Bo's Mental Life

Bo Schembechler was born in 1929 on April Fools’ Day. He was given the reins 40 years later to become the University of Michigan’s head football coach in 1969. He retired from that position in 1989. Schembechler’s Wolverines were victorious in 194 games and lost just 48. During his tenure, his Michigan teams won or shared in 13 Big Ten titles, and made 10 Rose Bowl appearances. He was voted national coach of the year 1969, by the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America. The psychodynamic basis for Schembechler’s coaching success follows. At about three years of age, Bo’s ego ideal and conscience began to be developed as a result of the introjection and identification mechanisms that resulted from his parents, parenting. Ego ideal refers to the unconscious desire, wish to attain perfection and achievement or the idealized picture of self [stronger than Hercules, smarter than Athena, more attractive than Helen, faster than Damysus and so on]. Conscience is related to good and bad, right and wrong, ethics and moral behaviors. For instance, if you strike out while playing baseball, that feels awful or when you make a basket in a basketball game, that feels terrific. Bo’s mother was a devout fan and follower of the Cleveland Indians. She listened to their radio broadcasts and even attended games. Her favorites likely were pitcher Luke Sewell and perhaps Lou Boudreau. Bo interjected his mother’s favorable attitude regarding the Cleveland Indians and more than likely, young Bo in latency, these Indians became lodged in his ego ideal. Cleveland Indian idols and heroes like pitchers Luke Sewell and or Joe Dobson became his heroes, and young Bo created fantasies, and dreamt about being a major-league pitcher in the big leagues. Listening to the radio broadcasts, the announcers embellished the miraculous athletic feats to the roar of the crowds of these larger-than-life athletes. Bo’s imagination ran wild with Herculean exploits of greatness and fame. With sports, individuals experience a wide range of emotions, within the safety of the group. As a result, Bo had permission to express and feel emotions. To Be Continued