War As They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a Time of Unrest

The vast majority of negative reviews derive not from a reading of the book but from a series of articles Michael Rosenberg wrote which caused an NCAA investigation of Michigan. These reviewers, who stoop so low out of nothing but sheer spite, inadvertently say a great deal about themselves but absolutely nothing about Rosenberg or his fine book.Now onto reviewing the book. Obviously Bo and Woody were very similiar, but what struck me in reading the book were three major differences. First, Bo would scream, curse, and berate his players, but that was all. Woody would do all of the above but also physically lashout. He was unable, at times, to control his boiling emotions. One of Woody' heroes, Patton, ran into the same problem when he slapped two soliders in hospitals.Second, Bo rarely talked politics, his players could only guess where he stood on the political matters of the day. In stark contrast, Woody rarely was not talking politics. It was like he was out on the stump all the time trying to convert the unfaithful back to "what made America great." Rosenberg makes the point that Hayes wanted the Ohio State football program to be seen as an example of what America once was and what it could be again.Third, Bo spent his free time at home with his wife and kids whereas Woody would spend his free time visting hospitals, giving speeches, or at the Faculty Club recounting history. Like one of his favorite politicians, Nixon, he had to be in the arena.Woody had a view on hero worship that did not serve him well and does not serve our wider society well either. During the 1960's and 70's Woody felt that a country that makes fun and tears down it's heroes was a suicidal society. There is a great deal of truth to this, but one should not fall into the other extreme which can be just as dangerous. Woody was guilty of this as are too many fans of football or boosters of a nation, they easily slip into a blind love.Neither Woody nor Bo should be admired as saints (e.g., Saint Woody). Both the Ohio State and Michigan football programs are capable of going off the rails and should not be defended by their fans right or wrong. One's country should not be backed right or wrong. A better understanding of another of Woody's heroes, Emerson, would have kept Woody from this extreme and could help all of us.

I admit here in print that my first knowledge of Michigan football, or of the University was not in support of the school that I now proudly call my alma mater. In 1969, I was a young fellow in Southern California just learning about the sport. I knew Ohio St. was the best in the nation and I admired perfection. OSU was perfect until they met Michigan. I watched in stunned disbelief as the OSU national championship fell flat.Years later, I found myself sitting for the first time in Michigan stadium watching an "average" Bo team begin their season against Northwestern. Woody Hayes had been fired the season before, but that did not diminish the anticipation for the final game against OSU. The rivalry would continue if not against "the old man" than against the team that he assembled.I had a lot of mixed feelings about Bo Schembechler during my earlier years. First for ending the perfect season in '69 for OSU and later for his "football is life" philosophy that conflicted with my more "enlightened" views of the world. But, my feelings for him solidified when in '89 he said that "A Michigan man will lead Michigan!" in response to the basketball coach abandoning of the school. Funny more "enlightened" journalists still criticize Bo for that stand whereas I tell my children of the story as a show of pride and character.I now finished reading War As They Knew It and realize that I learned more from Bo and "the old man" than what I had earlier realized. Did I just grow old, or did I get wiser, I leave for my kids to judge. I do know that I'll hold on to this book and hope that someday one of mine will pick it up and learn something about her/himself through the beliefs and actions of these two coaches and two schools.And one final comment,GO BLUE!!

The title "War as They Knew It" is a take off of the title of the George Patton memoir, "War as I Knew It." Patton was Woody Hayes' military hero, and Michael Rosenberg crafts a brilliant narrative that details Hayes and his great disciple, Bo Schembechler, marshalling their football teams during the era of the Vietnam war. Regarding football, both demanded precision, toughness and execution. Their teams were mirror images of each other and they respected each other greatly. Regarding politics, they were quite different. Hayes was politically engaged and an active participant; Schembechler was politically indifferent and eager to stay on the sidelines.But, Rosenberg's genius is not limited to comparing and contrasting the coaches. He also contrasts the cities, Columbus and Ann Arbor, the players, and the school administrations. Rosenberg's admiration for innovative UM AD Don Canham makes him the third leading figure of the book.Also quite admirable is the way that Rosenberg paints the picture of Hayes. Much more complex than realized by the Eastern media, Hayes had a passion for Ralph Waldo Emerson, history, and education in general. Revealing is the exasperation of Hayes' assistants when he refused to call passing plays. Also revealing is the change of the players from being respectful and attentive in the late 60s to the "Old Man" to the non-respectful, irreverent, even drug taking players of the late 70s.For my money, the best book on Woody Hayes, and one of the best on Bo Schembechler.As a side note, for the negative votes that you see for the five star reviews, see John Bacon's THREE AND OUT. Many UM fans believed that Rosenberg and the Detroit Free Press unfairly targeted UM's voluntary practice hours that led to NCAA sanctions. Bacon makes Rosenberg out to be talented, but rather shallow and selfish.

A book of Woody and Bo , of the times in the world and of course Ohio state and Michigan. A very enjoyable easy read