no individual is more important than the team.

The team. The team. The team.



From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131122/SPORTS0201/311210001#ixzz2lWMVjm79

MGoBoard

M-Wolverine

November 23rd, 2013 at 8:11 PM ^

Like to parrot the words, but don't really follow up on it, ready to abandon "the team" the first chance thy get.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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TheLastHarbaugh

November 23rd, 2013 at 8:20 PM ^

They like to pretend they are a part of the team when we are winning. When everything is going great they have something to do with it, or helped in some small way. They ARE Michigan football. However, when things are down they're the first to give up and abandon ship. To start critcizing the players and coaches. They don't have anything to do with Michigan. It's not "their Michigan" any more.

Joined: 08/06/2008

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TheLastHarbaugh

November 23rd, 2013 at 10:57 PM ^

Ya, out of context, except that nothing I said is out of context to what you posted.

OK, let's review...

Anyone who wants a coach fired is now not a "true fan." Come on everyone, you must be for 6 yards total offense a half or you aren't a fan!

There is literally nothing in my post about being a true fan. Nothing. Not one single thing. There is also nothing about offensive schemes and the criticisms thereof. You've totally misrepresented what I've stated and made it into something that it is not. What I said was:

They like to pretend they are a part of the team when we are winning. When everything is going great they have something to do with it, or helped in some small way. They ARE Michigan football. However, when things are down they're the first to give up and abandon ship. To start critcizing the players and coaches. They don't have anything to do with Michigan. It's not "their Michigan" any more.

I even further expounded upon this in a response stating:

You're implying that I'm talking about "understandably frustrated" fans and not raging, irredeemable douche bags. Focus should be put on them. A hell of a lot of it. Fans can't control what happens on the field, but they can control how they conduct themselves.

Again, still nothing about being a true fan. Nothing in there at all about how you can't criticize anyone. I believe what I said can be summed up thusly, "Don't be a raging, irredeemable douche bag." To suggest I've said anything otherwise by those posts is to blatantly misrepresent what I've stated. To take those posts and apply it to other things or discussions is to take them out of context.

Especially when considering what you post in every thread supporting Borges and company.

Borges and company? Oh, do you mean Michigan? Right, well, good on you for making that observation. I definitely do support Michigan. Would be rather embarrassing if I didn't, considering all the time I've spent on this blog.

Here is IPFW in a nutshell...

A poster makes a thoughtful comment on the coaching staff, and the state of the program.

Enter IPFW

IPFW: LOL is Hoke ur dad or sumthin'? What a apologist! Why don't ya marry him if ya love him so much, dum dum!

End Scene

Edit: I assume the irony of the 2nd half of this post will be lost on you.

Joined: 08/06/2008

MGoPoints: 10710

Danwillhor

November 24th, 2013 at 1:05 AM ^

The same that run off when losing are the first to come back when winning, ignoring their rants to stop going, finding or "never watch again", etc. I admit we need another spark. This team and, sadly, seemingly our OC appear to have given up. Not literally but just the effort. You geek a sense of apathy right now. We need a spark. Better to come out swinging and see what happens with the result than the same old failing system. After the year, maybe we need s change to the staff but Hoke isn't going anywhere. Get used to that. Unless a Harbaugh suddenly wanted to save the college program they love (John) or played at and has spite towards (Jim) wants to come, we have Hoke. I'm fine with that but we need a spark. This team/staff as a whole almost look like they just want the year over with.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

MGoBlue96

November 23rd, 2013 at 8:27 PM ^

Most of us are on this site because we are extremely passionate about UM football/athletics. There are some fairweather fans just like any fanbase, but most of the displeasure is from people who will not stop supporting the team, and are understandably frustrated with the program not being up to the standards established by past greats like Bo, for several years now.

 

Joined: 12/26/2010

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Bryan

November 23rd, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^

Most everyone supports the 'team.' We just strongly dislike a certain coach

Bo is gone. I've been to his grave and he isn't coming back. We need to find a personality for the 21st century. Alabama has done it, Ohio State has done it (twice!) and M needs to as well

Joined: 07/10/2009

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white_pony_rocks

November 23rd, 2013 at 9:53 PM ^

Its because the players and the coaches don't give 2 shits about the fans, yet if it wasnt for the fans they wouldn't be playing/coaching football, this isnt pop warner football where their parents payed for them to play, and if anybody thinks any differently then they aren't thinking realistically

Joined: 02/16/2009

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Al Borges

November 23rd, 2013 at 11:44 PM ^

That's because they aren't part of "the team".  I guess I get tired of fans acting like they are on the team and look, I know Bo was great and all, but he couldn't call plays like I do.

Joined: 11/23/2013

MGoPoints: 13

TheLastHarbaugh

November 24th, 2013 at 11:59 AM ^

Where have I done that in this thread? Said so and so is not a "true fan?" Can you point to that? I think we've found IPFW's alt account.

Also, you know what, if you are the type of person who posts shit like this: 

Courntey Avery He is a garbage as bitch go back to warming the bench u piece of shit

We have A sloppy piece of shit oc and fat sloppy head coach that won't tell al what to do. Grow a sack Brady u fucking dumbfuck

This football Sucks dick. We are the laughing stock of the whole country. We average 200 yards a game we fucking suck go hire cam Cameron or someone that knows how to coach offense

New Thread. Same shitty product.

Fuck him and this staff. Nice 2nd half adjustments.

Fuck Borges

It is going to be a slaughter next Saturday....And, half the stadium will be Buckeyes. I hope they choke on their 15 dollar hot dogs and 9 dollar cokes..

Just said the same thing. I hope a guy like Peppers wont waste 3-4 yrs of his life in that shit storm

I'm to the point where if I saw borges on the street I would punch him in the face

FUCK SHIT STUPID FIRE

Go Hawkeyes. Anything to get rid of the steaming pile of shit we call Borges.

Gardner sucks!!!

LOL At this whole fucking team. They suck.

Holy fuck Wile

Borges you are a fucking moron.

Fuck Borges.

Borges is still a fucking idiot.

Fuck Al Borges.

AVERY!!!! WTF?! I can play the ball better than that!

Poorly defended by Avery. Can we release him?

Avery is Ass

Then you know what, fuck yeah I'm going to call you a shitty fan, and rightfully so. That is a selection of some of the comments from the open thread. Maybe you're the type of person that thinks it's OK for people to make those sorts of comments about college kids and their coaches, but I'm not, and I'm sure as hell going to police the fuck out of that sort of behavior by pointing to it and saying, "Shut the hell up."

 

I'm a awful fan but don't give a shit what other fans think.

You don't need to state that, we knew it already.

Joined: 08/06/2008

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jsquigg

November 24th, 2013 at 9:43 AM ^

How can you abandon the team when you don't have any interaction with the team other than maybe getting as close as the stgadium to watch them?  I feel bad for the players and I still hope they do well, but I am not behind a staff that doesn't put them in the best positions to succeed.  But since I have nothing to do with decision making or play calling or lining up, how can I abandon them?  If not supporting the staff (90% Borges) is equal to abandoning the team, then abandoning the team might actually be a good thing, and if enough people abandon the team a positive change might occur.  Then again, Dave Brandon is still the AD so we're probably screwed for a long time....

Joined: 09/06/2009

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BILG

November 23rd, 2013 at 8:25 PM ^

These speeches mean much more when you can carry on a tradition of winning, and they get air time during the Rose Bowl and national championship games.  Would be nice if we could start creating some new memories.

Joined: 08/31/2008

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The Crootin' Crouton

November 23rd, 2013 at 8:56 PM ^

ND was in the NCG last year.  Granted, they found themselves in an extremely fortunate position, but the best Michigan has done in the past... almost decade is a Sugar Bowl win over a pretty good VT team.  Making fun of ND for living in the past isn't really appropriate anymore.

Joined: 11/16/2013

MGoPoints: 269

SalvatoreQuattro

November 23rd, 2013 at 8:48 PM ^

are timeless. That isn't "living" in the past any more than adhering to the Bill of RIghts is "living in the past". It would be living in the past if UM ran the same plays Bo did years ago. It ISN'T living in the past to play hard, play clean, and to do so in an ethical manner.

 

Joined: 11/30/2010

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SalvatoreQuattro

November 23rd, 2013 at 9:05 PM ^

Being a "Michigan Man" has nothing to do with Al Borges crappy playcalling, but how the team is ran. It is not about schemes. Why for God's sake cannot you grasp this?

 

if you want Michigan to be  Bama and to be a win-at-all-costs program then perhaps you should ditch the Maize and Blue for Crimson and White because Michigan will and should never be about that.

Joined: 11/30/2010

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SalvatoreQuattro

November 23rd, 2013 at 9:21 PM ^

philosophy. You deserve to ahve your fandom questioned after that ridiculous statement.

 

Bo was saying that when you come to Michigan you play for each other and for championships. That is something every team strives for.

 

You for some reaosn interpreted negatively. Why I don't know.

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