w V w V V V V V w w -W -W -W -qw wr q 6B - The Michigan Daily - FOOTBALL SATURDAY - November 2, 2002 The Michigan Daily - FOOTBALL SATUR BO KNOV\TS~ FOOTB-ALL[ Bo Schembechler paced the Michigan sideline for two decades, and became a football and University icon and the embodiment of what "Michigan football" should be. Daily sports editor David Horn talked with Bo about Notre Dame's resurgence, the Michigan State rivalry and what it takes to play at Michigan. The Michigan Daily: What are your impressions of last week's Iowa game? Bo Schembechler: Those things happen. You play a game where nothing goes right, and that's what happens. If Michigan doesn't improve and do some- thing, it could be bad. z TMD:What about this week against Michigan State? Is this a real rivalry? BS: In 1969, my first year here, they didn't have a very good team. And we had just knocked off a very good Purdue team. There were three good teams that year Ohio State, Michigan and Purdue. We went up to Michigan State and lost, andlater on beat Ohio State. The talk after that was that "Bo doesn't understand the Michigan State game." So after that we made it a point to win it, and won it 17 out of the next 20 times. This year it's big, coming out of a tough loss. TMD: Last week Michigan played an Iowa team that fea- tured a tailback from Michigan in Fred Russell. What are the challenges involved in keeping athletes from Michigan in- state? BS: There's some players you just can't keep. They just can's get in here. We don't have Prop-48 in here. TMD: Some people say that Michigan has gone soft. Has it? BS: All across the country, the quality of play on both offense and defense is that they don't block or tackle as well. In my day we could hit hard in practice, and yeah, guys got hurt. But if a player or a star went down, there were enough players to play someone else instead. Today, with 85, you don't have enough guys. TMD: Does that mean that guys coming out of the Big Ten, or anywhere in the nation for that matter, aren't ready for the NFL? BS: Even at pro football the tackling is one facet of the game that has declined. TMD: What are your thoughts on the transition to artificialk turf for Michigan Stadium? BS: I think it's good. It appears that in this climate, we've found, we can't get good grass to grow. The coaches like it, the players like it. I like it. game doesn't affect Michigan, or teams like Michigan. I think it's those other people that want to make sure they get those six wins and are bowl eligible. TMD: What about the BCS? BS: I don't like the BCS. There will always be one year out of four that someone not in the Big Ten will go to the Rose Bowl. That's not right. We used to joke that if Michigan won the Big Ten and got invited to play in the Fiesta Bowl for the national championship, we'd say no and go play in the Rose Bowl. I always liked the old system. Let everyone vote on the best team in the country. The BCS didn't present two clear teams to play in the game last year and it likely won't this year. TMD: What are your t thoughts on (new p Notre Dame coach) Ty Willingham? Are the RtFighting Irish for real? BS: They've done a 44 good job defensively, not offensively. If you get a few breaks and play well, you can be really good. TMD: What separates a good team from a great team? BS: Great teams go out and win without any problems. AP PHOTO Willis McGahee and Ken Dorsey (o. n) lead a touMai TMD: So Notre offense, but time will tell whthe the 'Canes are a truly great team. Da e Dame? BS: Notre Dame has a shot, but they'll face a tough USC team out west. TMD: How does television and television revenue affect the game today? BS: If both Michigan and Michigan State were on top of their game and had championship aspirations, do you honest- ly believe we'd be playing on ESPN2? (Television) dictates everything. Did you watch ESPN during the Purdue game ... TMD: I was there. BS: Well get this - right in the middle of the game they switched to commercial! When you get to ESPN and ESPN2 and some others, they may send you somebody a director - that doesn't know anything about football. TMD: What do you think of (Ohio State tailback) Maurice Clarett looking to turngpro before his junior year? BS: If he wants to go, h should go. If you're down there and Courtesy of the Michigan Athletic Department Schembechler served as head coach of Michigan from 1969 to 1989. In his time at the helm, Michigan won 194 games. TMD: Talk about scheduling for Michigan. BS: I've said it before that I'm not interested in the 10-year contract with Notre Dame. Everyone will make that game out as a real- ly important game, but Michigan plays a whole Big Ten season of real- ly important games. The 12th Maurice Clarett may or may not be the best thing since peanut butter, butti that would love to find out, should the Ohio State running back choose to fig he says he doesn't want to be there, you Honestly though, I think he's jus freshman who has had too much success TMD: Going back to this year's Michigar you evaluate John Navarre, compared to I backs of the past? Compared to the guys back? BS: He's different than any QB I had. M mobile guys. We did go to the pocket ga Harbaugh and Elvis Grbac. When you ta and Rick Leach, though, you talk about around out of the pocket. TMD: What do you think of (new Michi dinator) Terry Malone's new offense? It's from ... BS: There are people who think football short passing game; that the running gar you have to do is look at that Iowa game If (Michigan) had a little better ru give the quarterback more time. If the qi time, he completes more passes ... TMD: Some people say that this Michig toughness of Michigan teams of the past BS: I hope it's not true. I hope every Mi he should be tough. You have to have tha if you're going to play at Michigan. If yc shouldn't be here. TMD: A lot of people are anticipating another 6-2 season for Michigan in the Big Ten, or an eight-win season overall. Is that good enough? BS: Six wins in this conference ... In 1984, I had to struggle with a 6-6 season. That was the worst team I had here, record-wise. But if you went around the country and asked if teams would take eight wins in a 12 game schedule, you'll find a lot of happy peo- ple. DAVID KATZ/Daily Omar Jenkins and Notre Dame may be the Cinderella story of the year, but Schembechler Isn't impressed.