Suppose we're not talking about Bo, understandably a hot button topic. Suppose, instead, we're talking about Don Canham, and the story told by wrestler Tad DeLuca ('72-'76) about his experiences with Dr. Anderson, his wrestling coach, Billy Johannesen, and the Michigan athletic department. DeLuca complained in a letter he sent to the A.D. in 1975 about Dr. Anderson and the examinations he was receiving for unrelated injuries and maladies. Thereafter, was kicked off the wresting team and had his scholarship revoked for being a "negative influence" in the team room. DeLuca says that Johannesen read selected portions of the letter to the team and humiliated him in addition to trying to have his scholarship pulled, which has been confirmed by a teammate who is one of the current complainants. Ultimately, he hired a lawyer and got his scholarship reinstated, but he was not allowed to return to the team. Forty-three years later, in 2018, Deluca again wrote the Michigan A.D., this time, Ward Manuel, about what had occurred, and about his feelings of shame and embarrassment around his former teammates for over 40 years thereafter, and his resulting reluctance to speak about the incidents. This letter was part of what ultimately led to the Anderson investigation. Copies of both letters, the one in 1975, and the one in 2018, have now been made public.
Billy Johannesen has vehemently denied having been informed of any issues with Dr. Anderson, though he did note that he once heard a joke about Anderson: "The joke was you go to see him, and you have a sore elbow, he would say "OK, pull your pants down,'" Johannesen says that DeLuca was removed from the team for "violation of team rules."
Don Canham is dead, and thus can't defend himself. Does this mean that the Canham Natatorium should continue to be named after him, and that we can'y defile his memory in the afterlife? Johannesen is alive, and has denied DeLuca's claims, though he has acknowledged the "joke" he heard. Because it was a "different time," does he get a pass for not fully understanding that what was being done was abusive? Or do we take his word for it that he never heard about DeLuca's complaints?
I ask all this because much of the discussion on this board about the Anderson situation has revolved around Bo and the feelings people have for him. I'm curious as to whether some of those arguments which have been made on Bo's behalf--we shouldn't speak ill of people who can't defend himself, nobody understood that what Anderson was doing was abuse because it was a different time, why did people not go to the media or the police, or punch out Dr. Anderson; that they didn't means they have ulterior motives, etc.--apply if Bo is taken out of the equation.
Full disclosure--I did NOT like Dan Canham and actions he took based upon my dealings with him while I was at the Michigan Daily--not at all. I recognize his marketing genius, but as a person, and as to his regard for student-athletes...no. I knew and liked Bo, both during the period I covered the team, and afterwards while I was an alumni recruiter (while it was allowed by the NCAA). I knew Johannessen a bit, as I covered the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament in Evanston in 1975 and one or two home meets, and my late roommate covered wresting for several seasons, but have no special memory of him. I may have known DeLuca--he started and ended at Michigan with me, and I did, as noted, have some wrestling coverage responsibilities--but have no memory whatsoever of him other than that I remembered his name when I first read it in conjunction with this case. These feelings may color my views of what people knew, should have known, did, should have done, etc.
Billy Johannesen has vehemently denied having been informed of any issues with Dr. Anderson, though he did note that he once heard a joke about Anderson: "The joke was you go to see him, and you have a sore elbow, he would say "OK, pull your pants down,'" Johannesen says that DeLuca was removed from the team for "violation of team rules."
Don Canham is dead, and thus can't defend himself. Does this mean that the Canham Natatorium should continue to be named after him, and that we can'y defile his memory in the afterlife? Johannesen is alive, and has denied DeLuca's claims, though he has acknowledged the "joke" he heard. Because it was a "different time," does he get a pass for not fully understanding that what was being done was abusive? Or do we take his word for it that he never heard about DeLuca's complaints?
I ask all this because much of the discussion on this board about the Anderson situation has revolved around Bo and the feelings people have for him. I'm curious as to whether some of those arguments which have been made on Bo's behalf--we shouldn't speak ill of people who can't defend himself, nobody understood that what Anderson was doing was abuse because it was a different time, why did people not go to the media or the police, or punch out Dr. Anderson; that they didn't means they have ulterior motives, etc.--apply if Bo is taken out of the equation.
Full disclosure--I did NOT like Dan Canham and actions he took based upon my dealings with him while I was at the Michigan Daily--not at all. I recognize his marketing genius, but as a person, and as to his regard for student-athletes...no. I knew and liked Bo, both during the period I covered the team, and afterwards while I was an alumni recruiter (while it was allowed by the NCAA). I knew Johannessen a bit, as I covered the Big Ten Wrestling Tournament in Evanston in 1975 and one or two home meets, and my late roommate covered wresting for several seasons, but have no special memory of him. I may have known DeLuca--he started and ended at Michigan with me, and I did, as noted, have some wrestling coverage responsibilities--but have no memory whatsoever of him other than that I remembered his name when I first read it in conjunction with this case. These feelings may color my views of what people knew, should have known, did, should have done, etc.
