The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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ence that Darden's mother fell in love with him right away. Elliott referred to Thomas' parents as Mr. and Mrs. Darden. They told Thomas, "He's not like the other coaches." Thom felt Bump was "a kind man, someone you can trust. If he said something to you, you knew that he was telling the truth. I liked Bump and he made me feel that I was part of the Michigan experience. I also wanted to play for him, but he was fired." Darden continued, "Bump was re- sponsible for my six teammates and I leasing our house in my junior year. That house became the 'Den of the Mellow Men.' Mike Oldham and Glenn Doughty brought Bump the house listing. He took care of it from there. When I moved to Iowa, I looked Bump up, and continue to have con- tact with him." Mike Keller said that Bump took a personal interest in him and his aca- demics. "Bump knew that in order to play I had to be eligible," Keller said. Bump was easy to be around, like an uncle. Keller was also friends with Bruce, Pete Elliott's son (and Bump's nephew), and as a senior became friends with Bruce's brother Dave. Mike said that it was Bump who first approached him and asked him to run for the Board of Intercollegiate Athlet- ics at the University of Michigan. He did, and won. Frank Gusich remembered that Bump made a strong impression with both him and his mother. Elliott was "a real gentleman, a real classy guy. And it didn't hurt that Michigan had a good academic reputation." Fritz Seyferth described Bump as a gentleman, respectful of every indi- vidual, dapper, well-spoken, perfect, like an Ivy Leaguer. He didn't think that Bump would have run Schem- bechler's slap-and-stomp drill because it disrespected the individual. These Michigan Wolverines who spanned two iconic coaching tenures contributed greatly to and personify the Michigan tradition. Together they represent a cross-section of young men from different backgrounds who bonded and became relentless in achieving their common goal. They came together, and in 1969 they achieved together. ❑ Reprinted with the permission of Triumph Books. For more information go to www.Tri- umphBooks.com/BosWarriors Schembechler believed that if his players were in top physical condition, they would also develop greater mental toughness, and he emphasized both aspects. FILE PHOTO