Retirement Press Conference
11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
The following are excerpts from the transcript of Bo Schembechler's press conference in Crisler Arena on Dec. 13, 1989, announcing his retirement as Michigans head football coach.
"I've been a very fortunate coach. I've coached for 37 years and 27 of them as a head coach. I was given the job to coach Michigan football in 1969 and that had to be ... the greatest day of my life because Michigan is special and the opportunity to coach here is tremendous.
"I am a very happy man today ... If I shed a tear today, it's not because I'm sad at leaving. I'm sad to leave the players. I hate to leave coaching, but it's time to go and yet who could have asked for a greater career than I've had. It's not that I've done everything in football, but I've coached at Michigan and I've coached here 21 years. I've had some great teams. I've had great coaches who have coached with me. I have great friends that have played for me and as I told my team I guess you always -- when you coach one place for a long period of time -- you remember the first team and the last team the most, and this last team has been a very special group of men."
Q: Bo, when did you make the decision (to retire)
A: "After the second surgery, I was advised by my doctor that it's time that I got out of coaching. And you know how tough it is to be a college football coach today. I don't know whether everybody has to do it the way I do it, but we work seven days a week and we work 12-14 hours a day. We're late getting to bed at night, and we're getting up early in the morning, and we eat on the run, and we don't have much time to exercise and take care of ourselves. We do that from the first of August to the middle of February, seven days a week. Once the season's over, you're traveling five days a week and then you come home to entertain on Saturday and Sunday and it's a hard job ... And it probably takes its toll The toughest thing I've ever had to do is to give up my football team, but I'm doing it."
Q: What has been the most difficult part of this resignation
A: "Talking to my staff and my players When you've got a coaching staff you're a team. We're not just coming to work, we're friends. So that was tough and my players, yes, that was very, very, hard. Very hard. And the other night I felt kinda lost."
Q: When did you 100 percent know and say I made a decision (to retire)
A: "I can't give you the exact time."
Q: Was it the afternoon of the Ohio State game
A: "You know, during the course of the year that was always on my mind. I felt something told me after ... we had beaten Ohio State and we were leaving the field that I would not be back. I felt that. And I hadn't made a firm decision then but something told me that I'm not going to have this experience again ..."
Q: Bo, how do want people to remember you
A: "... He's a decent guy, he's honest, worked hard and he knew a little football I'm satisfied with what I did. I'm happy with what I did. How many guys can finish a career and say that I'm just happy with what I did."
Q: So, is that really it Have you done all you've wanted to do The fire doesn't burn as hot
A: "The fire burns a lot, but that fire burns and I've got to do all the things in order to continue to be successful. When you weigh it against a man who's 60 years old and has the problems I've had, then it is not in my best interest to continue to chase it."
