Former UM Players Defend Schembechler As Victims Demand Action

ANN ARBOR, MI — As dozens of former University of Michigan football players and other students who said they were sexual abuse victims of former university physician Dr. Robert Anderson come forward demanding the school take more action, another group of former players has come to the defense of a legendary coach who may have known about the abuse.

Additional victims are holding a news conference Wednesday morning at the corner of S. Main Street and Pauline Blvd. outside Michigan Stadium, The Detroit Free Press reported. The victims are calling for immediate action ahead of the university's Board of Regents meeting this week.

The news conference comes after two former football players and the son of legendary coach Bo Schembechler detailed last week how they were molested by the team’s longtime doctor. They described how the coach turned a blind eye when they told him about the abuse, telling one to “toughen up” and punching his son in anger, The Associated Press reported.

The assertion that Schembechler knew about the abuse and allowed it has called his legacy into question. Some around the university want a statue of the coach removed, and want his name removed from university buildings.

However, at the same time, others have defended their former coach. A Change.com petition "In Defense of Bo" has been launched to try and defend the coach's legacy.

"Our experiences tell us that the Bo Schembechler we knew would never have tolerated any abuse or mistreatment of his players, his staff, or any other individual," the petition reads. "We believe firmly, that if he were aware of such behavior, Coach Schembechler would have acted immediately to put a stop to it and would have made sure anyone responsible for it would have been removed from the University of Michigan football program."

Hundreds of men were allegedly abused by Anderson during his nearly four decades working for the university. Anderson died in 2008.

A report commissioned by the university and released last month found that Schembechler and other officials were aware of complaints about Anderson but he was allowed to remain at the school for decades.

Related: UM Ignored 'Credible Reports' Of Abuse By Former Doctor: Report