  Goblue Member Username: Goblue Post Number: 383 Registered: 03-2007 |
Excerpt from Bo's book..... It's one thing, when you start in a new position, to throw a bucket of cold water on your people to let them know things are going to be different around here from now on. That's just smart. But it's something completely different to do the same thing to the institution you're taking over. That's just stupid! Let me explain. One of the most common mistakes new leaders make—and I just can't for the life of me understand this one—is to ignore the history of the organization they just took over, or even to disrespect it. That, to me, is the mark of a weak leader—and one who's probably not going to last very long. Let me be as clear as I can be about this: When you become the leader, do not start your reign by dismantling or ignoring the contributions of those who came before. The history of your organization is one of your greatest strengths, and if you're new to the organization, it's your job to learn it, to respect it and to teach it to the people coming up in your company. Sure, it's easy to appreciate Michigan's football history—the best, I'd say, in college football. But even if I had gone to Wisconsin, they have a good history, too. Ditto North Carolina. In fact, anywhere I might have gone had to have some history, or it wouldn't still exist! And that goes for any organization you might join, too. When I arrived in Ann Arbor, I was an outsider—born and raised in Ohio, played at Miami, coached at Ohio State for Woody Hayes, for crying out loud—but I already knew a lot about Michigan. And after I got here, I made it my business to learn more, and fast. When I was thirteen years old, my family drove to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a fishing trip. It was mid-August, and we had to return a little early because I had to be back in Barberton for football practice. On the way back down, I made my dad stop in Ann Arbor so I could see Michigan's famous football team. Now, my dad wasn't a big football fan—he didn't know a thing about Fritz Crisler or his great teams—but he was willing to indulge me. So he parked on State Street, and I got out by myself and walked right up to the practice field—right where we built our first football building in the early 1970s, right where Schembechler Hall is today. When I looked through that iron gate, those guys were huge, bigger than life! Even their practice uniforms looked shiny and special to me. The one guy who really impressed me was Lenny Ford. I already knew who he was—I'd read about him in the papers and heard his name on the radio—but seeing him right there, in front of me, was really something. I can even remember exactly what I was thinking when I looked at all those players out there: Someday, that's going to be me! I was too shy to say anything then, but the rest of the way home I went on and on in the back seat about the great Michigan tradition, naming every All-American of theirs I knew. I probably drove my folks nuts, but I was in heaven. I always wanted to go to Michigan. We had a Michigan alumnus down in Barberton talking to me, but I wasn't good enough to play for the Wolverines, and I knew it. I guess they knew it, too! Twenty-seven years later, when I became Michigan's new football coach, the first person to visit me was William D. Revelli, the legendary band conductor. "Anything you need from me or the band," he said, "all you need to do is ask." That impressed me. So when the freshmen arrived that August, I asked Dr. Revelli to teach them how to sing "The Victors." But brother, let me tell you: He didn't just teach them "The Victors." He taught them Michigan tradition! I gathered the freshmen at Yost Field House, when in walks Dr. William D. Revelli, in full uniform. Marvelous man. Marvelous! I loved that guy. "Gentlemen," I said, "you are now going to hear about the greatest college fight song from the greatest band director in the history of college football." Now I'm sure the freshmen were thinking, What the hell is this? These are big, young, tough guys, after all, and Revelli's a lean, short, distinguished-looking older gentleman—a band director right out of central casting. But when Revelli marched up to the front of that room, he commanded those football players exactly the way he commanded his band. In about five seconds, he had those big lugs in his back pocket! He rose to the podium, tapped his baton, looked right into their eyes and said, "JOHN PHILIP SOUSA CALLED THIS THE GREATEST FIGHT SONG EVER WRITTEN. AND YOU WILL SING IT WITH RESPECT!" Wow! He had those