A shocking line of allegations were made last week against one of the biggest figures in Michigan sports history.
Matt Schembechler, the son of former Michigan Wolverines head coach Bo Schembechler, held a press conference during which he and two former Michigan players in Gilvanni Johnson and David Kwiatkowski allege that their father and coach ignored their having suffered sexual abuse at the hands of disgraced former doctor Robert Anderson.
Additionally, a press conference was held this past Wednesday in which several former players had similar stories to tell against the legendary Schembechler, who died in 2008. However, he’s not without his staunch defenders.
Over 100 former Michigan players, coaches and staff have added their names to a letter stating their belief that Schembechler never would have allowed sexual abuse to continue. According to the letter, had he been “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.”
The letter also expresses sympathy for those who suffered sexual abuse, and states that “All of us received physicals to play football at Michigan. Many of us never thought at any time we had been abused during the process. And, subsequently nothing was reported to Bo.”
Among the names in the letter include Jack Harbaugh, an assistant coach under Schembechler from 1973-79. Others include broadcaster Jim Brandstatter, Dan Dierdorf, Jim Hackett, Tom Lewand, and Jon Falk.
Over 100 former Michigan football players, coaches, and staffers come to the defense of the legendary Bo Schembechler #GoBlue 〽️🏈 pic.twitter.com/NWj89hW6jo
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) June 18, 2021
– – Quotes via Detroit Free Press Link – –
