Photo by nytimes.com
Bo Schembechler coached the University of Michigan football for 21 seasons from 1969 to 1989. In Michigan, he had an impressive record of 194 wins, 48 losses and 5 ties. With his coaching tenure at Miami University (1963-1968), Schembechler’s total career record was a remarkable 234-65-8.
Schembechler was by far the best football coach the University of Michigan has had ever since they played their first season in 1879.
His famous speech about “The Team” still is replayed to remind everyone that it is not about one individual player, but rather it is about the team. Brady Hoke, the new football coach is starting a new era with the start of this season, but yet, he is bringing back some of the glory days of Schembechler.
There are some great lessons from Schembechler’s “The Team” speech that we can apply to the Church. If we are serious about winning the lost this year, then we have to work as a team. No one person can do everything by themselves. We need everyone in HMCC to do their part. This is how winning is done. We are expecting a great season of ministry and we cannot accomplish anything without Christ and each other.
Here is part of the transcript of “The Team” speech that was given on Thursday night, November 16th, 2006. It was before the big Ohio State game.
Schembechler said,
No man is more important than The Team. No coach is more important than The Team. The Team, The Team, The Team, and if we think that way, all of us, everything that you do, you take into consideration what effect does it have on my Team? Because you can go into professional football, you can go anywhere you want to play after you leave here. You will never play for a Team again. You’ll play for a contract. You’ll play for this. You’ll play for that. You’ll play for everything except the team, and think what a great thing it is to be a part of something that is, The Team.
We’re gonna win it. We’re gonna win the championship again because we’re gonna play as team, better than anybody else in this conference, we’re gonna play together as a team. We’re gonna believe in each other, we’re not gonna criticize each other, we’re not gonna talk about each other, we’re gonna encourage each other. And when we play as a team, when the old season is over, you and I know, it’s gonna be Michigan again, Michigan.”
We are looking forward to the start of a new season and a new era.
Hail! to the conqu’ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
The leaders and best!
Hail! to the victors valiant
Hail! to the conqu’ring heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
The champions of the West!
Go Blue!
If this video doesn’t excite you for this coming season, then I don’t know what will. Let’s do this!