As a diehard Michigan Wolverines fan, this is a hard post for me to write, as I am very conflicted about what is going on in Ann Arbor right now. Especially since one of the center pieces to this story, Glenn "Bo" Schembechler, is the primary reason I became a Michigan fan, instead of a Michigan State fan. As a new fan to football in the late 1980s, I bought into the legend of Bo. I bought in to the integrity he exuded, his commitment to doing things the right way, the honest way. I bought in to the idea that you can run a very successful program, and still be squeaky clean. Bo Schembechler was a LEADER OF MEN, someone you could believe in to do the right thing, to mold his football players into honorable men...
Over the past few days, details about the official report of former U of M physician Dr Anderson have been coming out. More specifically, that at least some of the sexual abuse he perpetrated on members of the Michigan athletic department was known to former football head coach Bo Schembechler. The report indicates that at least 4 former athletes came to Bo with their concerns about Dr. Anderson...and similar to Joe Paterno, Bo didn't do anything about it. I don't know if the information contained within these reports are true or not, and we can't ask any of the accused for their side of the story... However, if these accusations are true, then the University of Michigan needs to own up to this, be upfront with every detail, rather than attempt to cover it up like MSU and Penn State did. If the University of Michigan truly prides itself on integrity, and doing things the right way, now is the time to prove that commitment. Exonerating Bo Schembechler's legacy against false accusations is not the same thing as protecting his legacy from true accusations against it. If Bo is innocent, I have no problems at all with the University of Michigan doing everything it can to protect him. But if Bo is guilty of doing nothing, or of actively trying to cover up Dr. Anderson's crimes, the University of Michigan needs to set an example to the rest of the NCAA, and allow the reputation of its biggest icon, its biggest hero, to be dirtied. I am not suggesting that the school pretend like Bo didn't exist, not saying they should tear down the statue of him, or remove his name from any official school buildings...But it is time to separate the man from the myth. Myths can be perfect, but men are not. If Bo Schembechler did nothing to stop Dr. Anderson, then shatter the myth, and expose the flawed man behind it. Come clean. There is no shame in saying that while Bo was one hell of a football coach, that he was also flawed, that he also made mistakes. The University of Michigan can acknowledge both Bo's incredibly deep contributions to the University, but also be remorseful that more wasn't done to protect students from Dr. Anderson under Bo's watch. If these allegations are true, Michigan can, and ought to do what Michigan State and Penn State could not: Refuse to protect someone who doesn't deserve to be protected. It hurts me to acknowledge that Bo Schembechler may not have lived up to his reputation after all. Goodness knows, I have defended that reputation in the past, I have lauded Bo, I have given him all of the praise it's possible to give a college football coach, and then some. Bo Schembechler represented the kind of man I'd hoped I would become when I was younger. But one of the lessons I teach my kids, is that it's far better to own up immediately and face the consequences, than to lie about it, and have me find out later...I have to apply that same lesson now to myself too, and to my favorite football team. I have made it a point to mention in years past, when the Penn State and Michigan State scandals came to light, that if I ever found out that the University of Michigan actively tried to cover up something similar, that I would wash my hands of them, and that I would be looking for a new college team. We are now at that crossroads. What the University of Michigan does in the next few weeks or months, how it handles the reports, will determine whether or not I can continue to root for this football team. Do the right thing, Michigan. Please.
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