It would be impossible to discuss the Michigan football programme without mentioning the illustrious Bo Schembechler. After spending part of four decades in Ann Arbour, the renowned coach and athletic director left his mark on all of the school’s sports, not only the Michigan football team. As the Wolverines are ready to play in the College Football Playoff national championship game, this heritage still looms large, and it greatly influenced current AD Warde Manuel.

When questioned about Schembechler, Warde Manuel replied, “I smile because I hear him every day.” “He’s proud, he would say. incredibly pleased. I’ve discussed it with Jim [Harbaugh] throughout the years because we know how he led and what he taught us, and we know he would be pleased of us. Bo will always be a part of Jim and myself, and he will always contribute to Michigan’s success.

Just hours separate Michigan and the College Football Playoff national title game, and Harbaugh and his team will be attempting to do something Schembechler was never able to do: win a national championship.

From 1969 to 1898, Schembechler led the Michigan football team, winning 194 games out of 48 while in charge. Despite winning 13 Big Ten Conference championships, he was never able to secure a spot as a national champion.

But in every season under Schembechler’s leadership but one, the squad was rated, and the coach never experienced a losing campaign.

The native of Ohio attended Miami (OH) to play football before joining Woody Hayes at Ohio State as one of his most dependable aides. After accepting the position of head coach at his alma university, Schembechler moved to Michigan, where he and Hayes forged one of the greatest rivalries in college football history.

Similar to Warde Manuel, Schembechler served as Michigan’s AD in 1988–1990 before concluding his career as the Detroit Tigers’ president in Major League Baseball.

The two clubs had both won national titles in the past, but not since the Bowl Championship Series was established in 1998, which marked the beginning of the NCAA football championship game’s history in the top division.