A former football coach needed a hobby, and ABC Sports was looking for a studio commentator.
Bo Schembechler and the network agreed on a one-year contract Wednesday that will find the former Michigan coach sharing the network`s halftime shows for 12 weeks with host Roger Twibell starting Sept. 14.
”Most people who have a job take a day off,” said Schembechler, who has been the Detroit Tigers president since Jan. 8, 1990. ”My hobby is football. Instead of working seven days a week, I`ll work six.”
Schembechler, who said he cleared the job offer with Tigers owner Tom Monaghan, was hired by ABC Sports executive producer Jack O`Hara.
”We thought someone like Bo would give us the added dimension we needed this fall,” said O`Hara, referring to the network`s package of Big 10, Pac-10 and College Football Association games. ”Once we contacted Bo, we were convinced we didn`t have to go any further. He`s more knowledgeable than anyone we`ve ever met in college football.”
Schembechler, 62, retired as the Wolverines` head coach and athletic director after the 1989 season. During his 21 years at Ann Arbor, Michigan had a 194-48-5 record and 12 Big 10 titles.
”When ABC called,” Schembechler said, ”it kind of lit a light for me. I wanted to be close to college football; I missed it last year.”