guys out of their seats, and standing up STRAIGHT! And they sang that song right. I liked his speech so much, I invited Dr. Revelli back every year to teach the new guys what Michigan tradition was all about. God, he was beautiful. I also reached out to Bump Elliott, my predecessor, who was instrumental in my getting the job. He's a man of great class. How many former coaches go out of their way to make sure the guy taking over their job has everything he needs to succeed? That was Bump. If he wanted to, Bump could have made life very difficult for me. Hell, he could have set me up for failure. His players loved him, really loved him—and remember, that first year I was coaching all his players. I was an outsider, they didn't owe me anything, and it wasn't like I was making life easy for them, either. Bump was a former Michigan All-American, and a whole lot nicer than I was! They could have complained to him—he was still working in the athletic office—and I bet some of them tried, but he would have none of it. He made it clear to everyone that he was on my side. Bump showed me what he was made of a dozen times, never interfering, always supporting me, in public and in private. That was a great gift—one I remembered years later when it was my turn to pass the torch. I made a lot of mistakes, but one thing I got right, after we started having some success, was never once claiming that I alone had put that team together—because I hadn't. And at no time did I ignore the guys who played here before I arrived, either. It was their tradition, not mine, that I was now in charge of, and I was going to show them I respected what they'd built here. That's why a lot of those guys are my friends today, great guys like Bob Timberlake and Ron Johnson, who kept Michigan tradition alive before I ever showed up. I also went out of my way to get to know Fritz Crisler, who had been Michigan's coach from 1938 to 1947—he won a national title his last year—and the athletic director from 1941 to 1968, right before I got to Ann Arbor. He coached that Michigan team I saw when I was a kid peeking through the iron fence. Crisler invented Michigan's famous winged helmet, the modern field goal posts, and the platoon system, which created specialists for offense and defense. Without that, football as we know it today would not exist. This guy was a giant. I was pretty busy my first year in Ann Arbor, but I found time to go over to his house and sit in his basement, to listen to his theories and hear his stories. I got to know the tradition that is Michigan. I studied it, I followed it, I got to know the people who created it, young and old. I don't think you can operate any other way. And I taught Michigan's tradition to my players, and to my coaches. Yost's Point-A-Minute teams, Crisler's Mad Magicians, the great players—Willie Heston, Bennie Oosterbaan, Bob Chappuis—the great stadium, the fight song, the rich history. I made it a point to learn about all of it, and pass it on. Remember this: WHEN YOU ARE THE LEADER, YOU ARE THE ORGANIZATION. You are the company, the school, the team. You are it. Now if you want to act like some kind of jerk where guys who worked for the program and led the program and sacrificed for the program are not welcome to come back—well, you're not going to have much of a program. And you certainly won't have a family. But if you respect your history, you'll get a lot more in return. When I coached at Ohio State and even at Miami, we had really good facilities. When I got here, I was shocked. Our locker room was on the second floor of Yost Field House. We sat in rusty, folding chairs and hung our clothes on nails hammered into a two-by-four bolted into the wall. Those were our "lockers"! My coaches started complaining. "What the hell is this?" they said. "We had better stuff at Miami." I cut that off right away. "No, we didn't," I said. "See this chair? Fielding Yost sat in this chair. See this nail? Fielding Yost hung his hat on this nail. And you're telling me we had better stuff at Miami? No, men, we didn't. We have tradition here, Michigan tradition, and that's something no one else has!" Well, that settled that! And that's exactly what I taught our players. After we knocked off the unbeatable Buckeyes in 1969, it was my duty to give away the game ball. I had a lot of good choices. There was Garvie Craw, who ran for two touchdowns. There was Barry Pierson, our senior defensive back, who grabbed three interceptions that day, ran back a punt to the Ohio State three-yard line, and turned in one of the single greatest performances I've ever seen. But