https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-08-16-9003080807-story.html
The former Michigan coach and current president of the Detroit Tigers, and Gene Calhoun, the former league supervisor of football officials, may be gone from the Big 10, but they haven`t forgotten. Each has taken aim at second-year Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delany.
Schembechler says Delany called Calhoun in an attempt to ''prejudice''
the officials before Michigan`s game with Illinois last November, a game the Wolverines won.
Calhoun, who acknowledges he received the call, says he`s worried Delany`s influence will have a negative effect on officiating in the Big 10. Calhoun, the league`s supervisor since 1983, and Big 10 parted company after the 1989 season.
''If you don`t know anything about officiating, stay the hell out of it,'' Calhoun said. ''This conference deserves good officiating.''
The latest firestorm was ignited when Schembechler decided to add another chapter to last year`s autobiography, ''Bo.'' Schembechler tells how Delany called Calhoun prior to the Nov. 10 game in Champaign.
Delany reportedly wanted to have the officials pay special attention to a couple of Illinois players who were involved in an altercation the week before at Iowa.
Calhoun said he thought the call was out of line.
''You can`t tell an official he should keep his eye on certain people,''
Calhoun said. ''If I say that as a supervisor, the official will go in the game with a certain mind-set. He`ll make a call against him just to please you.''
Calhoun, 67, said philosophical differences with Delany caused him to leave the conference. Delany said he didn`t want Calhoun to talk to the media, which was a point of contention for the supervisor.
Calhoun said Delany also used to call and offer advice prior to a ''big game.''
'' `Big game.` We laughed at that,'' Calhoun said. ''I officiated more than 200 games, and he`s telling me about a `big game.` Every game is big to the kids.''
The former Michigan coach and current president of the Detroit Tigers, and Gene Calhoun, the former league supervisor of football officials, may be gone from the Big 10, but they haven`t forgotten. Each has taken aim at second-year Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delany.
Schembechler says Delany called Calhoun in an attempt to ''prejudice''
the officials before Michigan`s game with Illinois last November, a game the Wolverines won.
Calhoun, who acknowledges he received the call, says he`s worried Delany`s influence will have a negative effect on officiating in the Big 10. Calhoun, the league`s supervisor since 1983, and Big 10 parted company after the 1989 season.
''If you don`t know anything about officiating, stay the hell out of it,'' Calhoun said. ''This conference deserves good officiating.''
The latest firestorm was ignited when Schembechler decided to add another chapter to last year`s autobiography, ''Bo.'' Schembechler tells how Delany called Calhoun prior to the Nov. 10 game in Champaign.
Delany reportedly wanted to have the officials pay special attention to a couple of Illinois players who were involved in an altercation the week before at Iowa.
Calhoun said he thought the call was out of line.
''You can`t tell an official he should keep his eye on certain people,''
Calhoun said. ''If I say that as a supervisor, the official will go in the game with a certain mind-set. He`ll make a call against him just to please you.''
Calhoun, 67, said philosophical differences with Delany caused him to leave the conference. Delany said he didn`t want Calhoun to talk to the media, which was a point of contention for the supervisor.
Calhoun said Delany also used to call and offer advice prior to a ''big game.''
'' `Big game.` We laughed at that,'' Calhoun said. ''I officiated more than 200 games, and he`s telling me about a `big game.` Every game is big to the kids.''
