Mike Boren Mike Boren is a former American football linebacker who played for the Michigan Wolverines from 1980 to 1983 . University of Michigan . Boren grew up in Columbus , Ohio where he attended Independence High School . Despite growing up in Columbus , Boren accepted a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan and play linebacker for Bo Schembechler . Relationship with Bo Schembechler . While at Michigan , Boren became close with Coach Schembechler . In 1981 , Sports Illustrated reported on an exchange between Boren and Schembechler . Boren walked into Bo ' s office , but before Boren could open his mouth , Bo spoke . < br > Bo : " Look at your hair . " < br > Boren : " I was born with it like this . " < br > Bo : " Naw , you got it all pushed up . You weren ' t born with it like that . It wasn ' t even like that when I met you . Get a haircut . " < br > Boren : " Bo , it ' s only a half - inch long . " < br > Bo : " Get a haircut . How much do you weigh ? " < br > Boren : " Oh , 218 , but I ' ve been sick . " < br > Bo : " You were 218 and sick last time you were in here . " < br > Boren : " I ' m a sick person . " < br > Bo : " Get unsick . " < br > In 2005 , when Michigan offered a scholarship to Boren ' s son , Justin Boren , Schembechler thought there was nothing to discuss . " Bo just said , ' He ' s your son . You tell him where he ' s going to go , ' " Boren said with a laugh . " But I told Bo , ' I ' m not going to tell him where to go . He has to make this decision for himself . ' " By the fall of 2006 , Justin Boren had joined the Wolverines . On November 16 , 2006 , Boren was in Ann Arbor with his son where they both attended Schembechler ' s final address to the team before the Ohio State game . According to Boren , the speech had a sense of urgency . " He pretty much delivered it , and the guys were going nuts . It ' s a scary thing , and I hate to say it , but I think Bo knew something was wrong . " Schembechler collapsed and died of heart failure the next morning . After the 2007 season , Justin Boren quit the University of Michigan and transferred to Ohio State University . Sixth among top tacklers in Michigan history . Boren went on to become one of the greatest linebacker ' s in Michigan history . His 212 career tackles ranks sixth in school history : < br > 1 . Jarrett Irons - 296 tackles ( 1993 - 1996 ) < br > 2 . Erick Anderson - 286 tackles ( 1988 - 1991 ) < br > 3 . Sam Sword - 265 tackles ( 1995 - 1998 ) < br > 4 . Ron Simpkins - 262 tackles ( 1976 - 1979 ) < br > 5 . Steve Morrison - 220 tackles ( 1990 - 1994 ) < br > 6 . Mike Boren - 212 tackles ( 1980 - 1983 ) < br > 7 . Mike Mallory - 211 tackles ( 1982 - 1985 ) < br > 8 . Paul Girgash - 206 tackles ( 1979 - 1982 ) < br > 9 . Victor Hobson - 205 tackles ( 1999 - 2002 ) < br > 10 . Calvin O ' Neal - 180 tackles ( 1974 - 1976 ) < br > Boren ' s top games at Michigan . Boren had fifteen games at Michigan in which he had at least eight tackles . His best games at Michigan are as follows : 1 . 1982 at Illinois : 14 tackles , 3 assists , 17 total < br > 2 . 1981 Navy : 13 tackles , 5 assists , 18 total < br > 3 . 1982 UCLA : 12 tackles , 6 assists , 18 total < br > 4 . 1982 Michigan State : 12 tackles , 5 assists , 17 total < br > 5 . 1982 Purdue : 10 tackles , 2 assists , 12 total < br > 6 . 1981 Ohio State : 9 tackles , 6 assists , 15 total < br > 7 . 1981 at Minnesota : 9 tackles , 1 assist , 10 total < br > 8 . 1981 Illinois : 9 tackles , 3 assists , 12 total < br > 9 . 1983 at Wisconsin : 9 tackles , 6 assists , 15 total < br > 10 . 1981 at Purdue 8 9 17 Life after University of Michigan . Boren had intended to play in the NFL some day , but a knee injury in his senior season ended his football playing career . " I took football for granted , and then when I didn ' t have football anymore , I about cried , " Boren recalled . When he graduated from Michigan , he had a degree in education , but he had no desire to be a teacher or a coach . Instead , he became the owner of three businesses . Life in Columbus as a " Traitor " . Boren returned to Columbus after graduating , a city where natives such as Boren who went north to play Michigan football are referred to ( sometimes in jest , sometimes not ) as " traitors . " On living in Columbus , Boren said : " It ' s like being in the belly of the beast . In the ( 1990s ) it was a great place to live . Now , it ' s been a little hectic . Hey , it ' s humbling . "