Bo Schembechler Dead at 77

Schembechler, 77, collapses while taping TV show

Detroit News staff reports / The Detroit News

Former Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler died Friday at Providence Hospital in Southfield. He was 77. Schembechler was taping a television show at WXYZ-TV and was taken by ambulance to Providence.

The coaching legend fell ill at the studios, station officials said. Schembechler also was hospitalized Oct. 20 after becoming ill at the same location.

Police were sent to the station around 9:25 a.m. along with the city's fire department and escorted an ambulance to Providence Hospital.

Lou Martin, a hospital spokesman, said Schembechler died at 11:42 p.m.

Dr. Robert Edwards, an emergency room physician, and Dr. Shukri David, the hospital's chief of cardiology, worked on the stricken Schembechler, according to hospital officials.

The hospital said it was planning a press conference at 2:15 p.m. that would be attended by the doctors, along with Dr. Kim Eagle, chief of cardiology for the university, and former U-M football players.

The news of the legendary coach's death spread quickly on the Ann Arbor campus, were some students were in tears.

A group of about 50 people watched as Coach Lloyd Carr and the football team solemnly boarded buses at Schembechler Hall for the trip to Columbus and Saturday's Big 10 game with rival Ohio State. There was a smattering of applause for the team.

Gary Boltman, an Ann Arbor resident who retired from General Motors, was among those who watched the team depart.

"It was hard watching the players. They were so sad-faced when they left here. The game is going to be hard to watch," he said.

Schembechler met with the media earlier this week to discuss Saturday's game between the second-ranked Wolverines and No. 1 Ohio State.

During the news conference, the 77-year-old discussed the device that was implanted to regulate his heartbeat after he was hospitalized last month.

He said the device covered about half his chest and that doctors still were making adjustments to it.

Schembechler had a heart attack on the eve of his first Rose Bowl in 1970 and another one in 1987. He has had two quadruple heart bypass operations.

Former Michigan coach Gary Moeller showed up at the hospital this morning shortly after hearing that Schembechler had collapsed. The grim-looking Moeller approached security guards at the hospital and said he wanted to talk to Schembechler's wife. "I just want to see Kathy," he said.

Former U-M player Jim Brandstatter also was among those who rushed to the hospital after hearing news reports.

Schembechler, a seven-time Big Ten coach of the year, compiled a 194-48-5 record at Michigan from 1969-89. His record in 26 years of coaching was 234-64-8.

Detroit News reporter Santiago Esparaza contributed to this report.