once everyone quieted down, I asked Bump Elliott to come up, and handed the game ball to him. Everyone got choked up, including Bump. Some guys were out and out crying—and I don't remember when I felt better about anything I've done in my entire life. The night we won that game, Fritz Crisler was in a bed at U-M Hospital, watching on TV. As soon as the players and fans charged the field going crazy, Fritz grabbed a pen and paper and wrote me this letter. SATURDAY NIGHT, 1969 MY DEAR BO, I have had a lot of football thrills in my lifetime, but the masterpiece you and the Michigan team turned in this afternoon will stand prominently in the list. In game preparation against seemingly overwhelming odds, I have never seen a team better conditioned, technically, physically and mentally, to reach such a high inspirational peak, as you and your staff had those kids this afternoon. It was the greatest upset I have ever witnessed. The achievement will have a long life in the contribution to the richness of Michigan's enviable football history and tradition. Even callous me shed a few uncontrolled tears from sheer pride and joy as the game ended. My very best to you and the team, always always. Fondly, Fritz Crisler How much does that letter mean to me? I have it framed on the wall, right next to my TV, so whenever I'm watching a game, like Fritz was that night, it's right there. I've read it a thousand times. You tell me how much that letter means to me. Bo | ||
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed Post Number: 1339 Registered: 02-2006 |
Good stuff, but not sure what it has to do with MSU. Don't tarnish his words by using them to make your own personal points, "Goblue". | ||
Leland_palmer Member Username: Leland_palmer Post Number: 381 Registered: 08-2004 |
Not afraid to violate copyright! Why not quote the whole book. | ||
Goblue Member Username: Goblue Post Number: 389 Registered: 03-2007 |
The point is that tradition is the difference...Bo's says/said it all.... Leland: Relax on the copyright...it was posted on the web!! | ||
Eastside61 Member Username: Eastside61 Post Number: 278 Registered: 07-2006 |
GB - Good that you are back and that the u OF M rehab program is working....I will later post the new photos of your new Green and White underwear, ties, shirts and even shoes that you are wearing....good for you old boy...I know you Eastsiders are strong....brave and still in recovery. You could of thanked the SPARTANS for crushing ND last weekend but the bottomline is that you truly are a good guy....who went a little crazy in grad school and earlier this month..... Duffy D will be there at the gates of heaven to greet you too... | ||
Soomka1 Member Username: Soomka1 Post Number: 45 Registered: 02-2007 |
Bo was a dick. The only reason I went to MSU instead of U of M is because I thought Bo was such a douche bag and I didn't like the way he represented the university. So I guess I owe him a debt of gratitude because it wasn't until I later visited friends at U of M that I realized how much better looking the MSU girls were. | ||
Eastside61 Member Username: Eastside61 Post Number: 280 Registered: 07-2006 |
Soomka1 .....Hey GB...S1 is right on!••••• MSU had the foxes.....Please calm down a little.....NW might be ready this weekend.....so repeat after me "Bo is a Dick" | ||
Spartacus Member Username: Spartacus Post Number: 237 Registered: 07-2005 |
MSU has no tradition??? In the history of the coaches poll (approaching 60 years) here is an interesting fact regarding final rankings: MSU #1-2 #2-3 #3-3 UM #1-0 #2-2 #3-3 Pretty impressive record of achievement for the school with the "greatest football tradition" I guess UM was pretty good from 1900-1910. You beat a lot of good Ypsilanti highschool teams during that period. | ||
Pffft Member Username: Pffft Post Number: 1375 Registered: 12-2003 |
Go Blue's post is the very reason so many of us enjoyed seeing U-M walloped in football. The arrogance of thinking that only U-M has a football tradition?•• Only U-M has a great fight song? Unbelievable... | ||
Irish_mafia Member Username: Irish_mafia Post Number: 1047 Registered: 10-2003 |
GO Blue has to post this kind of crap. His team 2-2 so he has to reach to the words of a dead man to seek comfort. Here's tradition Dantanio was under Sabin was under Perles was under Duffy was under Biggy. Great men all! I went to Pasedena in 87 to watch George's team win...something that dirtbag team from AA seems to have a problem doing of late. I will look forward to going back there to watch Dantonio's teams win for many years to come. RIP Michigan, now all you have are your beautiful co-eds | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 809 Registered: 03-2006 |
