Former Michigan football players say coach Bo Schembechler ignored warnings, son’s complaint about doctor’s abuse

Two former Michigan soccer gamers stated Thursday they imagine they might have been spared from sexual assaults if their coach, Bo Schembechler, had addressed complaints about former crew physician Robert Anderson made by Schembechler’s son Matt.

Each gamers stated in addition they tried to warn Bo Schembechler about Anderson’s abusive remedy and had been ignored.

Dan Kwiatkowski and Gilvanni Johnson joined Matt Schembechler on Thursday at a information convention in Michigan to share their tales. Kwiatkowski performed offensive sort out for the Wolverines within the late Nineteen Seventies; Johnson performed extensive receiver within the early Nineteen Eighties.

Each males stated they beforehand talked to investigators about being molested by Anderson whereas they had been on the soccer crew, however publicly revealed their identities for the primary time earlier this week.

“If [Bo Schembechler] had stopped Anderson earlier than 1982, I’d not have been victimized in any respect,” Johnson stated.

Anderson served in a wide range of roles on the College of Michigan from 1966 to 2003, working intently with the athletic division for many of that point. Greater than 800 former sufferers have made authorized claims that Anderson sexually assaulted them throughout bodily exams and different routine medical appointments. Anderson died in 2008, a decade earlier than claims about his abuse had been broadly publicized.

On Wednesday, Matt Schembechler stated he was sexually assaulted by Anderson in 1969 when he was 10 years outdated. Matt Schembechler stated that when he informed his father what occurred shortly after his appointment, the coach informed his son he didn’t need to hear about it. Bo Schembechler then “put palms on” his spouse, Millie, and punched his son within the chest, Matt Schembechler stated.

Matt Schembechler stated his father then blocked an try to fireplace Anderson.

Bo Schembechler died in 2006. Millie died in 1992.

“[Bo] believed no man is extra necessary than the crew. Dr. Anderson was a part of Bo’s crew, due to this fact he was extra necessary than any man,” Matt Schembechler stated throughout Thursday’s information convention. “I’m coming ahead for my very own therapeutic and to assist forestall individuals and establishments from exploiting the belief and energy given to them sooner or later.”

Glenn “Shemy” Schembechler, who’s Matt’s brother and Bo’s son, informed ESPN on Thursday that he didn’t imagine Matt’s story. Glenn, who’s 10 years youthful than Matt, stated his father was “as loving of an individual as you possibly can think about” and that if the coach had identified that Anderson was sexually assaulting sufferers that he would have stopped it.

Glenn Schembechler stated he couldn’t refute the experiences of different gamers, however stated he didn’t suppose his father was conscious that Anderson was doing something greater than what would have been typical or acceptable in a bodily examination on the time.

“None of us had been in that room when these gamers had been speaking to Bo,” Glenn Schembechler stated. “The Bo I knew would have taken care of it and located one other physician. It will be that straightforward.”

Kwiatkowski on Thursday stated that when he informed Bo Schembechler about how Anderson digitally penetrated his rectum, the coach informed him to “toughen up.”

Johnson stated he informed Bo Schembechler about Anderson assaulting him after his bodily examination as a freshman. Johnson stated the coach stated he would test with the medical workers, however he didn’t comply with up after the preliminary dialog.

Kwiatkowski and Johnson each stated Anderson’s actions had long-term impacts on their belief in docs and their private relationships. They stated gamers continuously joked about Anderson within the locker room when teammates returned from remedy.

Johnson stated he recalled assistant coaches telling gamers that in the event that they didn’t work arduous, they must go have a go to with Anderson.

“Solely now do I notice how loopy it was to threaten rape as a method of motivating gamers to work tougher,” Johnson stated.

Glenn Schembechler refuted allegations that his father hit his brother and mom, saying there was “no method” that his father would try this or that his mom would stand for being handled that method. He stated he didn’t witness any sort of violent conduct in his dwelling whereas rising up.

Glenn Schembechler stated he has not spoken together with his brother for greater than a decade and that relationships inside their household have lengthy been frayed.

Glenn Schembechler stated his brother’s relationship together with his father soured many years in the past. In 1999, Matt sued his father and the College of Michigan over a dispute associated to a sports activities memorabilia firm he was working.

Matt Schembechler on Thursday stated his father’s response to claims about Anderson in 1969 was “the start of the top” of their relationship.

“I used to be saddened, however I can’t say I used to be shocked,” Glenn Schembechler stated when requested about his response to his brother’s public statements this week. “My coronary heart goes out to the victims, however I do know for sure that if Bo had been right here, he’d really feel the identical method. He would have gone to any lengths to assist his gamers.”

Kwiatkowski, Johnson and Matt Schembechler on Thursday stated they had been coming ahead now in hopes of stopping comparable conditions from taking place sooner or later. Johnson stated he was partially motivated to talk up after listening to feedback made final week by present Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, who performed for Michigan whereas Schembechler was teaching the crew within the Nineteen Eighties, informed reporters earlier than this week’s allegations that he doesn’t recall any occasion when Schembechler left potential issues unaddressed.

“He by no means sat on something,” Harbaugh stated, in response to the Detroit Free Press. “He by no means procrastinated on something. He took care of it earlier than the solar went down. That’s the Bo Schembechler that I do know. There’s nothing that ever was swept below the rug or ignored. He addressed all the things in a well timed trend. That’s the Bo Schembechler that I knew.”

The three males who spoke Thursday are amongst tons of suing the College of Michigan for failing to cease Anderson. A regulation agency employed by the college in 2023 discovered that a number of college staff did not act when offered with credible claims about Anderson’s assaults. A mediation course of to settle the claims started final October, however has not but produced any settlement.

“Our sympathy for all of Anderson’s victims is deep and unwavering, and we thank them for his or her bravery in coming ahead,” stated an announcement from the College of Michigan in response to Matt Schembechler’s allegations. “We condemn and apologize for the tragic misconduct of the late Dr. Robert Anderson, who left the College 17 years in the past and died 13 years in the past. We’re dedicated to resolving their claims and to persevering with the court-guided confidential mediation course of.”