Have you ever wondered about the history behind Bo Schembechler's famous affirmation:
"Those Who Say Will Be Champions"?
In George Cantor's book, "I Remember Bo..." I read about the history behind this famous quotation from the perspective of former players, coaches and other knowledgeable individuals.
When Bo Schembechler was hired to become coach of the University of Michigan football team in 1968, he was out of sync with the general culture of the time. In 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. The Democratic National Convention in Chicago was punctuated with riots. Ann Arbor had become a center for student demonstrations against the anti-war movement.
George Cantor described the mind set in society, when Bo came to the University of Michigan.
"In an era when we were all being told to do our own thing, whatever that was suppose to mean, and when anyone who advocated a disciplined life was regarded as a fascist, here was this guy who refused to bend. Who was uncompromising in his belief that doing things the tough way was the only right way."
Jim Betts, quarterback in 1970, remembered
"We must have started with about 150 guys when he came here. After spring practice we were down to 75 or 80. A lot of players resented Bo because he was so damn demanding. But it was a strong group who stayed."
Rich Caldarazzo, offensive lineman, 1969, described Bo's training of the team as:
"He beat the crap out of us those first few months of 1969. The walk-ons were dropping like flies. We had to run a mile in under six minutes, jump the stadium stairs on one leg, then jump upstairs on one leg with a teammate on your back. We hated it and we hated him."
Dave Rentschler, former M Club president, 1978-79, was quoted by George Cantor as saying:
"These were someone else's players. Bo didn't recruit them. He had to find out in a hurry who he could count on and who he could trust. He set out to make sure the others left. That's why he put up the famous sign: 'Those Who Say Will Be Champions.' Everyone who ever played for a Bo always remembers that sign."
In 1969 the University of Michigan football team beat Ohio State, whose football team was described as a super team and were the defending national champions. Rich Caldarazzo recalled:
"We controlled the game in the second half.... I thought back to all those stupid conditioning drills and realized this is what it was all for. They couldn't keep up with us."
If you want to become a champion in your life, you'll need a passionate commitment and hard work to prepare yourself for victory. Mental and physical fitness are necessary for ongoing success and achievement.
Remember, We Live within the Environment Created by Our Choices!
Dr. Hal
Life and Mental Fitness Coach
This is a great sharing. I love the last sentence. "We live within the environment we created by choices"
This is a very powerful and responsible way to speak.
Alex Liu
How To Become A Millionaire
http://secretsofunlimitedwealth.com
Posted by: Alex Liu | January 25, 2008 at 12:11 PM