Smooka's dumb comments made me remember an incident in the late 70s. We made a trip to see UM play football at Indiana. I was walking with an Indiana fan to the stadium and he was saying the same thing about a recruit who went to Indiana. The guy couldnt stand Bo, so he decided to go to IU. Then the fan starts ripping Bo to me, which was humorous. I asked him how do you like your winning basketball team, and he went on and on about it. At that point I told him isnt it nice to have an asshole for a coach. | ||
Jtw Member Username: Jtw Post Number: 171 Registered: 06-2005 |
wow, there are so many misreadings and vitriolic statements from many of the [presumably] michigan staters here that i can't even begin to address them. blanket statements are apparently only acceptable when they're directed at the university of michigan! | ||
Jelk Member Username: Jelk Post Number: 4632 Registered: 10-2003 |
Gee I always thought the difference between UM and MSU had to do with UM's elite academics and research. While MSU is a very good school of it's kind, Michigan remains among the 20-25 best universities in the country. But I guess that's irrelevant if you have a good fight song. | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 810 Registered: 03-2006 |
Its forty years of frustration for MSU. A lot of people do not realize there was a 2 decade span where MSU was a big time winner, the 50's and 60's. They beat UM on a regular basis and where nationally ranked year after year. When Bo came he turned the whole thing around. You can call him whatever you like, and rip UM all you want, but the facts are the facts. If it makes you happy to blame Bo for the past 40 years, then the fact is, your right. | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 777 Registered: 01-2006 |
WHAT tradition? You guys certainly do win a lot of games, send some guys to the pros, and once every 5 years win a bowl game. With that said... the arrogance takes away from any prestige that was earned. Two of your 3 most famous games are: 1. A loss to a div. 1AA team; 2. A loss at Ohio State, pathetically billed "game of the century". Your stadium is the largest in America, yet about as loud as Indiana. How in the hell can you proclaim to be "champions of the west" when your national titles (which all wal-mart wolverines claim is all that matters) are separated by decades? (Message edited by detroitstar on September 27, 2007) | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 2649 Registered: 07-2004 |
Having lived in a2 a long damn time I emphasize with those that find um and the athletic tradtion arrogant.Having said that you spartans need to move on.Getover it or don't get over it; the fact is there is a tradition at um especially football that msu does not come close to.............so fucking what.............move on for chrissake.... | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 779 Registered: 01-2006 |
Nobody here said that MSU has MORE tradition...the reality is that much of Michigan's "glory" is largly embellished. Spartan fans, though punished with 40 years of lousy football have a much more clear sense of reality. Look, as a Spartan, even I will sit here and acknowledge that Michigan has historically had superior football program, but you will never convince me that it is the best in the nation, or even the best in the big ten. off the top of my head... schools with less wins than Michigan, but more tradition: Notre Dame USC Nebraska Ohio State Oklahoma Texas | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 334 Registered: 12-2006 |
Jelk, Perhaps if MSU got the funding it deserved it would be able to improve. I always find it funny that the school with the smaller student population (Michigan) gets more funding from the state than the school with the bigger student body (Michigan State). Also, for the record, I believe that in the most recent US news and world reports, Michigan actually fell out of the top 25 for schools overall. Now, onto the topic of traditions. How about the fact that Michigan stole Michigan State's helmet? That's right, before Michigan adopted the winged helmet, Michigan State (then MAC) wore a winged helmet. Lastly, if you want to thank one person for making Bo's legacy, thank Woody Hayes. After his 1974 team got shocked by MSU, he blew the whistle on a minor transgression on the MSU football team that got blown up to the point where it cost MSU scholarships. At that time, MSU was only 8 years removed from its last National Championship and only two years removed from having Duffy Daugherty as their head coach. Losing those scholarships ruined MSU's ability to compete and Bo reaped all the benefits, turning Michigan into a national power as the dominance the Spartans had in the 50s and 60s faded into memory. Without those lost scholarships, MSU stays competitive and Bo becomes a good coach for Michigan, but not the legend he became. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 430 Registered: 05-2004 |
