Today is one of the great days in University of Michigan sports history, as one of their most beloved and respected coaches was born on this day in 1941. Today is Gary Moeller's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COACH MOELLER!
Moeller is one of those "Michigan Men" who never attended college at UM, instead playing at Ohio STATE. So he is literally a "Buckeye". (So is Jim Harbaugh.) But he was paid by the university, twice as an assistant coach, and later as head coach. It was during his illustrious run at the top of the wolverine food-chain that Moeller made history for his employer.
Gary Moeller was arrested on April 28, 1995 for drunk-and-disorderly behavior at the Exalibur restaurant in Southfield. He was carrying on like an angry drunk, verbally abusing anybody nearby, including his wife. When the police arrived, they tried to let Moeller go without being arrested, but Moeller wouldn't take a hint or accept the help. He kept ranting and raving and stinking up the scene until he had to be handcuffed and taken off to the pokey. Plus he punched some cops along the way.
Moeller was "resigned" within days, and a previously unknown assistant coach protested very loudly about the firing at first, then was hired to be his successor. The very vocal objector was Lloyd Carr.
So Lloyd Carr's UM Head Coaching career
was made possible by the firing of Moeller.
Wolverines everywhere can celebrate the fond memory of Michigan Head Football Coach Gary Moeller, hand-picked by Glenn Shembechler to take over his program, being dragged off to the drunk-tank after driving his wife and everybody around him crazy while he drank himself into oblivion.
The Gary Moeller Saga is part of the "Michigan Difference"
---------
Tweet ****** Click on NO COMMENTS (or # comments) below to enter and view reader comments. ----- Remember to check Spartan Headline links, updated real time, in the left column of SpartanResource.com (Web version only). *****Note: If you are receiving this post via automated email, you need to go to the site to view headline links and embedded videos in this post: http://spartanresource.com/ (Web version only). SIGN UP TO RECEIVE POSTS VIA EMAIL, TWITTER OR FACEBOOK IN THE RIGHT COLUMN.*****
Can you explain the Jimmy - Ohio STATE connection?
ReplyDeleteJim Harbaugh was born in TOLEDO, OHIO.
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Harbaugh
So Jim is "literally a Buckeye" because he was born in Toledo? I'm reminded of the throwing rocks in glass house cliche when Mark (who is literally a Miner since he was born in El Paso) went to grad school in Ohio and was Defensive Coordinator of three Buckeye teams.
ReplyDeleteWell, Harbaugh DID go to Michigan, unlike all of the other "Michigan Men". But most of them were born in Ohio, so that strikes me as the common element in the equation:
DeleteOhio Born = "Michigan Man"
Being very aware of Dantonio's background, I could never trump him up as a "Pure Spartan" or whatever. We don't have to talk that way about our coaches. He's our Coach, he's a "Spartan" now, but yes, he worked other jobs and played at a different school. Just like Tom Izzo.
And one more comment while my dander is up. I hope you will consider with deep consideration, SM82, to refrain from the holier than thou attitude when it comes to drinking episodes of other coaches/players. I know you know MSU has it's share of incidents. But I am a recovering alcoholic and it very well could be that many of these men are suffering from the same disease. You obviously haven't been in our shoes. If you reread this and prior posts in our shoes you will see how I feel you are picking on our handicap. I don't think was your intent but now you know how others feel. Keep reporting on the stats and media bias where you excel.
ReplyDeleteNothing personal, C-Mann. Not sure about "holier-than-thou" and no I didn't walk in those shoes. But those who did seem to keep hollering about how HOLY THEY ARE. So I take shots at their fallacies, that's all.
DeleteHard to reconcile the Gary Moeller meltdown with anything dignified or special, that's all. He strikes me as a very common man in circumstances that are nothing special. It's those folks that ride the high-horse, not us.
I generally aim at a very wide target when I shoot at chUMps. So any criteria that scores a hit is likely going to be used at some point.
Again, nothing personal against you or other non-chUMps.
C-Note. I think SM82 is merely mocking the ole "Michigan Man" moniker. They make it seem like a defined thing when in fact from Bo on they all have Ohio or Ohio State ties of some kind - it's actually quite revealing if seen in list form. MSU does not use the "Spartan Man" as a measure for if a coach is qualified. I appreciate your openness and candour in the other comment. Thanks for sharing - really!
ReplyDeleteI endorse this reply comment from RTG.
Delete