The gritty grandfathers of college football lost one of their own when Bo Schembechler died Friday, and the news hit many of them hard.

Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, Tom Osborne.

Even the longest-living U.S. president, Gerald R. Ford, shared a few memories.

Schembechler, a Michigan man until the end, touched them all.

“Bo was a giant. He was a great football coach and person,” said the 79-year-old Paterno, still coaching at Penn State and on the mend from a broken leg. “He was a super coach, and I’m not sure he has gotten his due as far as being one of the truly great football coaches of all-time. I’m going to miss him.”

Schembechler, the leather-tough face of college football’s winningest program, collapsed Friday morning at the TV studios in the Detroit suburb of Southfield where he taped a weekly show about college football. He was 77.

His death came on the eve of the second-ranked Wolverines’ showdown with No. 1 Ohio State, a perennial rivalry that was perhaps at its best during Schembechler’s “10-Year War” with equally gruff mentor Woody Hayes from 1969-78.

Schembechler was larger than life all over Michigan.

“Bo Schembechler was an outstanding citizen in every respect,” said 93-year-old President Ford, a center on Michigan football teams in the 1930s. “He was a dear friend of ours and will be greatly missed by his numerous friends. It is a great loss to the University of Michigan in particular and football in general.”

Schembechler never lost his competitive fire. The day before he died, he spoke to the current Michigan team.

“He was a heck of a coach and a really good guy,” said the 77-year-old Bowden, Florida State’s indefatigable coach. “I remember a statement he made about 10 years ago that was very significant. He was speaking to our coach’s convention somewhere in Texas and he had already been retired for a few years, so he was kind of giving the old-timer’s view.

“I’ll never forget that he said he wished that he had never stopped coaching. He said he should have continued coaching, but also said he would probably be dead by now if he had. Here I was, 60-something years old, listening to him and thinking that coaching meant that much to him that he wished he had continued even if it meant shortening his life.”

SCHEMBECHLER DIES AT 77 Dierdorf, Howard, Carr honor Bo at stadium Schembechler dies at 77 day before big game Ventre: Lack of title doesn't diminish legacy Opinion: 'Hate Week' stops for love of Bo Opinion: Having stress was key to his success Coaching greats reflect on 'a giant' | Record   Slide show: Remembering a legend   Discuss: Share your memories of Bo | Quotes Full coverage of college football

Many of Schembechler’s fellow coaches mentioned how much they admired him, how fundamentally sound his Michigan teams were from 1969-89, how resolute and disciplined he was.

“He was just fun to be around, and you just couldn’t help but come away inspired, because he just had a great way about him,” said Lou Holtz, the former coach at Notre Dame and South Carolina. “Somebody said, ‘How would you describe him?’ He was his own man.”

Even President Bush recognized that, issuing a statement:

“Bo Schembechler was a true legend of college football,” he said. “I was saddened to learn of his death. He inspired generations of players and fans by insisting that his teams play hard, play fair, and bring honor to themselves and their school by finishing their educations and contributing to society. He was an extraordinary leader and role model who will be missed.”

One of the best stories about Schembechler came from George Perles, an annual opponent.

Perles recalled how in his first year as Michigan State’s coach, 1983, he and Schembechler met on the field before their game at Spartan Stadium.

“I told him, ’I’m nervous,”’ Perles said.

Schembechler replied: “You should be.”

Michigan won 42-0 that day.

That was Bo: Intimidating. No-nonsense. Hit ’em hard.

“He was such a straight guy. You always knew where you stood with him,” said Osborne, the former Nebraska coach. “He coached the way you are supposed to play the game, which is hard-nosed.

“I put him with Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno.”

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

Osborne also said Schembechler’s real legacy lies with his players.

“He had a great record as a coach. But from talking to his players, he had a real impact on them. That’s always the true sign of a great coach,” Osborne said.

And with a soft heart.

“Bo was gruff and tough on the field. Off the field, he was like a big teddy bear,” said Perles, who observed many Michigan practices when he was coaching with the Pittsburgh Steelers and scouting the Big Ten for draft picks. “He wasn’t mean. He made his players do things so they’d be better people. I learned a lot from him watching his spring practices. It was like going to school. It was a tremendous help to me.

“One of the most loyal people we ever had around,” he added.