Shemy Schembechler apologizes following Michigan football resignation: 'I was wrong'
Glenn "Shemy" Schembechler, son of longtime Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, issued an apology late Sunday evening for his "flippant behavior on Twitter" that necessitated his resignation from the football program the day prior.
Schembechler, 53, who resigned three days after his hiring as the team's assistant recruiting director went public, sent his statement via Rose + Allyn Public Relations, after he deactivated his social media accounts.
It was on those social accounts he previously "liked" transphobic tweets, political conspiracies and multiple racially insensitive posts, including some which implied slavery and Jim Crow aided the strengthening of Black people and families.
SPORTS NEWSLETTER Sign up now for daily updates sent to your inbox
“My entire life and that of my Dad and family has been devoted to the best in people — no matter their race, religion or creed,” the statement says. "Any words or philosophies that in any way seek to underplay the immeasurable suffering and long-term economic and social inequities that hundreds of years of slavery and the ‘Jim Crow’ era caused for Black Americans is wrong.
“I was wrong. We must never sanitize morally unsanitary, historical behaviors that have hindered the Black community, or any other community. There are no historical silver linings for the experience of our brothers and sisters…My sincerest apologies, again and profusely, to anyone I have offended, to the great institution that is the University of Michigan, and to the broader athletic community I have been honored to dedicate my life’s work with the integrity and decency inspired by my family over the decades.”
Schembechler spent more than 25 years as an NFL scout, most of which was in Washington's organization. He was with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders for the past four years before being fired in February.
He previously worked at U-M as a graduate assistant in 1993, and announced last week he was "beyond honored to return home to @umichfootball ! #GoBlue always and forever!"
Schembechler is the second U-M football staffer to leave amidst scandal since the end of the 2022 season.
In January, former co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss was fired amidst a U-M police investigation into "computer crimes" that were linked back to Schembechler Hall.
Michigan deputy police chief Melissa Overton recently told the Free Press there are "still no updates," and it remains an active investigation.
Last fall, running back Donovan Edwards also had to issue an apology for insensitive content on social media. He retweeted a Kanye West video with antisemitic rhetoric, which he initially said happened because of "a glitch" before he later "clarified" and issued a statement saying in part he is "unequivocally against racism, exploitation & oppression in all forms, including stereotyping and trafficking in hate."
Michigan's football program and its coach, Jim Harbaugh, are also under active investigation by the NCAA for Level I and Level II violations for allegedly recruiting during a dead period and subsequently misleading investigators. Harbaugh would not admit to allegations that he lied to investigators.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Shemy Schembechler apologizes following Michigan football resignation
