Letter from former players & coaches supporting Bo
I'm surprised that I haven't seen this posted yet. Letter was released today signed by over 100 former players, coaches, staff members defending Bo. Some notable signers include Jim Hackett, Jack Harbaugh, Dan Dierdorf, Jon Falk, Steve Everitt, John Kolesar; Reggie McKenzie and Mark Messner. Jim Harbaugh was not included.
Listening isn't the same as shutting up and/or agreeing.
Fuck them too.
I remember when we laughed at the PSU players, alums, donors, and fans who continued to support Joe Paterno despite overwhelming evidence that Paterno knew about Sandusky's misdeeds and did nothing. It was embarrassing to watch.
This is no different.
I disagree. This is quite a bit different, and, sadly, much closer to Nassar. Bo--for whatever reason--believed a medical doctor was performing appropriate medical practices during an era when doctors abusing their position for same-sex sexual abuse was not really in the public consciousness.
That does not excuse Bo. He absolutely failed to protect the people in his charge. His own quotes on leadership prove his guilt by his own standards. And he had a damaging impact on a huge number of lives.
But Sandusky was a coach with NO legitimate reason to be taking little kids in the shower. That is a much different failure.
Yep, this is an embarrassment to the guys who actually signed this and it's a bad look for all of us. Like, I get that *you* did not see anything but this type of statement is saying you think the victims are lying for....reasons. Who doesn't love telling the whole world you were molested?
I really would've thought guys like Hackett or Jack Harbaugh would've been smart enough to believe the victims testimonies (especially Hackett who led an AD and Ford FFS), but it's especially dumb to say publicly that you essentially think the victims and Bo's effing son are liars. What dumbasses
This whole thing will just get uglier and uglier I'm afraid. I don't think either side will give an inch either. Interesting how no one has jumped up to defend Canham - yet.
Matt Schembechler seemed to partially exonerate Canham, while blaming Bo. Richard Goldman exonerated Bo, while blaming Canham. Goldman said he told Bo, and Bo got angry and confronted Canham. Jon Vaughn says he was "ruthlessly raped" 45 times, according to an article in yesterday's Detroit News, and that Bo did nothing. This has gotten pretty hard to follow.
Jon Vaughn says he was "ruthlessly raped" 45 times, according to an article in yesterday's Detroit News, and that Bo did nothing.
I did not see this. Sorry, but that sounds like absolute bullshit.
Indeed.
If you're calling me a liar, here's the link:
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/06/16/doctor…
The quote: Vaughn, who said he was "ruthlessly raped" by Anderson 45 times while he was a UM student and football player from 1988-91, called for accountability, transparency and a full investigation from UM.
I believe he is referring to Vaughn's claim of being raped 45 times, not you for mentioning it.
Do I think Vaughn was probably a victim of abuse by Anderson? Sure. Do I think he's exaggerating? Possible - maybe it's fairly accurate, maybe it's for the effect (like it was a multiple thing, not a one-time deal), maybe some other reason.
I think Vaughn is saying he got probed 45 times, which is legally defined as a type of rape. Not that a skinny doctor "jail sex raped" him. And I do find the "got touched 45 times" account plausible.
Fuck em. Tone deaf.
We believe firmly, that if he were aware of such behavior, Coach Schembechler would have acted immediately to put a stop to it and would have made sure anyone responsible for it would have been removed from the University of Michigan football program.
If Coach Schembechler was aware of any criminal or sexual abuse, as we stated above, in our opinion, he would have been outraged and acted immediately. It is reasonable to assume that Coach Schembechler, like many at the time, believed the physicals were not abusive but rather performed in accordance with standard medical practices.
The selected passages from the letter (emphasis mine) highlight that the signees have no direct knowledge of what exactly Bo did or didn't know. They have built up Bo in their heads as a moral hero and disappointingly reject any evidence to the contrary.
They're saying they don't believe he knew, or that he didn't consider what he was told to be sexual abuse. My dad was in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He said that dentists and doctors were not gentle with you. You did what you were told and did not complain. Bo, who was in the army, came from that era and mentality. He should have really listened, but instead we're told he just said, "Toughen up." That doesn't exonerate him, but I think it is a possible explanation for his inaction.
There are really only 3 possibilities:
- Everyone is lying about the abuse and telling Bo;
- At least some people aren't lying about the abuse but everyone is lying about telling Bo;
- At least some people aren't lying about the abuse or telling Bo, but Bo didn't interpret what they were saying as worthy of doing much to intervene.
I find 1 and 2 very unlikely and 3 very likely. It is also consistent with what these 100 players are saying--if Bo had interpreted something he was told as being sexual abuse, he would have told someone. The players seem to believe that Bo not saying anything means he wasn't told anything. It seems to me it could just mean that Bo didn't hear anything he thought was worthy of reporting.
Yes, that is the simplest explanation. Bo seems to have been callous about the issue in a way that was common for the time but that we have every right--even a responsibility--to criticize now.
