Bo

You can't live in Michigan without knowing and respecting Bo Schembechler. The first year we moved here from Alabama, I was pregnant with my first son, Matthew. Guess when he decided to be born.........yup the Michigan- Ohio State football game. Of course, my husband wouldnt' leave the game to take me to the hospital. So one hour after, Michigan lost to Ohio State, Matthew Michael Caulk was born. Below is a story in the M Edition of the paper, about his memorial at the " big house".

Former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler's son, Glenn "Shemy" Schembechler, wipes away a tear at a memorial event yesterday at Michigan Stadium for the legendary coach, who died Friday. (ALLISON GHAMAN/Daily)

Two fans hold up a sign with one of Schembechler's famous sayings. (ALLISON GHAMAN/Daily)On a crisp fall afternoon that would have been perfect for a football game, thousands of fans gathered inside Michigan Stadium yesterday to remember legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, who died Friday at age 77.Speakers at the memorial, held the day after Schembechler's private funeral, included University President Mary Sue Coleman, current football coach Lloyd Carr and Schembechler's son, Glenn "Shemy" Schembechler. Jim Brandstatter, who played for Schembechler in the late 1960s and now hosts the "Michigan Replay" TV show, officiated the memorial.Thousands of people came to the ceremony. Most sat in front of the press box, but some were scattered throughout the massive bowl.Just like at a football game, former players and coaches, family members and others came onto the field through the tunnel. Passing under the "Go Blue" banner. Meanwhile, the marching band played "The Victors" several times. Other speakers included Athletic Director Bill Martin, former Alumni Association Director Bob Forman, former Michigan player Reggie McKenzie, former Michigan coach Gary Moeller and former USC coach John Robinson.They told personal stories from their time with Schembechler.Carr recalled going to the coach for advice on whether to accept a job offer while he was an assistant coach at the University."One day I told Bo I got a call from Lou Holtz offering me a job (at Notre Dame) as defensive coordinator," Carr said. "I told him it was good money and I thought I should go down there. Then he sat back in his chair and said, 'No, you're not going to Notre Dame. You're Michigan, so forget that - I don't want to hear any more about it.' "Former Michigan football player Dan Dierdorf, who became a star offensive lineman in the NFL after playing for Schembechler, said the coach always loved Michigan - even in his childhood."One day Bo was walking down State Street with his father and wanted to watch Michigan's football practice through those iron gates," Dierdorf said. "As he was looking out at the Michigan team practicing, he turned to his father and said, 'Someday I'm going to be a Michigan man. Someday I'm going to be the head coach here.' "Schembechler Hall, home to a training facility for the football team, now stands next to the practice field on State Street. Coleman said the coach's legacy will be greater than the hall that bears his name."He will remain as engrained at the University as the Diag and Burton Tower," she said. "I think we all believe that Bo will always be here, and that he will be a part of Michigan forever."While majority of the speeches focused on how Schembechler will be remembered, former player Jamie Morris couldn't help but think about the things he will miss in his coach's absence."I will miss having the conversations with him about the good old days," he said. "Most importantly, I will miss hearing how much love and pride he had for Michigan - the school, the players and the fans."Wearing a block M cap in honor of Schembechler, Schembechler's son Shemy spoke last. Shemy was visibly shaken as he explained his relationship with his father."My dad could never tell me directly how proud he was of me," Shemy said. "But thousands of people were always there to remind me that all he could talk about was how proud of me he was. That meant the world to me."Everyone seemed to hold a high level of respect for Schembechler, but people attended his memorial for different reasons.Business sophomore Carrie Frost, who plays water polo for the University, said Schembechler's impact makes her proud to be an athlete at Michigan."I never actually met him in person, but he inspires me and shows me why I play for this school," Frost said after the ceremony. "I came to the memorial because he's part of the tradition. He reminds of me of what makes this university so great."Thomas Guynes, a former Michigan football player, said he came to the memorial to show gratitude for the way he helped them succeed on and off the gridiron."Bo was one of those guys you came back to as an adult to talk to about life," Guynes said. "(The team I played on) has people involved in law enforcement, big business, law and medicine now. I think a lot of our will to succeed professionally has come from playing for Bo."- Courtney Ratkowiak contributed to this report.