Mourners pay respects to Schembechler at service in Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Hundreds of maize-and-blue-clad mourners filed past the casket of Bo Schembechler on Sunday to pay tribute to the no-nonsense coach who became the face of Michigan football.
The closed casket at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church was festooned with floral arrangements. Schembechler's likeness was presented in a painting and in a photo of him coaching in his signature navy blue "M" cap. A plaque on an easel listed his records during each of 21 seasons as the Wolverines' coach.
Schembechler died Friday at age 77 after collapsing at a suburban Detroit television studio. His death came the day before No. 1 Ohio State beat No. 2 Michigan 42-39 in one of college football's great rivalries.
Mourners included former players, current Michigan students and past rivals who said they came to thank him.
Aram Sarkisian, a trumpet player in the Michigan marching band, said he had met Schembechler after the former coach spoke to the group.
"Bo has always meant a lot to my family," said the junior, who wore his blue letter jacket to the viewing. "He's the kind of person, you just hung on every single word he said."
Mourners at the public viewing, however, did not mention Schembechler's wins and losses but instead talked about his off-the-field legacy.
"He was like a dad," said Julia Moore, 37, a 1991 Michigan alumna who worked in the football recruiting office as an undergraduate. "He wanted the best for you."
She said Schembechler was a "disciplinarian" but had paternal qualities.
"He told you what to do, but it was loving and heartfelt," Moore said.