Only 100? The low number is very telling imo. The icon of all icons @ UM with only 100 players/coaches risking ridicule? Could be many reasons why a player/coach wouldn’t sign the current cancel culture would be #1. Yet still wouldn’t you think it would be easy to hit 500-1000?
I'm not understanding something. Matt Schembechler said in his press conference that Millie went to Canham and Canham fired him. Bo insisted that he hire him back.
I'm reading other times when players went to Bo, he referred them to Canham.
If Canham fired him once and was receiving all of these reports from Bo's players. That doesn't seem very consistent.
Matt said this happened before Bo even coached a game at Michigan. Hard to believe that Bo would take on his boss over a doctor he hardly knew. A doctor who allegedly just abused his stepson. Matt's story doesn't add up.
Exactly, and coming from Miami of Ohio, he wasn't a high profile hire.
The new guy doesn't have that kind of pull, especially with someone like Canham.
I would agree but it’s not just Matt saying Bo knew, or am I mistaken?
Bo's knowledge really isn't the point. The point is the conflicting responses.
Matt said he told Bo, Bo punches him in the chest and tells him to grow up or whatever. Millie (a nurse) goes over Bo's head to Canham. Canham supposedly fired Dr. Anderson but Bo told Canham he needed him.
The other players tell Bo, Bo tells them to report the matter to Canham. And does nothing.
The handling of the conflicts are inconsistent.
That's one reason I think Matt Schembechler is not telling the truth. A brand-new coach who (probably, given the likely timeline) has still never coached a game at Michigan, swings a big enough stick to go over his boss's head, toss said boss under the bus, and get his boss's decision reversed? Keeping in mind that Canham had been at Michigan for decades prior, as the track coach, so he is known to people and Bo, in general, is not.
The rest of the stories are more consistent if you toss Matt Schembechler's account out the window. I don't think he's reliable.
Unless the complaint to Canham was specifically about Matt’s allegations(Mille talking to him makes that likely) and even a new coach can pull the “He’s my son and pulls crap like this for attention. Don’t ruin a man(Dr. Anderson) over this. He’s lied to us before.
This is the part that gets me. If Bo was such an asshole as a father that a son you raised would put this on you? Even if Matt’s story is embellished by a festering hate and is actually only 25 or 50% accurate. That rips a statue down in my eyes. Fuck the once accepted abusive behavior of parents. No. You don’t get a pass when you took a belt to an 8yr old or punched your teen in the chest. You don’t get prosecuted cuz it’s often too far gone so the only penance that can be exacted on you is your reputation. And it deserves what it gets. I had a close friend whose Dad was an abusive bullying asshole to him and his Mom. She put up with it like many of the era would but not my Bud. He busted out of there and hardly looked back for years. 20 yrs down the road, home for a wedding in the family at a pre party with his Dad and all his friends at the fire. He let him have it. Play by played every fucked up incident that he lived thru right there in front of the people his dad most respected. I was fucking PROUD of him. I was PROUD to be there and witness the assassination of a deserving assholes character. Short of the violence that was in my friends mind, this is the only recourse that provides the victim a release of some of the burden. Matt’s testimony feels like that to me. Listen less to the play by play of what he’s saying and more to the fact that he clearly HAS to say it.
So cringy. As if your experience with someone means anything about what they've done outside of that.
I don't want to hate on this group of former players but this seems awfully tone deaf
Good for them.
The fact that this has become all about Bo, and not the doctor or those that employed him is fucking bullshit.
The MgoMob witch hunt is following precisely the east landfill and columbus agenda.
For shame.
Go Blue.
Yeah because the guy in charge of the football program and who was aware of these allegations (you know because they were reported to him by people on his team) should bear no responsibility for this?
Man I loved Bo but Bo deserves blame. Bo failed a large number of young men.
If you can't see that then i don't know...
"... this has become all about Bo ..."
Nope. Plenty of people are talking about Dr. Anderson. Possibly more than are talking about Bo.
"The MgoMob witch hunt is following precisely the east landfill and columbus agenda."
Which is what, exactly? Spraying "Axe" on all body parts? Shitting in coolers? Enlighten us.
Most people would like everyone who was responsible to be held accountable. That includes obviously the Dr himself, amd an unfortunately large number of people at University Health Services, Michigan Med, the Athletic Department and in the University as a whole.
This quote from Bo has been shared more than once. It sums up why I think Bo failed very nicely.
“Every coach, every executive, every leader: They all know right from wrong. Even those Enron guys. When someone uncovers a scandal in their company, I don't think they can say, "I didn't know that was going on." They're just saying they're too dumb to do their job! And if they really are too dumb, then why are they getting paid millions of dollars to do it? They know what's going on.”
One of the trainers that was told is still working with the team.
Bullshit. Everyone knows Dr Anderson was the abuser and that’s inexcusable. Also inexcusable are the people, include allegedly Bo, who knew yet enabled the abuse to continue unabated for years.
