Schembechler Hall
Schembechler Hall at dusk. Photo courtesy: jsvig.com
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A Stamp of the Heart of a Champion
A Stamp of the Heart of a Champion
By Ethan VanHoose
Exterior photograph of Schembechler Hall, April 11, 2023, by Ethan VanHoose.
An Ohio native is the all-time winningest coach for the University of Michigan football program and the namesake of a multipurpose building that promotes program excellence and showcases history. Schembechler Hall is named after "the Michigan Man" who led Michigan football to 21 straight winning seasons and a program-leading 194 total wins (“More Than a Football Coach”). Alongside his remarkable coaching career, he is admired for his devotion to the university. He embodied the essence of the Leaders & Best community, inspiring leadership, dedication, and community spirit among his team and the U-M students, alumni, and fans.
Schembechler Hall was built in 1990, promptly following Bo’s retirement (“Schembechler Hall Construction”). The building honors Bo’s far-reaching impact on the U-M community, displays the famed 143-year history of Michigan football, and fosters the program’s continued success (Biggers).
Statue of Coach Bo outside of Schembechler Hall. Photo courtesy: jbgsculpture.net
Towsley Museum win wall and memorabilia. Photo courtesy: intarch.com
The Towsley Museum inside Schembechler Hall takes visitors on an immersive journey through the past, present, and future of the Maize & Blue. In addition to a cherished collection of memorabilia, the Towsley Museum features an impressive win wall: a two-story tall glass wall decorated with commemorative footballs that the program’s 989 NCAA-leading victories (“Schembechler Hall's Towsley Museum”; Biggers).
Schembechler Hall also caters to current football student-athletes and recruits. Serving as a central hub for the program, Schembechler Hall houses numerous essential spaces and resources, including team meeting rooms, athletic medicine and rehabilitation spaces, training facilities, and dedicated recovery and nutrition zones (“Regents Approve Schembechler Hall Renovation”). Lastly, the built-in tunnel experience attracts prospective athletes from across the country. Recruits can begin their visit by suiting up in Michigan Jordan gear and capturing the moment through a professional photo shoot (Hole).
Recruiting tunnel experience. Photo courtesy: hntb.com
Glenn Edward “Bo” Schembechler Jr., the namesake of Schembechler Hall, earned his nickname as a child. His sister Marge mispronounced “brother” as “Bobo,” and the one-named college coach legend was born (“More Than a Football Coach”). Bo’s nickname is symbolic of “new beginnings and insight,” originating from the Scandinavian byname Búi and word bua meaning “to live” (Desai; Campbell). Bo lived up to his name, gifting football expertise and inspiration to those around him.
His distinguished football career began as a team leader and player for Miami University football (“More Than a Football Coach”). He later transitioned to coaching as a graduate student assistant for the Ohio State University football program under the mentorship of his former Miami football coach and future top rival, Woody Hayes (“More Than a Football Coach”).
In December of 1968, Bo Schembechler was named the 15th head coach for Michigan football on a handshake, only 15 minutes after first stepping on campus (“More Than a Football Coach”). “‘Bo,’ [U-M Athletic Director Don Canham] said, ‘I’m offering you the job.’ Bo replied, ‘Good’” (“More Than a Football Coach”). Upon his hire, his wife Millie asked him, “‘What’s it going to pay? He said, ‘I forgot to ask’” (“More Than a Football Coach”). Bo vowed to restore the program’s standard of excellence and help the young athletes develop into leaders by providing lasting lessons.
Bo Schembechler after a victory, 1986, by Eric Risberg. Photo courtesy: detroitnews.com
In his first season, he brought success, pride, and hope to the U-M program: hallmarks of his coaching career. Bo emerged victorious in the first matchup of his “Ten Year War” with his former mentor and Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes, soundly defeating top-ranked Ohio State (“More Than a Football Coach”). Following the historic rivalry win, Bo and the team were invited to play in the prestigious Rose Bowl game, marking the first of Bo’s ten appearances in the post-season competition (“More Than a Football Coach”). Bo suffered a heart attack the night before the game, yet he still called the plays from his hospital bed - a testament to his admirable leadership and devotion to the team (“More Than a Football Coach”). Bo’s lasting legacy continues to inspire, encouraging clinicians to research and apply the science of football teams to improve the performance of ICU teams and patient care (Costa).
