16 - The Michigan Daily -Monday, July 13, 1998
six years ago, legendary Michigan football coach 0 Schembechler helplessly watched as his w
condItlon The next year, Schembechler decided he wasn't going to watch others succumb to th
Schembechler Memorial Foundation, a charity determined to raise $3.5 million to make the Uni
research To raise the money, Schembechler annually hosts the Mill( Shembechler Memorial G
cY F _ fI '~c~

ife, Millie, died of adrenal cancer, an extremely rare and fatal
e illness without putting up a fight, He formed the Millie
versity of Michigan Hospital the leader in adrenal cancer
lolf Classic. Last Monday, Schembechler was..
- Michigan athletic director Tom Goss
B obby Knight. ever the philan- shirt.
thropist, was signing autographs "Why am I wearing a white shirt?
when the voice bellowed out. 'Cause 'it the coach" Berenson said.
"Hey, Knight, get in your cart and get "T he coach wears white."
going!" But not everyone was has ing fun all
And Knight went. the time.
Bo Schembechler was patrolling the A few holes away, former Detroit
line of golfers like he did his football Tiger manager Sparky Anderson was
teams. And they were running late. He wandering through knee-deep grass,
was losing patience, hopelessly searching for a ball lost intls
Bullhorn in hand, he chased Knight rough.
and the other 175 golfers into the carts, Two holes later and halfway through
directing them to their respective holes. the tournament, Anderson's fivesome
And the sixth annual Millie finally broke par.
Schembechler Memorial Golf Classic They jumped up and down, slapping
was under way. each other five, as they finally had a
"In late 1992, 1 said I wanted to have decent hole.
a tournament to raise money for adrenal "We're not doing very well,"
cancer, and everyone said it'll take you a Anderson said. "We're one under right
year to put it together," Schembechler now."
said. "We put it together the first year. I The tournament attracted mat
just call (the celebrities) and say I got a celebrities, most with connections to
tournament, and they come." Michigan and Schembechler.
And they come in force. With celebri- From athletic director Tom Goss and
ties ranging from locals Lloyd Carr and former Michigan football coach Bump
Red Berenson to Spark) Anderson, who Elliott to Detroit Red Wings Mike
flew in from California for the event, it Knuble and Aaron Ward and Detroit
was a sports fan heaven. Tiger great Al Kaline, they all came for
Schembechler kicked off the day by the same reason -- because
showing the golfers "how it's done," Schembechler asked.
which consisted of slicing a shot into the "It gives you an indication of how
trees, almost nailing a pigeon just 15 feet people feel about Bo" former Michiga
in front of him and just missing a few football player and current Michig
celebrities. The shot seemed to defy Replay host Jim Brandstatter said.
physics and make a right angle off the Through his Michigan connections,
tee. Schembechler was able to contact the
"I'm not really that bad," celebrities a year in advance to invite
Schembechler said. them to the Classic. He had his son, who
But Schembechler didn't get a chance worked for the Kansas City Chiefs, talk
to show his true stuff, opting not to take to Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac, a past
part in the tournament. Michigan standout.
"I have so many other things I He had Michigan assistant hockey
have to do" he said. ". coach Mel Pearson ask Knuble, a forme
Which included riding around Wolverine, to participate. And many, I
in a golf cart, smoking cigars just asked himself.
and schmoozing with the In 1992, when he started the tour-
celebs. nament, Schembechler set a goal to
The tournament featured five- raise $3.5 million, enough to get a
somes competing in scramble for seat endowed at the University
mat. ° , Hospital in Millie's name.
Each group featured one He expects to reach
celebrity, the other four pay- that goal by the 2000
ing an entrance fee of at least tournament, and will
$5,000 each. h j h drop the tournament
Most of the paying golfers once the goal s
were Classic regulars, many reached.
of whom are linked to ( , "It's similar to the
Michigan athletics. way he coached,"
Former Michigan athletic Brandstatter said. "He
director Fritz Seyferth paid to play set a goal, to get a seat
His foursome was paired with endowed, and once that
Berenson, the Michigan hockey + seat's endowed, the tour-
coach. So Seyferth went out and nament is over.
bought uniforms. "We will miss it.
The foursome was clad in Blue We'll miss going out to
T-shirts, with 'Michigan Hockey dinner. It's a reunion
1998 National Champions' embla- the '69 team for me,
zoned on the breast. chance to see all the
But they bought Berenson a white guys."

Bo Schembechler directs traffic before the start of the Millie Schembechler Classic.
No, my father couldn't "Guys with hot putters "Tha's Mike KnubleP"
make it. His flight was are going to win it. I'mr "Who's that?R
cancelld," not a htputter" "He's on the Red Wings, "
- Former Michigan quarterback - Former Michigan football playerFO t
Brian Griese, on his father, and current WJR announcer Jim Wolf, don tiust stare-
Bob, who was sponsored for the Brandstatter on why he wasn't - A conversation between two
tournament by Northwest Airlines going to win the tournament teenage girls attending golf camp

Steinman, whose wife died of adrenal cancer.
Right: Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson is wearing a white shirt,
because he's the coach, and the coach wears white.
Far Right: Former Michigan and current Kansas City Chiefs quarter-
back Elvis Grbac watches his tee shot.