Complex sentence: In 1978, Shafer's father had open heart surgery; he called Bo Schembechler, told him he was a football coach and had met him a few times, and asked Schembechler if he could write a letter to his boys.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1978, Shafer's father had open heart surgery and reached out to Bo Schembechler. He told Schembechler that he was a football coach and had met him a few times, and then asked him if he could write a letter to his boys.