The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/465847
LYTLE, TOUGH AND SELFLESS Dear The Wolverine: Reading the February 2015 issue, a joyful celebration of Jim Harbaugh and his return to Ann Arbor, I found it delightfully fitting that included was an article about the late Rob Ly- tle's induction into the College Foot- ball Hall of Fame. Much has been written about Harbaugh's competi- tiveness, toughness and team-first selflessness. Obviously, he learned a lot of that from Bo Schembechler and his father, Jack, one of Bo's assis- tant coaches, but I imagine that Lytle may have also had an influence. Lytle was a freshman the year Coach Jack came to Ann Arbor (1973), and grade-schooler Jim would sneak into weekday practices and serve as a sideline ball boy on game days. A couple years later, quarterback Rick Leach joined the team, and young Jim probably stud- ied Rick's every move. Nevertheless, Rob Lytle was being the model team player from the start. In addition to being tough, com- petitive, and selfless, Rob Lytle had "penguin-with-a-hot-herring-in- his-cummerbund" (a Ufer quote) SPEED. I remember seeing Rob compete for the Michigan track team in indoor meets during the winter before spring practice started. I can still recall Rob coiling himself into the starting blocks for the finals of the 60-meter dash, mus- cular shoulders, arms and thighs, with a long, thick mop of blond hair. There were many other Wolverine football players that used indoor track as part of their offseason train- ing. It will be difficult, but imagine fullback Russell Davis, a 230-pound, thick-necked bull of a man, hurl- ing himself over a high jump bar set near seven feet. I witnessed Tyrone Wheatley (also roughly the size of the team bus) getting nipped by inches in the finals of the 60 at FROM OUR READERS Be Heard! Send your letters to: Wolverine Letters • P.O. Box 1304 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Or e-mail: jborton@thewolverine.com Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Former Wolverine and now College Football Hall of Famer Rob Lytle (1973-76) was the model team player, displaying toughness, competitiveness and selflessness. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS