Bo: Life, Laughs, and Lessons of a College Football Legend

by Bo Schembechler, Mitch Albom

The tough, irascible head football coach at the University of Michigan reflects on more than twenty years in the athletic limelight, sharing thoughts and anecdotes about memorable players, coaches, and games

Genres: Sports, Football, Biography, Nonfiction

281 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1989

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bo was my dad's friend and my dad is mentioned in his book which is rad.

[Tom Maentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Bo admits it isn’t Shakespeare, his memoir candidly covers his personal history, brilliant insights on coaching, his love of family, university, players, and college football, and many troubling issues facing college athletics; presented with honesty and integrity as you would expect from the legendary coach.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am trying to read all of Mitch Albom's books and this one popped up as one of his early books, which is a biography about Bo Schembechler (I had no idea who he was). When I first got this book, I didn't really think I would like it because it is about football, but I fell in love with the heart of the coach Bo Schembechler. This book gives great insight into his life (which was mostly football). It is filled with humor and examples of the personality and character of Bo from his humble beginnings to his life as a semi-celebrity. Incredible! Uplifting, honest, humorous, touching, beautifully written. Michigan was truly blessed to have had him lead the young men on his teams. He certainly made a huge, positive, impact on the world, both on and off the field. Highly recommend this book. To be inside the mind of a coaching genius. Bo was an inspiration when growing up. Bo will always be remembered. Truly a surprising and excellent read. I absolutely loved Bo's story and Mitch's writing is always excellent. I highly recommend this book whether you are a football fan or not. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

[Tom Gase · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little outdated, but a good book on the legendary Michigan head football coach Bo Schembechler by Mitch Albom, more known these days for non sports books such as The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Tuesday's with Morrie and The Time Keeper. Since the Michigan/Ohio State game was last Saturday I read it during the game and after it. A quick read at under 300 pages. I liked the chapters on his take on former football players that played for him. Good info on Jim Harbaugh, Rick Leach and Anthony Carter to name a few. The book was written in 1989, about a year before he retired from coaching, so you basically get everything here. However, for information on his games against Ohio State and Woody Hayes, probably read "War as they Knew it" by Mike Rosenberg instead. Good stuff though.

[Amanda Whitley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed hearing all of the stories in this book- I could hear his voice in the way it was written. It was a special read because it was my grandpa’s book that was gifted to him from his parents, so it made me feel connected to him

[Garrison Dombrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very good. It had me wanting to read more and more, I would suggest this book to anyone who loves coaching or anyone who loves the game of football

[Debra Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is fantastic. A football coach is good at his job.

[J.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was born in the heyday of Michigan football under Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines won the final three battles of the Ten Year War, tied for the Big Ten championship each year, and made three consecutive trips to the Rose Bowl (where they lost). Bo led the program successfully for another 10 years and retired at the conclusion of the 1989 season (following another Rose Bowl defeat). I didn't come into my own as a Michigan fan until the heady days of 1991. By then Bo's longtime assistant Gary Moeller had taken over. Elvis Grbac was throwing passes to Heisman Trophy-winner Desmond Howard, Greg Skrepenak was opening holes for fleet-footed freshman Tyrone Wheatley, and Erick Anderson tackled his way to the Butkus Award. That team went undefeated in conference play, crushed Ohio State, and, in true Blue fashion, lost the Rose Bowl.

I've followed Michigan through the highs - the national championship that eluded Bo was finally won by Lloyd Carr in 1997 - and the lows - Rich Rodriguez posting the worst season in the school's proud history (beginning with a loss to Utah) - ever since. I look forward to the beginning of the Brady Hoke era, but in the meantime I enjoyed looking back at the icon that was BO.

[Kathy McC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have had this book on my book shelf for twenty years. Don't know why I have never read it. But, I decided that since the conditions in Ann Arbor are similar and Jim Harbaugh is being compared to the legendary Bo, it was time to read it. I loved it!!

"Can you imagine waiting a whole year for one football game? To have your mood for the next 365 days depend on how you did that one cold Saturday afternoon? That's the way I felt about the Michigan-Ohio State game each year."

"None of these guys ever won a national championship or a Heisman Trophy. But you should have heard them talk and laugh and cry.'Time of my life', the guys said over and over. That's what college football should be."

[Shavir · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like that there was toughens and they had never gave up the quit but then came back and help there self. the couch he was sating m people because that they was bad to work on thing that can improve if i can change the thing that in the book i will change is to let them express there self if if like there was there own world i detected this book to y friend because that all we ado is play football.

[Derek Bycraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very entertaining book. This is just a short collection of memoirs, so anyone wanting to know everything about Bo's life need to look else where. I loved reading his favorite memories - and some not so favorite ones - from when he was still coaching. It is very different than books later in his life. A good read for any Wolverine fan, or college football fan really.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a must read for Michigan fans, but even beneficial for the football fan. Bo discusses everything from his life, coaching, steroids, recruiting, and paying players. Always very direct and candid, Bo offers great insights into major issues that plague college football and college sports in general.

[Robert Ellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the man himself, a very candid tale of a coach's rise in the ranks, his theories on motivation, and his thoughts on the game as it is. As a big fan of Schembechler's, I loved it. Sorry he's no longer with us.

[Don Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

wow! Smug meet ego. How can things go bad??

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great early work of Mitch Albom...Bo was an idol for us Michigan kids (most of us) and the book about his life was fantastic.

[Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Albom. I may not know a little (by a little I mean nothing) about American football but still this one is a good read because of how paeudo-gonzo like it is written.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not have even picked up this book had it not been co-authored by Mitch Albom and I'm not a sports fan at all but I actually learned some things about football and enjoyed it somewhat.

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

HB-B @ 1989, 5/91. Biography. Good story, I enjoyed it more than the Bobby Knight book.

[Alex Wyman]

I read the book BO. The book is about a Football coach who is from Michigan. He is very strict on his players he wants to shaped them into good role motels and role models in the classroom and to represent the collage well. He had to have open heart surgery and he came back and coached cause he loved the game. I think the guy is great I would look up to him just by all the great things he did. I thought if there were more nice and great coaches most teams in general would be successful. People who like football would enjoy this book cause it was very good and I really enjoy how it ended.