Ummm... He was still around when Bo was AD.
Great. We’re well on the way to becoming the next Penn State. This is basically giving a big “fat “fuck we don’t believe you” to the victims.
I’ve never hated the term Michigan Man more than I do now. And I’ve always hated it. We’re not a cut above anyone else just because we’re Michigan. We’re just the same as everyone else. Just as flawed, just as capable of terrible atrocities. Just as unwilling to accept the fact that our heroes could be capable of making terrible, god awful decisions that ruin lives.
More telling is who isn’t on that letter.
Gary Moeller
Lloyd Carr
Les Miles
HAHAHA Les Miles. Yeah that's definitely someone you want on your side when it comes to these sorts of issues.
YES, has anyone asked these people point blank about this mess. Supposedly some of the assistant coaches under Bo knew about Anderson's perversions and would threaten players with another trip to Anderson. They need to be asked and were they interviewed for the WH report? If not then that is also VERY TELLING!
People aren't binary.
Bo was a hero in many ways and to many people, and that should never be forgotten. He did good for thousands of players and their families, and helped raise boys into men. Those men remember Bo and his character and cannot fathom he would fail others.
Bo also enabled a sexual predator. No matter the reason for this blindspot, Bo failed those in his charge and his own character. This should also be remembered and the trauma it induced deserves truth and reconciliation.
And neither of the above truths cancels or invalidates the other. He was not just a hero or just a villain--like all of us, he was both.
Dont shatter my world view that there isn't just good guys vs. bad guys and everyone fits nearly into one of those categories. How dare you.
I don't believe Matt Schembechler. He has no evidence to back his claims and he has proven in the past that he resented Bo and had taken vindictive legal action against the family. He was left out of the family trust and obviously has an axe to grind.
That is not a comment on the veracity of any of the other allegations made by victims. I have no reason to doubt their statements about what happened to them or what they said to Bo.
It's easier to just believe all victims. The risk of being wrong isn't huge. For some reason no gets nearly as mad at you for incorrectly blaming the accused. A wait for all the facts position is also a bit risky. It makes people wonder if you're a secret victim blamer. They really don't like that! If you don't believe the victim and you're wrong, time to move to Mexico.
This really isn't a situation in which we should be practicing intellectual laziness. And forming an opinion before being presented with all of the requisite facts is the opposite of critical thinking. Without enough info it is best to not form an opinion at all.
I am not sure why either of those are particularly strong reasons to doubt Matt. If what he said is true, is it any surprise that he resents Bo? And what evidence are you looking for? All the other relevant parties are dead. Medical records from 50 years ago are sparse. While there are some people who keep journals when they are 10, and then proceed to keep them for 50 years, that is not that common.
He very well may be lying, but neither of your pieces of evidence provide particularly compelling evidence one way or the other.
This is an unsubstantiated allegation. His own brother doesn't believe him. In a he said/he said allegation, the character of the accuser as well as the question of motive are very germaine and usually the deciding factor. There will likely be a monetary settlement by the University to victims. Matt Schembechler has shown repeatedly he wants to cash in on his father's name and his connection with Michigan football. He has filed several unsuccessful lawsuits to do just that. This is just part of a sleazy pattern.
That would be his step brother that doesn’t believe him. What if Matt’s character is defined by what his stepdad didn’t do? I am not saying that Matt is telling the truth, but much of his behavior could in fact be explained by hatred for his stepdad that stems back to the very incident in question.
If he is being truthful, it is not shocking that he is a pretty bitter individual.
It's his half-brother, I believe, Millie was mother to both. But I don't know what difference that makes. They grew up in the same house and obviously know each other far better than you or I do. Matt's character is defined by the lies and sleazy actions he's taken in the past to make money off of his connection to Bo and the lawsuits he's filed to hurt Bo's family. Bo has been dead for 15 years, and there was bad blood well before that. Matt has had decades to come forward about this if it was the incident that drove a wedge between him and Bo, but he never mentioned it. He is not credible.
Shem is also defending Bo against all the other accusations. He may have some credibility problems of his own.
This was a failure by the university (including Bo, but far from just Bo) who employed the man for 40 years and as recently as 2003 when he retired. They can offer Bo's legacy as a sacrifice, but reprimanding a guy who was one piece of this puzzle who has been dead for 15 years does fuck all to hold anyone accountable. The university had 4 decades to hold someone accountable, but didn't because if their institutional rot. If they or anyone had uncovered this earlier than now think of how many they could have saved from being cornholed by Dr. Buttfinger. They lost all credibility when they did nothing for 40 years. Spare me the virtue signaling and moral pontificating after the fact. Fuck off. You did nothing. It's too late. Say as much and ask the victims what they want for being finger fucked by a university employee. A university that they & their families trusted to educate and provide care to their kids.
You act as Bo had no authority at all, none in his 21 years as head coach nor in his 3 as AD.