ABJ
Coaching legend returns to roots
Schembechler discusses leadership in Barberton
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sportswriter
BARBERTON - Glenn E. Schembechler was back in the land where purple can be worn with any other color.
The man affectionately known as ``Barberton Bo'' returned to his hometown and his alma mater Wednesday, giving two motivational speeches, greeting old and new friends, and signing autographs.
Schembechler, 77, whose legacy includes a brilliant 21-year career as football coach at the University of Michigan, said he has a firm understanding about how his formative years affected his professional years.
``My dad was a fireman here. It was a very industrial town,'' Schembechler said. ``We lived in a working neighborhood. You develop a work ethic.
``I never had a car when I was here. I never had a ride to school. You did what you had to do. I like Barberton. This is my kind of town.''
Schembechler has not been back to Barberton in years, but has not lost his affection for one of the city's delicacies, despite a series of health problems.
He and members of the school and community had chicken from Belgrade Gardens before his speeches.
``I have had two heart attacks and two open-heart surgeries. I am a diabetic. I have a pacemaker,'' Schembechler said. ``At the medical complex at Michigan, they say it is a miracle I am alive. And I had fried chicken for lunch.''
Schembechler was a football and baseball standout at Barberton High School, graduating in 1947. He played offensive line at Miami University in Oxford and graduated in 1951.
He was an assistant coach at Ohio State for five seasons under Woody Hayes before taking over as coach at Miami in 1963. He stayed there six seasons and compiled a record of 40-17-3.
In 1969, he became coach at Michigan and led the Wolverines to a 194-48-5 record over 21 seasons. His Michigan teams won or shared 13 Big Ten titles and went to 17 postseason games, including 10 Rose Bowls.
Schembechler, now a professor emeritus at Michigan, drove to Barberton with former Magics basketball star Marty Bodnar and ex-Michigan running back Jamie Morris, who both are assistant athletic directors at Michigan.
Schembechler was invited to speak as part of a leadership retreat for Barberton staff members. He also addressed the school's football team.
The group for the leadership retreat was smaller than expected because union officials asked members of the teachers' bargaining unit not to attend because of stalled contract negotiations. However, the event was open to the public and about 175 people heard Schembechler speak about his career and about various leadership issues.
He was funny as well as informative -- and did not mind speaking forthright about many of his selected topics.
``I never talked to a player in my office when I didn't have his (academic) transcript in front of me,'' he said. ``Now, with the NCAA and the Privacy Act, a coach can't see a player's transcript. Someone else can. That's a dumb thing.''
He also offered no apologies for being a demanding taskmaster in search of perfection.
``I was a tough coach, but I found that tough love works,'' he said. ``That's what a teacher is about, what a coach is about. Players respect that.
``I wanted to build a program around character and fundamental values. If you do that, your chances for success are 10 times better than if you don't.''
Schembechler had a series of high-profile games coaching against Hayes in the heated Michigan-Ohio State series, but his respect for his late mentor was obvious.
``The hardest-working coach I ever knew was Woody,'' he said.
Schembechler saved one of his most pointed opinions for his session with the media.
``I am worried about the continued pressure we put on football players and coaches,'' he said. ``Every time (college administrators) come up short on money, they add another game.
``These kids never go home. They play football year-round. It's less fun -- and it makes me nervous.''
Schembechler drew laughs and applause repeatedly during his return home, which came as no surprise to Bodnar.
``He is still a great speaker. You think he would lose a little bit, but he still has a gift,'' Bodnar said. ``You listen to him and you can tell how he was able to motivate players.''
Coaching legend returns to roots
Schembechler discusses leadership in Barberton
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sportswriter
BARBERTON - Glenn E. Schembechler was back in the land where purple can be worn with any other color.
The man affectionately known as ``Barberton Bo'' returned to his hometown and his alma mater Wednesday, giving two motivational speeches, greeting old and new friends, and signing autographs.
Schembechler, 77, whose legacy includes a brilliant 21-year career as football coach at the University of Michigan, said he has a firm understanding about how his formative years affected his professional years.
``My dad was a fireman here. It was a very industrial town,'' Schembechler said. ``We lived in a working neighborhood. You develop a work ethic.
``I never had a car when I was here. I never had a ride to school. You did what you had to do. I like Barberton. This is my kind of town.''
Schembechler has not been back to Barberton in years, but has not lost his affection for one of the city's delicacies, despite a series of health problems.
He and members of the school and community had chicken from Belgrade Gardens before his speeches.
``I have had two heart attacks and two open-heart surgeries. I am a diabetic. I have a pacemaker,'' Schembechler said. ``At the medical complex at Michigan, they say it is a miracle I am alive. And I had fried chicken for lunch.''
Schembechler was a football and baseball standout at Barberton High School, graduating in 1947. He played offensive line at Miami University in Oxford and graduated in 1951.
He was an assistant coach at Ohio State for five seasons under Woody Hayes before taking over as coach at Miami in 1963. He stayed there six seasons and compiled a record of 40-17-3.
In 1969, he became coach at Michigan and led the Wolverines to a 194-48-5 record over 21 seasons. His Michigan teams won or shared 13 Big Ten titles and went to 17 postseason games, including 10 Rose Bowls.
Schembechler, now a professor emeritus at Michigan, drove to Barberton with former Magics basketball star Marty Bodnar and ex-Michigan running back Jamie Morris, who both are assistant athletic directors at Michigan.
Schembechler was invited to speak as part of a leadership retreat for Barberton staff members. He also addressed the school's football team.
The group for the leadership retreat was smaller than expected because union officials asked members of the teachers' bargaining unit not to attend because of stalled contract negotiations. However, the event was open to the public and about 175 people heard Schembechler speak about his career and about various leadership issues.
He was funny as well as informative -- and did not mind speaking forthright about many of his selected topics.
``I never talked to a player in my office when I didn't have his (academic) transcript in front of me,'' he said. ``Now, with the NCAA and the Privacy Act, a coach can't see a player's transcript. Someone else can. That's a dumb thing.''
He also offered no apologies for being a demanding taskmaster in search of perfection.
``I was a tough coach, but I found that tough love works,'' he said. ``That's what a teacher is about, what a coach is about. Players respect that.
``I wanted to build a program around character and fundamental values. If you do that, your chances for success are 10 times better than if you don't.''
Schembechler had a series of high-profile games coaching against Hayes in the heated Michigan-Ohio State series, but his respect for his late mentor was obvious.
``The hardest-working coach I ever knew was Woody,'' he said.
Schembechler saved one of his most pointed opinions for his session with the media.
``I am worried about the continued pressure we put on football players and coaches,'' he said. ``Every time (college administrators) come up short on money, they add another game.
``These kids never go home. They play football year-round. It's less fun -- and it makes me nervous.''
Schembechler drew laughs and applause repeatedly during his return home, which came as no surprise to Bodnar.
``He is still a great speaker. You think he would lose a little bit, but he still has a gift,'' Bodnar said. ``You listen to him and you can tell how he was able to motivate players.''
