8 - Tuesday, November 20, 2007
CARR'S BIG WINS
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November 22,1997:
Michigan vs. Ohio State
at home.
Won 20-14.
The second-biggest win of Carr's head
coaching career put Michigan in the
National Championship game. Heisman
Trophy winner Charles Woodson had
three big plays. A 37-yard reception set
up the game's first touchdown, a 78-yard
punt return touchdown put Michigan
ahead by 13 and an interception in the
Ohio State end zone in the third quarter
helped seal both the game and a perfect
Big Ten season.
Michigan fans ran victory laps around
the Big House and lit cigars on the 50-
yard line. Carr called his team's run "truly
a dream season," and he was viewed
almost as perfectly by the media: "Gone
are the critics who said Lloyd Carr could
not coach," Daily columnist John Leroi
wrote after the game.
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January 1,1998:
Michigan vs. Washington State
at Rose Bowl.
Won 21-16.
Carr's coaching record and reputation
only got better. The Wolverines' dream
season ended with a 5-point win over
Washington State that cemented a
national title. Senior co-captain Eric
Mayes called 1997 "the single greatest
season ever - in college football history."
Carr was recognized as Coach of the Year
for leading an undefeated team and a
Heisman Trophy winner.
"I'm really proud of this team," Carr
said after the game. "They answered
every question asked of them, and they
embraced the pressure of being number
one. This team has tremendous heart and
character, and that's what got us here."
But the voters' decision that Michigan
would split the National Championship
title with Nebraska after its 42-17 bowl
game win didn't sit well with Carr. He
called it "disappointing," and the split was
the only asterisk on Carr's best season as
the Wolverines' head coach.
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January 1,2000:
Michigan vs. Alabama
at Orange Bowl.
Won 35-34, OT.
Early in Carr's career, the Wolverines
were known for winning bowl games
- and the 2000 Orange Bowl was one
of Carr's best starts to the New Year.
Quarterback Tom Brady was 33-of-45 for
344 yards in his last game as a Wolverine,
leading Michigan to a 28-28 tie at the
end of regulation. Alabama missed its
extra point after Michigan scored on
its first drive of overtime, and the win
marked a high point in the Wolverines'
then-dominance - three straight 10-win
seasons and three straight bowl wins.
"We wanted to earn some respect
around the country," Carr said. "I think
this game was important in doing that."
Carr was initially criticized for the
way he handled the running game, first
overusing it and then abandoning it
after the first half. As was typical during
his 13-year tenure, he diffused the
situation after the game with humor.
"I'm sure you people said I was an
idiot for trying to run the ball - that
there was no way that Michigan could
run against Alabama," Carr said.
"Much slower than the rest of you,
I came to the same conclusion."
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October 30,2004:
Michigan vs. Michigan State
at home.
Won 45-37,3 OT.
Michigan was trailing 27-10 with eight
and a half minutes remaining, but, largely
thanks to Braylon Edwards's two quick
touchdowns, the Wolverines tied the
game at 27 with three minutes left. The
Wolverines pulled out the win with yet
another Edwards touchdown and a Tim
Massaquoi two-point conversion catch.
The epic triple-overtime thriller was
the biggest comeback in Carr's tenure.
"Anybody who saw this game,
either in this stadium or across the
country on television, saw one of
the greatest football games, in my
opinion, ever played," Carr said.
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October 15, 2005:
Michigan vs. Penn State
at home.
Won 27-25.
Carr's clockwork gives
Michigan a chance to win.
With a magnificent touchdown
catch from Mario Manningham as
time expired, the victory saved the
Wolverines from falling to 3-4 on
the season. But the last-second win
wouldn't have been possible without
Carr arguing for two seconds to be added
to the game clock in the final minute.
The win marked the high point of a
disappointing season for Carr and the
Wolverines, who concluded with a loss to
Ohio State and a defeat in the Alamo Bowl
against Nebraska. Still, a rough season
would have been much worse had Carr's
antics not prevented Penn State from
being in the National Championship hunt.
COURTNEY RATKOWIAK
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
4
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr's departure puts the future of his coaching staff and potential recruits in jeopardy.
Who w1 Carr' departure affect?
By DANIEL BROMWICH
Daily Sports Editor
Signs yesterday's announce-
ment was coming started as early
as last December.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr
signed an addendum to his
contract allowing him to col-
lect $300,000 as long as he was
employed by Michigan "in any
capacity," regardless of whether
or not he remained the head foot-
ball coach. Previously, the contract
mandated Carr still hold the posi-
tion of head football coach in order
to receive the compensation.