In 2021, there were discussions of renaming Schembechler Hall following allegations that Bo was aware of repeated incidents of sexual assault of student-athletes by former team doctor Dr. Robert Anderson and failed to take action (Lewand). However, no formal charges were brought against Schembechler (Lewand). Despite this controversy, the Board of Regents has maintained the namesake.
By honoring Bo Schembechler, the U-M community is reminded of his exceptional character and integrity, inspiring generations of Wolverines. Schembechler Hall continues to preserve the football program’s legacy and command it into a bright future.
Works Cited
Biggers, Adam. “Inside Look at Towsley Family Museum, Home of Historic Michigan Memorabilia.” Bleacher Report, 20 May 2015, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2467653-inside-look-at-towsley-family-museum-home-of-historic-michigan-memorabilia. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Campbell, Mike. “Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Bo (1).” Behind the Name, 13 June 2019, https://www.behindthename.com/name/bo-1. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Costa, Deena Kelly. “The Team, the Team, the Team: What Critical Care Research Can Learn From Football Teams.” Annals of the American Thoracic Society, vol. 16, no. 12, United States: American Thoracic Society, pp. 1492–94, doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.201903-202IP. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Desai, Mary-Anne. “Bo.” Baby Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity, The Bump, 7 Apr. 2023, https://www.thebump.com/b/bo-baby-name. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Hole, Isaiah. “Watch: Sneak Peek inside Michigan Football Facilities.” Yahoo! Sports, Yahoo!, 19 Sept. 2022, https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-sneak-peek-inside-michigan-022457567.html?fr=sychp_catchall. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Lewand, Martha. “U-M Community Reacts to Matt Schembechler’s Press Conference, Debate Renaming of Schembechler Hall and Removal of Statue.” The Michigan Daily, 17 June 2021, https://www.michigandaily.com/news/administration/u-m-community-reacts-to-matt-schembechlers-press-conference-debate-renaming-of-schembechler-hall-and-removal-of-statue/. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
“More Than a Football Coach.” Human Resources at the University of Michigan, https://hr.umich.edu/more-football-coach. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Recruiting tunnel experience. HNTB, https://www.hntb.com/projects/university-of-michigan-schembechler-hall-football-performance-center-renovation/. Accessed 12 April 2023.
“Regents Approve Schembechler Hall Renovation.” University of Michigan Athletics, 19 Jan. 2012, https://mgoblue.com/news/2012/1/19/Regents_Approve_Schembechler_Hall_Renovation.aspx. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Risberg, Eric. Bo Schembechler after a victory. The Detroit News, 1986, https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2016/11/14/michigans-bo-schembechler-remembered-10-years-after-his-death/93849860/. Accessed 7 April 2023.
Schembechler Hall at dusk. J.S. VIG Construction, https://www.jsvig.com/portfolio-item/university-michigan-schembechler-hall/. Accessed 7 April 2023.
“Schembechler Hall Construction, Ca. April 1990.” University of Michigan Library Digital Collections, Bentley Historical Library, 11 Mar. 2016, https://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhl/x-bl016926/bl016926. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
“Schembechler Hall's Towsley Museum.” University of Michigan Athletics, https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/fanzone-towsley-museum-html.aspx. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.
Statue of Coach Bo outside of Schembechler Hall. JBG Sculpture, https://www.jbgsculpture.net/bo-schembechler/m2cxp8ikuzfjz7jcz76zbxzninkhaj. Accessed 12 April 2023.
Towsley Museum win wall and memorabilia. Integrated Architecture, https://www.intarch.com/projects/university-of-michigan-schembechler-hall/. Accessed 12 April 2023.
VanHoose, Ethan. Exterior photograph of Schembechler Hall. 11 Apr. 2023. Author’s personal collection.
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