• Missing Chap

    So sad to get the news this week that Bob Chappuis, a true Michigan football legend passed away.  I have many thoughts on this, but mainly a big regret.  I was working on doing an interview with Mr. Chappuis this spring, already did the prep work, and had the questions and materials ready– it just needed to happen.   For a few different reasons, it didn’t happen and obviously, that’s something I can’t get back. Michigan announcing they are unretiring the jerseys of Oosterbaan, Kramer and Ford brought to mind Chappuis to me this week, because I was hoping U-M would honor his #49 while he was still with us.  (I think I said as much on WTKA last year but can’t find the clip).   It will happen someday. Chappuis was a frequent visitor to the press box for games, often sitting with fellow legend Don Lund and family near the south side.   Here’s a pic from 2010 before the UMass game: He could have occupied a chapter in Brokaw’s ‘Greatest Generation’: a sports legend, WWII airman, businessman, family man.  Truly a great life.   Speaking of his exploits in WWII, check out this once-classified report on the crash of his plane “Idiots Delight” (naturally, via U-M Bentley Historical Library) over Italy: For U-M fans, may Mr. Chappuis live on in diagrammed…