Another signal came last
March. Carr's current coaching
staff signed two-year extensions,
guaranteeing they would be paid
through 2009.
Many interpreted these moves
as indications this season was
Carr's last. Those predictions
were validated by Carr's retire-
ment announcement yesterday.
With a national coaching
search already in motion and
Carr set to become an associate
athletic director, what's next for
Carr's current assistants, players
and recruits is uncertain.
Offensive coordinator Mike
DeBord and defensive coordi-
nator Ron English may both be
candidates to replace Carr. But
neither is thought to be atop the
list, and so the question remains
of what they will do next year ifa
new coach is brought in.
Neither DeBord nor English
directly addressed their situation.
"That's a tough question, tough
question," English said. "Tough
in a sense that my whole focus
was beating Ohio State and worry
about whatever happens after
that. And, to be honest, I left the
building (Sunday) night, went to
my son's piano recital and, to be
honest, I haven't thought much
about much. I'm sure in the next
few hours I'll be thinking about
what's going on."
DeBord said Carr had talked
to his assistants about what he
wanted for them next year but
preferred not to disclose the con-
tent of the meeting.
"I think I'll keep those things
personal," DeBord said. "That
was in a staff meeting, so I think
that's where it should stay."
Running backs coach Fred
Jackson, who has coached along-
side Carr for 16 seasons, elabo-
rated a bit more.
Jackson is thought to be key
in the recruitment of star Texas
running back Sam McGuffie,
who has verbally committed to
the Wolverines. Jackson's poten-
tial departure from the program
could lead McGuffie to change
his mind.
The coach talked about the
importance of the program's
integrity.
"I sit down, I talk to some
NFL guys sometimes, and they
say to me, 'I can't believe you got
that kid, you didn't buy this kid,'
" Jackson said. "So you have to
recruit against that all the time.
And I just feel I couldn't work for
somebody who is going to ask me
to compromise my integrity."
Asked specifically if he would
talk about Louisiana State coach
Les Miles, widely thought to be
the leading candidate to replace
Carr, Jackson refused to com-
ment.
"No, I don't want to giveno
opinion on nobody," Jackson said.
"I don't want give an opinion. I've
worked with Les. That's all I can
tell you. I worked with him for a
couple of years and I've met him
out there recruiting. That's all I
can say."
Carr said he strongly consid-
ered the consequences of his
retirement relevant to the cur-
rent recruiting class when he
determined when he would make
the announcement.
Speculation was that the tim-
ing of Carr's announcement
would indicate whom he wanted
to replace him.
But Carr debunked those
thoughts before he was even
asked.
"My timing is based a
thing: what's best for Mi
football," Carr said. "The
no other motives. This ann.
ment is made at a time wh
recruiting process canbeh
in a way that this program
forward. To do it any late:
it after a bowl game, woul
been absolutely ridiculous.
Since a coach gets ju
visit with each recruit - d
as going into a recruit's h
high school - Carr exp
the timing of his retireme
allow his successor to in
ately visit the recruits and
commitments.
Carr also indicated he a
staff had contacted theI
who have said they will be
of the next recruiting cla
that those players have be
that the scholarship offe
remain on the table.
"It's about holdingc
recruiting class," Carr sa
this recruiting class falls
four years from now, th
hole in Michigan footbal
only important thing here
program."
According to Riva
cornerback Boubacar C
who might head to I
and McGuffie are the r
thought to be in the most4
SEARCH
From page 1
official, rumors have circulated about
potential replacements.
Louisiana State coach Les Miles has
received a lot of press as a candidate for
the position. Miles played offensive guard
for the Wolverines in the mid-1970s and
coached on Schembechler's staff.
Miles came up in a number of questions
during and after yesterday's press confer-
ence, but no one would comment on that
possibility. Even in his own press confer-
ence yesterday, Miles declined to comment
other than to say he is happy with his job
coaching the Tigers.
Miles's candidacy may hinge on Loui-
siana State's success. The Tigers are
currently ranked No. 1 in the Bowl Cham-
pionship Series standings and could play
for a National Championship.
It's unlikely Miles would take the
Michigan job before Louisiana State's sea-
son ends, forcing Martin to wait until the
second weekin January if he wants to hire
Miles.
Louisiana State was concerned enough
about Miles's interest in the Michigan
coaching job that it included a cause in his
contract saying Miles would owe the uni-
versity $1.25 million if he leaves to coach
the Wolverines.
Miles isn't the lone currentcollege head
coach rumored to be a candidate for the
position. Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly,
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz - who was hired
during University of Michigan President
Mary Sue Coleman's tenure as president of
the University of Iowa - and California's
Jeff Tedford have been mentioned as pos-
sible successors to Carr.
Carr may be partial to one of his assis-
tant coaches step up to take the reins,
rumored to be a potential successor, or his
favorite player during his tenure.
As 10:40 came around, Carr's candid
responses that showed a mixture of remi-
niscence, gratitude and humor came to an
end. Athletic Director Bill Martin came to
the podium and relieved the coach, whose
job security Martin continually assured
during past seasons.
Once Martin ended his speech with "Go
Blue and Go Lloyd," Carr went to the front
row, hugging his wife and shaking hands
with other family members and friends.
of de-committing.
on one When asked how a program
chigan keeps recruits through a transi-
re are tional time like this, English said
ounce- that they have to be sold on the
en the school.
andled "Michigan's been Michigan
can go for a long time, and it's not going
r, to do to change," English said. "I told
d have the kids yesterday there are only
a handful of truly elite programs
st one in this country, and this is one of
efined them. There are a lot of schools
ome or that have fleeting success, but
lained this is one of the elite schools in
nt will the country. And whoever is here,
nmedi- don't forget that."
secure Carr's retirement might also
affect current players deciding
nd his whether or not to enter the NFL
players Draft.
a part Junior wide receiver Adrian
ss, and Arrington is one such player,
en told but he said Sunday he hadn't yet
rs will thought about what he would do
next year.
onto a Carr's decision, which could be
id. "If seen coming nearly a year away,
apart, shifted this entire program, from
ere's a his current staff to his future
11. The recruits.
is this But the reason he had such a
drastic effect on Michigan was
Is.com, because of how big a part of it he
issoko, was.
llinois, "He is Michigan football,"
ecruits English said. "He embodies this
danger program."
though he wouldn't say so officially. If
that's the case, the attraction is mutual.
"Certainly. Who wouldn't?" said defen-
sive coordinator Ron English when asked
if he'd be interested in taking the head
coachingjob.
Along with English, offensive coordina-
tor Mike DeBord is considered a possible
replacement. But Michigan ties are not a
necessary condition for the job, Martin said.
English and DeBord are both under con-
tract through the 2008 football season.
Carr will not have an official role in the
search for a new head coach, but his opin-
ion will be sought in evaluating specific
coaches, Martin said.
Martin began doing investigations into
the backgrounds of about "a dozen" candi-
dates in September after Carr told him he
would retire at the end of the season. The
investigations look into candidate's per-
sonal background rather than coaching
experience.
Martin expects to hire a private firm
that works exclusively on personal back-
ground checks to do much of the work,
as he did during his two basketball coach
searches.
"I've been watching several folks very
closely this last year," Martin said. "Not so
much the wins and losses or their offensive
and defensive strategy. I've been watching
their press conferences. How do they pres-
ent themselves after an emotional loss,
what are they saying, how do they look?
Those are the important things."
There will be significant time pressure
going forward, especially as the recruiting
season comes to an end, but Martin has
just one timetable.
"However long it takes to get the right
person," Martin said. "If I could get this
done by the end of the (calendar) year, that
would be great."
Martin went on to answer questions
about Carr and his future successor with
the mediasafter the press conference, as did
many of Carr's assistants.
But before looking forward to the future
entirely, Martin made sure to let everyone
know how much Carr's service at Michi-
gan was appreciated.
"I think Lloyd is going to be hard to
replace," Martin said. "You could probably
get coachesinhere that could equalhis win-
loss percentage, but will they represent this
institution in all the ways thatLloyd does?"
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ILLgSRAyniO coaHN OQUIST
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will leave Michitan as the prograw's third-winningest coach ever.
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PRESS
From page 1
from the leftside of the room, which mostly
consisted of family friends, former coaches,
players and other friends of the program.
Carr then opened the floor to media
questions for 28 more minutes.
Carr spoke about reasons behind his
decision ("It was time, it was the right
time"), advice for a successor ("You've got
to be able to take a punch and know that
all those punches are worth it") and what
the emotions were like at the team meeting
Sunday when he told his players and staff
he was leaving.
"(Sunday) was one of the most emotional
days of my life," Carr said. "I cried more
tears than I knew I had."
Carr, who answered many of the ques-
tions with watery eyes, faced a couple ques-
tions he didn't want to answer, though...,
The former National Coach of the Year
wouldn't discuss his legacy, his thoughts
on Louisiana State coach Les Miles, who is
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