The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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32 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 100. It's not like horseshoes. You've got to get it." Shocker Of A Game Week Those close to Schembechler knew he struggled through the days leading up to the shock that was to come. Longtime Michigan equipment manager Jon Falk took him home from Schembechler Hall on Monday of Ohio State week and made the mistake of trying to assist him into his home. Falk received a push and a gruff response. "He says, 'I'll walk into that house. I don't need your help,'" Falk recalled. Carr asked him on Wednesday if Schem- bechler wanted to address to the team on Thursday, like he'd always done. Schem- bechler said yes, but acknowledged he wasn't right. "I said, 'How are you doing?'" Carr re- called. "He said, 'I can't live like this.' I'll never forget that." Carr asked what he meant, and Schem- bechler admitted: "'I can't get my breath. Can't sleep.'" Carr told him he'd check back with him on Thursday to see if he was up to the task of addressing the team. The following day, Schembechler was ready to go, toughness on display. "I looked at him, and he didn't look good," Carr remembered. "But there were times down through the years where he didn't look good. You worried about him, but he always came out of it. He said, 'No, I want to do it now.' "I said, 'You need a chair?' and he said, 'No, I don't need a chair.'" So the lion in winter stood through an impassioned speech. That very day, he'd attended the funeral of former Michigan quarterback Tom Slade. Schembechler spoke to the team about Slade's battle with cancer, about how every time the coach and player got together, they wound up talking Michigan football. He un- derscored the incredible opportunity ahead, against Ohio State, and the special nature of the club to which they all belonged. Carr recalled: "I'll never forget, his mes- sage was, 'You guys don't know how lucky you are. You're the luckiest guys in the world, to play football at Michigan, to go to this great school.'" "He gave a great speech to the team, one of the best speeches I've ever heard Bo give before a Michigan-Ohio State game," Falk said. "In fact, [former Michigan strength and conditioning coach] Mike Gittleson and I went in to see Bo after the speech, and we both told him that it was a great speech." Schembechler never gave another. The following morning, Schembechler drove to Southfield to tape his weekly televi- sion show, "Big Ten Ticket," at the studios of WXYX-TV. Preparing for the TV show, he collapsed, leading to the frantic rush to the nearby hospital. Schembechler was demanding of his players, but his tough love approach engendered their everlasting admiration, respect and loyalty. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN