Happy Birthday to Red Berenson
Oftentimes (shamefully) overlooked when people look back at the great coaches this university has had, Red Berenson turns 71 today (HT: VB).
Coach has been a great proponent on players finishing their four years at Michigan not only for the team but for their own education. In honor of his birthday (and because he's apparently sick today), I solicit the community to read this excellent piece written by the Daily about Coach earlier this year.
Red truly embodies everything that makes this university great and I am insanely grateful that he continues to hawk the Michigan bench.
The coach stood before the Foxes, just as many other coaches had before him. Cleary and Mason glowed about Chris’s potential. “What can we do for you?,” they would ask.
But this coach, the same man who scored six goals in a game for the St. Louis Blues, the same man who won NHL Coach of the Year in 1981, the same man who had singlehandedly made Michigan relevant again, wasn’t the glowing type.
“So,” the coach said, turning to Chris Fox, “What can you do for Michigan?”
Fox was stunned.
For months, coaches catered to his needs, promised him playing time. What did he owe this man he had just met? Who was recruiting whom here?
The coach sensed his hesitation. He had a knack for that sort of thing, like this moment was all scripted beforehand, as if he was prepared for Fox’s apprehensive response. It was part of the game.
“If you want to be a Michigan Man, you should know in the next week,” the coach said to the recruit, who looked and felt much more like a kid than he did when he walked into the office just minutes before. “It will just become clear.”
Fox left bearing the weight of words he didn't quite understand. What was it about this coach that gave him license to give him an ultimatum? He wasn’t sure. Berenson’s aura had left him shaken, but even more curious.
So the Foxes made their way down the block to Yost Ice Arena that Friday to watch Michigan, in future Hobey Baker-winner Brendan Morrison’s debut, defeat Notre Dame in a rout, 13-0.
The steely glare. The ultimatum. The aura. It all seemed to make sense to the 17-year-old after the game.
Chris Fox marched up to Berenson’s office soon after the game ended that night and committed. He wanted to be a Michigan Man.
Go Blue!
December 8th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
Great Ambassador for the University of Michigan. I hope he gets a good present this Saturday in the form of a W.
December 8th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
Red Berenson and Michigan hockey are collectively one of our greatest athletic traditions. I couldn't be prouder of Michigan than when I am at a game at Yost.
December 8th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
Happy Birthday Coach! Go Blue and whoop Sparty this weekend!
December 8th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^
beating sparty in front of 110,000 screaming people in the largest stadium in the country must be the coolest bday present ever.
December 8th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
A true ambassador for Michigan hockey and is a great coach. He can coach as long as he wants to coach.
December 8th, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^
Red hasn't gotten any older for like 30 years.
December 8th, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
Growing up, I attended Red's summer hockey camps in the '90s, and can honestly say that those experinces made me understand what the words "charachter" and "excellence" meant. It was Michigan, through Red, one of the greatest embodiments of a Michigan Man, who taught me that. Thanks Coach, and Happy Birthday.
December 8th, 2010 at 1:20 PM ^
were getting to the games early and banging on the glass and cheering him on as he came around the rink to the bench a long the boards. Everytime we'd get a wink and a thumbs up. Hard to beat that.
I am really jealous that my wife got to meat him. I told him that he'd have a different voice than she would expect (whenever my friends and I did Red's voice, we always made his voice grizzled, and had him pick on Koch by calling him crotch -end cool story bro). She got her picture with him and said he was really nice, of course I doubt that you could ever find a story of people not liking the guy.
Happy B-day Red! Can't wait to see you coach another win over MSU this weekend.
December 8th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
Happy Birthday, Coach! We're so proud you're our coach.
December 8th, 2010 at 2:05 PM ^
I know that at Michigan, we are not big on honoring individuals over the team, program, or university.
But in Red's case I think we need to make an exception.
I would completely support an Red Berenson statue outside of Yost Ice Arena.
In fact, I'll be disappointed if this doesnt happen at some point.
That man IS Michigan Hockey, and epitomizes a Michigan Man!
December 8th, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^
Red is the man. Its too bad that the term Michigan man has become so bastardized, but if there is one, Red is it.
December 8th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
Viva The Unit!
December 8th, 2010 at 5:37 PM ^
You are the definition of what all sports should be.
Thanks for so much.