Bidding Bo farewell
Thousands come to honor a legend
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"It might be a little cold, but every minute's worth it," said Roy Smith, who had been in line since about 5 or 6 a.m. "And I can't imagine having missed this."
Schembechler died Friday at age 77. At the church on Catherine and Division, mourners strolled past the casket. Next to the casket was a painting of him and a plaque with his records in 21 seasons as Michigan's coach.
Some knew Bo better than others, but many said the coach had touched their lives - even if only in some small way.
Al Maghes said he knew Schembechler for nearly 40 years, playing on his 1967 and 1968 Miami (Ohio) teams and then later coaching with him at Michigan in 1973.
"He was everything to me," said a tearful Maghes. "He was a mentor, father and just a great figure to me. He always showed leadership and I think he always embodied the important things in life."
Not everyone at the viewing knew Schembechler on a personal level, but Joanne Lindsay said that didn't prevent anyone from understanding the type of person he was.
"Everyone who got to talk to him walked away feeling the same way," said Lindsay, Schembechler's friend of 30 years. "He was the type of person who made you feel like you were the only one in the world at the time when he talked to you."
Despite the weather, the people in line said they never had considered skipping the viewing.
"I had to come and pay my final respects," said alum Chris Laroo, who had a child in each arm. "I hate to have these little guys in this type of weather, but it's the least I can do for a man who did so much for the University."
Laroo's children may have been too young to understand Schembechler's legacy, but that wasn't true of all the children present.
Five-year-old Jack Petersen refused to wear his red coat despite the snowfall for a very important reason.
"Bo wouldn't want me to wear red, because that's an Ohio State color," he said.
Jack's mother, Sally Petersen, said she appreciated the good examples Schembechler set for her children.
"What he stood up for in terms of truth and integrity was great," Petersen said. "He left great values for people like my children who compete in sports. It's good for (my children) to know truth and integrity are always most important."
Schembechler was held in high esteem at St. Andrews, the church he attended for years.
Anne Washington said she never knew the coach personally but always considered him special. She once sang in the church's choir with Schembechler's son, Shemy.
"The funny thing was that Bo would always come to service with his cap on, and he'd always be chewing gum," Washington said and laughed. "He was probably the only one that could have gotten away with that, because he was Bo, and everybody loved him."
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