“Those who stay will be champions”
“Those who stay will be champions” is a sports slogan at the University of Michigan. University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler (1929-2006) led the Wolverines from 1969 to 1989; in his first year (1969), he supposedly told his squad that he expected them to work hard, but “Those who stay will be champions.” The slogan has been posted in Michigan locker rooms and was trademarked by Schembechler Enterprises in 2007.
However, it does not appear that Schembechler first used the saying. “Those who stay will be champions” was printed in the book Building a Championship Football Team (1960), by Paul W. “Bear” Bryant (1913-1983). The slogan was also printed in a California newspaper’s sports section in 1966.
Wikipedia: Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward “Bo” Schembechler, Jr. (April 1, 1929 – November 17, 2006) was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8. Only Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne have recorded 200 victories in fewer games as a coach in major college football. In his 21 seasons as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, Schembechler’s teams amassed a record of 194–48–5 and won or shared 13 Big Ten Conference titles. Though his Michigan teams never won a national championship, in all but one season they finished ranked, and 16 times they placed in the final top ten of both major polls.
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“Those Who Stay Will Be Champions”
Schembechler began his tenure as head coach at Michigan with a rallying cry to his players: “Those who stay will be champions!” This slogan foreshadowed the challenges Michigan football players would endure from the dramatic culture change initiated by Schembechler, who emphasized toughness and introduced practices and conditioning far more rigorous than any the players had been exposed to before. His first training camp in 1969 saw around 140 players enter but a mere 75 emerging from the grueling camp and choosing to embrace Schembechler’s system. Schembechler’s subsequent successes and legacy of propelling the Michigan football program to further national prominence immortalized his promise to his players after accepting the head coaching position at Michigan. Every Michigan football player who played for Bo Schembechler and stayed at Michigan for four years left Michigan with at least one Big Ten championship ring. Furthermore, not once did any Michigan player under Bo endure a losing season during his tenure. As such, “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions” remains a beloved team slogan for the Michigan Wolverines and has been immortalized into the tradition and mythology of Michigan football.
Google Books
Building a Championship Football Team
By Paul W. Bryant
Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall
1960
Pg. 231:
THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS (Chapter title—ed.)
The boy who sets his mind to do what is required of him in order to be a winner is not only the type of boy we are looking for, but he will get the most from the program. Those who stay will be champions and will become winners not only on the football field but in life itself.
27 August 1966, The Daily Review (Hayward, CA), “Strong Nucleus for Buc Eleven” by Larry Close, pg. 9, col. 1:
SAN LEANDRO—A sign hangs in the Pirates’ locker room. It reads: “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.”
1 October 1973, Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ), “UA’s Young instills organizational climate,” pg. 5, col. 4:
The final reminder—“Those who stay will be champions”—hits each player in the face when he exits daily.
(University of Arizona football coach Jim Young—ed.)
27 February 1974, Tucson (AZ) Daily Citizen, “UA wrestler doesn’t: “Don’t ‘Polk’ fun at injuries” by John Lankford, pg. 52, col. 5:
Nelson has a sign posted in the wrestling room which reads: “Those who stay will be champions.”
(University of Arizona wrestling coach Bill Nelson—ed.)
30 December 1976, Albuquerque (NM) Journal, “Michigan Tackle Has a Green Friend” by Skip Bayless (Washington Post), pg. C-6, col. 6:
“Our motto is, ‘To be the best, you have to perform the best.’ We may not have the biggest people, but Bo has this sign on the locker room door: ‘Those who stay will be champions.’”
(University of Michigan defensive tackle Greg Morton—ed.)
Sports Illustrated
October 14, 1985
‘i Wasn’t A Normal Person’
Severe depression nearly destroyed Brad Cochran of Michigan
Sandy Keenan
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“You’ll never wear a Michigan uniform again” was all Schembechler had time to say before Cochran stormed out, right underneath the sign promising THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS.
The Michigan Daily (University of Michigan at Ann Arbor)
Those who stay will be champions
BY SCOTT BELL
Published November 18, 2006
That was Bo Schembechler’s cry to his players when he took over as head coach of the Wolverines in 1969.
With disciplinarian tactics, Schembechler whittled down a squad that started with about 140 players to 75 before the 1969 season even started.
Why? Because Bo coached on his terms.
(Trademark)
Word Mark THOSE WHO STAY WILL BE CHAMPIONS
Goods and Services IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Clothing, namely, athletic footwear, athletic uniforms, baseball caps, bathing trunks, Bermuda shorts, caps, cloth bibs, coats, jackets, fleece pullovers, footwear, golf shirts, gym shorts, headwear, hat bands, jerseys, jogging suits, polo shirts, rainwear, shorts, socks, sweat pants, sweat shirts, sweat shorts, sweat suits, sweaters, tank tops, T-shirts, one piece baby undershirts with diaper cover, shirts, and pants, all used in clear association with the name “Bo Schembechler” or the following University of Michigan trademarks: UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN FOOTBALL, or M (Stylized
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 77152583
Filing Date April 10, 2007
Current Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition February 12, 2008
Owner (APPLICANT) Schembechler Enterprises, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OHIO 13684 Random Ridge View Colorado Springs COLORADO 80921
Attorney of Record Thomas L. Lockhart
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE