If These Walls Could Talk: Michigan Football Stories from Inside the Big House

by Jon Falk, Dan Ewald, Tom Brady (Foreword)

Hired by Bo Schembechler in 1974, Michigan equipment manager Jon Falk has forged a colorful legacy among the coaches, players, and the University of Michigan s faithful fans. Falk s encyclopedic knowledge of Wolverines football traditions and history make him a vital component of the staff that transforms talented college football players into true Michigan Men. And in his nearly four decades on the job, Falk has become one of the most beloved figures in team history.
In If These Walls Could Talk, Falk shares his stories, memories, and friendships established in the locker room, on the sideline, and on the road with one of college football s most storied institutions. From legendary tales of Bo Schembechler s epic gridiron chess matches with Ohio State s Woody Hayes to the memorable day Falk introduced freshman phenom Anthony Carter to two-time All-American Ron Kramer, Falk s recollections connect the past and present to underscore the importance of building the relationships that drive the Wolverines to success.
Win or lose, a game only lasts 3-1/2 hours, Falk said. Friends last a lifetime.

He s an extra arm to the coaching staff. He s a shoulder to lean on for the players.... All players eventually have to leave the University of Michigan. But no one ever leaves Big Jon.
Tom Brady, former Michigan quarterback, from his foreword

[Falk] can tell stories going all the way back to Bo. That s a good feeling for a former player. That s what Michigan is all about. When you play football for Michigan, you never really leave. It will always be part of your home.
Mike Hart, former Michigan running back

Nobody knows more about Michigan tradition than Jon.
Paul Jokisch, former Michigan wide receiver

Genres: Sports, Football, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter Carey gave me this book for Christmas. This is not a new book, it was published in 2010. I had never heard of the book, nor of Jon Falk. Talk about being less than informed, Jon Falk for 4 decades played a significant role - essentially unknown to the general public - in Michigan football. Hired by Bo Schembechler (from Ohio), Jon is also an Ohio native.

See Michigan fans, there are some good things that come out of Ohio. My Mom is another.

We expect strong coaching both on & off the field. But who would expect to see such a central & partnership role for an equipment manager? Yet there he is .... Jon Falk. He is found doing the usual role of an equipment manager - no small task for such a large program as - Michigan, while at the same time supporting, cajoling, empathizing, urging & even kicking players’ butts when needed. Quietly an integral part of the football program. Who’da thunk?

His personal glimpses of certain games (1969 OSU upset), BiG conference wins, yes losses, Woody Hayes & conference decisions that worked against the Wolverines ..... it’s all there.

The book Brought back a lot of memories.

Then there are so many stories about Bo, insights on Bo .... yes, Bo had a temper! Bo’s passion shows clearly in this book. He loved Michigan & Michigan football. His standards were tough & he was unwavering in enforcing them. “Those Who Stay, Will Be champions”. And they were. Many times.

I grew up in A2, on South State Street - the house is still there. I am now 81+, so have been a Michigan fan for 7 decades & still counting. Maize & Blue through and through. We parked cars in our front yard & often we could cut through the U of M golf course & get in to see the 2nd half of a game. I remember listening to the 1948 Rose Bowl on the radio. My father often flew a plane over the stadium in those days, while the Ann Arbor News photographer took pictures - hanging out of the plane (yes,tethered) of the game. The best of those photos were on the sports page of the Sunday A2 newspaper, which we bought on Sunday morning at the Blue Front. Yes, it is still there, much cleaned up.

Jon Falk is as much a part of Michigan football as any coach or player - like one of the stripes in the American flag.

As you read this book - if you do - upon completion, consider Jim Brandstatter’s two very personal story books titled “Tales from Michigan Stadium” and “Tales from Michigan Stadium Part II”

[Spencer Lowitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bo Schembechler glazing bible. Some pretty interesting fun facts about Michigan football history from the perspective of the equipment manager, a side of the game you don’t hear a lot from. Most fascinating part of the book in my opinion was at certain points how he touched on how college football as a whole was evolving from when he began in the early 70s to when the book was published (2011). Specifically on how he saw the game become more of a national phenomenon than a regional past-time.

[Kenneth Mills]

If These Walls Could Talk


The book “If These Walls Could Talk” by Jon Falk with Dan Ewald is an autobiography about Jon Falk. Jon Falk is a legendary equipment manager for the Michigan football team. The book goes through his entire career from 1974 to 2013. Jon Falk and Dan Ewald went through Jon’s memory of what he has seen and remembers from his 39 years of being an equipment manager at the University of Michigan. The book starts off with a foreword by Tom Brady. Tom Brady tells the reader how good and how seriously Jon Falk took his job. After the foreword, the author tells the readers Jon Falk’s past and how he ended up working for Bo Schembechler.