When a employer looks at your resume I think he'll be more impressed if you graduated from U of M. | ||
Soomka1 Member Username: Soomka1 Post Number: 46 Registered: 02-2007 |
Kenp, thanks for proving my point. Bo was EXACTLY like Bobby Knight, except Indiana got a few national championships in exchange for Knights idiotic behavior. All you got was the annual beatdown in whatever bowl game you were in. I always liked watching Bo stand there in his stupid windbreaker, grandpa sunglasses and his 49 cent U of M baseball cap as Washington, USC or UCLA lit him up. He could never understand why they didn't play fair and run up the middle every down like Woody did. In fact as the Oregon game and the last two USC games prove, some things never change. I do appreciate that U of M tradition. | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 2650 Registered: 07-2004 |
I am willing to bet that Mich gear sells at or near the top on a national level......whether those schools mentioned have "more" tradition than UM is debateable.What is not debateable is that UM does have a recognized footbal tradition. | ||
El_jimbo Member Username: El_jimbo Post Number: 336 Registered: 12-2006 |
And so does MSU, Citylover. | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 811 Registered: 03-2006 |
My point Soomka1 is that Bo took MSU out of the national picture, and even more so, in the last 40 years MSU hasnt even been a Big Ten threat. So I can see why you hate UM for it, I understand your bitterness. | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 812 Registered: 03-2006 |
El Jimbo, you were already on the downward spiral before 1974. Bo was dominating the area and was in charge. And get real, that was 33 years ago. I will thank Woody for one thing, he helped train Bo. MSU only can blame themselves, the were awful administrators. I do like the direction your going know. | ||
Gmich99 Member Username: Gmich99 Post Number: 245 Registered: 11-2005 |
Michigan is blessed to have two internationally recognized public universities whose academics and sports are regularly the topic of national media. Both schools have long histories on and off the field. Both schools are overwhelmingly positive forces in the state. If there should be any debate in this forum about these two institutions, it should be about the positive impacts. (Message edited by gmich99 on September 27, 2007) | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 813 Registered: 03-2006 |
Good observation Gmich99. Its like the Dems and Republicans. We wouldnt have this budget mess if we just got along. | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 2651 Registered: 07-2004 |
Don't let the fact get in the way of anything eljimbo http://www.clc.com/clcweb/publ ishing.nsf/Content/Rankings+An nual+Release+2007 | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 2653 Registered: 07-2004 |
I agree msu has a great football tradition | ||
Spartacus Member Username: Spartacus Post Number: 240 Registered: 07-2005 |
Citylover: your point? Do you really think that all of the schools on that list sell more licensed material than MSU? What about OSU, UCLA, USC and Texas A&M, none of these schools made the top 75? Do they all sell worse than Texas State University- San Marcos? The obvious answer is no, not all Universities use CLC. I don't think eljimbo denied that UM stuff sells well (I believe that are big sellers at Wal-Mart, for example). He merely stated that MSU's stuff also sells well, and he's right (this was particularly true in 1990- the year they won the basketball championship and were 10-2 in football). Althouth it is true, you won't see MSU gear during Cops episodes as often as UM stuff. Another interesting tidbid, until UF did it this past year, MSU was the ONLY school to have multiple national titles in Football and basketball. | ||
Citylover Member Username: Citylover Post Number: 2654 Registered: 07-2004 |
well actually msu stuff does not sell anywhere near what mich stuff does_ not that I give a shit but ..............well as I said don't let the facts get in the way........... |
