Schembechler and Harbaugh

Among much excitement with the faithful alumni and fans of the Maize and Blue, Jim Harbaugh, in December 2014, became U of M’s head football coach. He was expected to deliver the Wolverines back to dominance. This was made possible when acting athletic director Jimmy Hackett fired head coach Brady Hoke. A dissimilar circumstance occurred 46 years prior in December, 1968 when Bo Schembechler replaced, by then athletic director Don Canham. Canham let go of the beloved coach Bump Elliott. Bump, a former, Michigan All-American, and hero of the Rose Bowl as a player also led the Wolverines as its head coach to a smashing Rose Bowl victory. Can Michigan All-American Jim Harbaugh reach the attained legendary status as his former coach Bo Schembechler? Bo coached for 20 years and was the winningest head coach in college football during his tenure. Harbaugh added to his tenure beginning his third season earlier this month. Bo’s regular season record in 1969 and 1970 was 17 and 3. One loss was to nationally ranked Missouri, a second loss was to Michigan State and the third loss was to Ohio State during the 10 game regular-season schedule. Currently, the football season has been lengthened to 12 games. Harbaugh’s first two regular season totals were 19 and 5. His team’s losses were to nationally ranked Utah, Iowa, Michigan State and twice to Ohio State. That first loss, I witnessed, to the Buckeyes was brutal. Under Harbaugh, the Maize and Blue beat Florida, and lost to Florida State in bowl games. Bo’s team lost to USC in the Rose Bowl. Back then, only the Big Ten champion was bowl eligible. In Bo’s third season, his team attained a regular season 10 and 0 record. So far, Harbaugh’s Wolverines have a 3 and 0 record. Differences so far between the two head coaches have been the battle with Ohio State. Harbaugh’s team got blown out in 2015, and lost in overtime 20 16. Bo’s team upset the mighty Buckeyes in 1969, and were upset by them in 1970. Second difference was that Bo’s 1969 team lost to USC in the Rose Bowl while Jim’s team has a split between the two Florida college football powerhouses in postseason play. Jim Harbaugh’s 2017 team are significantly young in the sense that his 2016 team lost a number of his starters to the NFL. Jim’s current squad has youth and some significant experience. However, in Bo’s third year as head coach, his Wolverines were stacked with outstanding seniors recruited by Bump Elliott. Some of these outstanding seniors included Frank Gusich, Billy and Mike Taylor, Thom Darden, Jim Brandstatter, Fritz Seyferth, Mike Keller and Reggie McKenzie. Most of these individuals were drafted by the NFL and CFL. In fact, Thom Darden was inducted into the Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame, and Reggie McKenzie was inducted into the Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame. To be continued