This book is probably my favorite book I have read so far because I am a huge Michigan fan and reading the book gave me more knowledge of the Michigan football team. After reading Jon Falk’s career as an equipment manager, you can relate to his experience from his sad moments to one of his favorite moments like when he went to Ann Arbor for the first time to being apart of big wins.


The book “If These Walls Could Talk” reminds me of the book “Great American Sports: Drew Brees.” I say that because both books are biographies about legends. Also, both of the books are inspiring to read because in the book “Great American Sports: Drew Brees” Matt Christopher doesn’t just tell the reader about the life of Drew Brees but he also shows how brave Drew Brees was. “If These Walls Could Talk” also does this when Dan Ewald shows how Jon Falk was brave during his time of being an equipment manager. This book is great for Michigan fans because not only are you reading about a legend at Michigan but you are also reading facts that you never knew about. On a scale from 1-10 I would rank this book at a 10 because I am a huge Michigan fan and reading this book gave me more knowledge about the football team. I finished this book very entertained.


Submitted 1/20
By Kenny Mills
Age 15

[Norm · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a nice behind the scenes look at Michigan football from their longtime equipment manager Jon Falk. He has some great insights on the coaches he's worked for there, starting with coaching legend Bo Schembechler (it was Bo that hired him in 1974) all the way to recently released Rich Rodriguez. It's not a pretty job, but it is an integral one and with this book you get a really good idea of what it entails. I enjoyed the look back, even if some of the facts on where games took place were a little off (for example, the 2006 Michigan/Michigan State game was in Ann Arbor, not at MSU). If you're a fan of Michigan football, then you should definitely give this book a read. Very enjoyable and I'm much more appreciative of the things that go on behind the scenes of your typical college football Saturday.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will only appeal to you if you're a University of Michigan football fan. In that case, you'll find the stories in it fun and interesting. The overall themes (Equipment managers are a vital part of any football team, Jon Falk was a great equipment manager, Falk was a go-between between the players and the coaches, Falk loves Michigan football, Falk was beloved by all) are repeated many times, and get a little repetitive by the end. The inside stories about the coaches, players, and games are interesting. The writing is a little "pat"; you can tell that Dan Ewald (who did most of the actual writing) is a newspaper guy. Each chapter is a short story (1-4 pages), with a distinct intro/middle/end, and often a cute human interest "hook".

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a Michigan fan and read one book about the history and tradition, this is a must read. Very well written with Jon Falk and Dan Ewald, which paints a great picture of what Michigan football stands for and the respect it garnishes. This book would get rather boring for a non-Michigan football fan, but for a Michigan fan the stories from Big Jon are priceless! I found myself smiling and at times in a sense of awe of the stories about Bo and who he was as a person.

Jon Falk was and is truly a friend for the players and upholds what sets Michigan apart from other programs. Again, a must read for any Michigan fans.

[RevRonR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a University of Michigan football feel good book. Without doubt, Jon Falk with over 35 years of up-close experience with many coaches and players was among the best qualified to write it. The book is a tribute in many ways to Falk himself as he shares so many stories of UM football and receives accolades from so many former coaches and players. Falk has retired from his equipment manager position for the UM football program. This book was a fitting tribute to his work there. If you like college football and want to see many of the inner workings of a locker room and and interaction between coaches and players, this is a good book to read. I enjoyed it overall.

[Mitchell Redies]

I think it was a really good book. I like how it talked a lot about Bo because he is one of the most notable figures in Michigan Football history. It had very good details on how the program worked, and told me a lot of things that i never knew went on in college football programs.

[Braden]

Tells about the stories of Michigan football and the games inside the historic stadium the Big House. Jon Falk was one of the best at his job at Michigan. Worked for the team for along time and is one of the best.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little repetitive but a lot feel-good Michigan football stories.

[Brian Bundesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Must Read for every Michigan football fan. It gives a great insiders view of the program through the glory years.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

great behind the scenes look at the greatest football program. personal stories that will bring a tear to your eye and smile and laugh also.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehhhh. I am big Michigan fan (double alum). Some of the stories were okay. NOT in chronological order.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever loved Michigan Football a fun read.