Below The Beltway

CNN is reporting that former Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler died in Detroit today:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Bo Schembechler, the winningest coach in Michigan football history, died Friday after collapsing during the taping of a television show, according to three Detroit TV stations. He was 77.

Schembechler’s death was reported by WXYZ, WDIV and WJBK, which did not cite sources. He died a day before the second-ranked Wolverines were scheduled to meet No. 1 Ohio State in the latest installment of the century-old rivalry.

Not just the latest installment. The biggest OSU-Michigan game ever.

Update: More coverage from the Washington Post, including this classy quote from Jim Tressel:

“This is an extraordinary loss for college football,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said in a statement. “Bo Schembechler touched the lives of many people and made the game of football better in every way. He will always be both a Buckeye and a Wolverine and our thoughts are with all who grieve his loss.”

And remembrances of the Woody vs. Bo era:

“It was a very personal rivalry,” Earle Bruce, who succeeded Hayes as coach, once said. “And for the first and only time, it was as much about the coaches as it was about the game.

“Bo and Woody were very close because Bo played for Woody at Miami of Ohio, then coached with him at Ohio State. But their friendship was put on hold when Bo took the Michigan job because it was the protege against mentor.”

This is sad news but, as Tressel is reported to have said to ESPN when the news broke, Bo will have the best seat in the house tomorrow.

Update#2: Joe Paterno had this to say:

“Bo was a giant. He was a great football coach and person. He was a great supporter of college football and the way it’s supposed to be played. He was a great ambassador for Michigan and was proud to represent Michigan.

“He was an interesting guy and fun to be around. He was the kind of guy you would want to be your friend. You always knew where you stood with him. I looked forward to seeing him at the Big Ten meetings. I respected him and enjoyed being around him.

“He was a super coach and I’m not sure he has gotten his due as far as being one of the truly great football coaches of all-time. I’m going to miss him.”

And this from OSU great Archie Griffin:

Bo had great connections to Ohio State. He played for Woody Hayes at Miami and later coached with Woody here. Many people have the misconception that Woody and Bo disliked each other. That couldn’t be further from the truth. They were best friends and very similar to each other. In fact, when I read Bo’s autobiography a few years ago it sounded like it was Woody speaking from those pages.

I am proud to have known Bo. The fact that we were on opposite sides of a great rivalry really means little in the grand scheme of things. When it came to the important things in life, Bo and I were on the same team and we always will be.

As if it weren’t big enough, tomorrow’s game now takes on added significance. And the game will include a moment of silence.