Schembechler son, players say Michigan coach knew of abuse

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By COREY WILLIAMS and MIKE HOUSEHOLDER

NOVI, Mich. (AP) — One of legendary University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler’s sons and two of his former players described in detail Thursday how they were molested by the team’s longtime doctor and how Schembechler turned a blind eye when they told him about the abuse, telling one to “toughen up” and punching his son in anger.

Matt Schembechler, 62, and former Wolverines players Daniel Kwiatkowski and Gilvanni Johnson told similar stories about how Dr. Robert E. Anderson, who died in 2008, molested and digitally penetrated them during physical exams decades ago. They also talked about how Bo Schembechler, a Michigan icon whose statue stands outside a university building that bears his name, refused to protect them and allowed Anderson to continue abusing players and other patients for years.

Anderson “was supported by a culture that placed the reputation of the university above the health and safety of the students,” Matt Schembechler said during a news conference in the Detroit suburb of Novi. “That is the culture that made my father a legend and placed his statue in front of Schembechler Hall.”

“Dr. Anderson was part of the University of Michigan team,” he continued. “He was part of Bo’s team, therefore, he was more important than any man. It’s very clear that Bo and the university always put themselves before any student-athlete or son, just to support the brand.”



Matt Schembechler, son of former University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, participates in a news conference, Thursday, June 10, 2021, in Novi, Mich. Schembechler described Thursday how he was molested and sexually assaulted by the team's longtime doctor and how his father turned a blind eye when he was told about the abuse. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/college-sports-football-michigan-college-football-sports-a9a1e2a815c5baf3faa677e492cd5ddb

[tonekat]

1. Those who complain about "liberal influence" in education

Have blinders on when it comes to the way institutions bend over for the sports programs and the money and influence involved. How terrible for the sons.

[gab13by13]

2. Penn State, my alma mater,

is still called Pedo U. by other Big 10 schools. But you know what, after all of this time, one of Penn State's former officials, Spanier, just reported to prison. Sports wise Penn State was also punished by the Big 10. Meanwhile Michigan State, Ohio State, and now Michigan, all covered up sexual abuses by their team doctors. Not a freaking thing was done to people at those 3 other schools. One of the people who covered up sexual abuses was even elected to Congress, Gym Jordan.

[3825-87867]

3. Waiting for all those from OSU, MSU and Mich

to come here and bitch the same way they did about the incident at Penn State and the NCAA.
(BTW, where is the NCAA on this?)

Waiting for apologies!

Let's hear from those who open their mouths to criticize PSU but won't dare complain about their alma mater.

Waiting...


(Crickets)

Hypocrites!

[MichMan]

7. Several at MSU were convicted and others resigned including the University President

President Simon was also facing criminal charges, but they were dismissed by a judge

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/05/13/larry-nassar-scandal-ex-msu-head-lou-anna-simon-has-charges-dismissed/5183492002/

[Crowman2009]

12. Some heroes out of all this were the MSU college democrats who protested when ex-gov scumbag...

...John Engler was appointed temporary president. A couple years later some of those trustees were voted out by people who actually gave a damn about sexual assault victims.

[mahina]

13. Great young people

Thank you for posting

[BradAllison]

10. Fuck Bo, Fuck Gym Jordan, Fuck Larry Nassar and Fuck Joe PA and Big Dusk.

All of them can rot in hell.

[twodogsbarking]

8. Not prosecuting other schools doesn't make PSU

any less guilty.

[Wuddles440]

9. Not the point!

The media's obsessive fixation with the criminal acts that occurred at PSU while essentially ignoring equally or even more egregious acts at other institutions. Blatant disparity of treatment due to biases and influential alumni which skews public perceptions and subsequent accountability.

[twodogsbarking]

11. I stand by my comment.

Rant on.

[3catwoman3]

4. Way to go, Dad - sheesh.

Reminiscent of the Catholic mothers who not only would not believe their children when told about sexual abuse, but often slapped them when they did tell. (Not speaking from personal experience, but from accounts I have read.)

[Probatim]

5. Big time sports and big time religion have a lot in common.

But to ignore your son being molested is big-time f*cked up.

[Dawson Leery]

6. America's sports obsession is a vile illness.

Millions upon millions turn a blind eye to these abuses to justify their good feelings they get from rooting for their team (which has no practical impact on their lives). American education is subpar.

[Scruffy1]

14. I completely agree.

Reminds me of the brief time i spent teaching high school. The faculty coaches all had fantasies of being a famous college coach. Being one of the few who had attended a major college I already knew the coaches and staff in the big programs were complete assholes getting rich of college athletes. Winning is mainly about recruiting and they all push the envelope of legality at the very least.
I could easily see any of them covering up anything that might hurt their recruiting.

[Dawson Leery]

15. 99.99999999% are all student athletes will never go to the major leagues.