The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Tuesday, November 20, 2007 -- 9 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Tuesday, November 20,2007-9 Defensive coordinator Ron English was just one of the many assistant coaches and friends of Michigan coach Lloyd Carr who came to yesterday's press conference. Colleagues reflect on Carr By KEVIN WRIGHT "Some Daily Sports Editor are mo than X Former Athletic Director Joe that." Roberson remembers a distinct Simi sound coming from Lloyd Carr's around office in Schembechler Hall. ter ye Somethingthat didn't seem to friends belong in a football building. es and Classical music greeted Rob- departn erson when he poked his head announ into the then-defensive coordi- those c nator Carr's office. for the And that was part of what sold "I'm Roberson on Carr when Rober- Jim Br son appointed him as the Wol- the las verines' interim head coach in Carr o 1995. talk sh "Isaid to myself,'I really want es. "I'r a coach who can be a role model a great to these young men in the edu- he now cational sense,' " Roberson said. get out LEGACY From page 1 I think he's really undervalued." And it's been that way since day one. Rough Start Had Gary Moeller never gotten drunk at a Southfield restaurant April of 1995, Carr might never have become head coach at Michigan. But when Moeller resigned under pressure from the media and the University, Carr - then the team's defen- sive coordinator - had a chance to take on many coach's dream job. That was, of course, if he wanted it. Good friends with Moeller, Carr had some doubts about taking over - even on an interim basis - for the man who had been anointed Michigan's next head coach by Bo Schembechler. In fact, caught up in his emotions the day of Moeller's resigna- tion, he declared he would accept the top job. "He was not sure if it was the right thing for him to do at the time," said Joe Roberson, who as Athletic Direc- tor appointed Carr interim head coach on May 13 of that year. "But Lloyd was a good Michigan Man. If that was what we thought would be the best thing, that's what he should do." Carr's appointment - which came after Penn State coach Joe Paterno pushed Roberson to give Carr the job - bought the athletic director time to make his final coaching decision. But after Michigan lost games to Northwestern and Michigan State that season, some critics hoped that decision wouldn't involve Carr. The Carr they knew had not served as a head coach since 1975, when he left his job at John Glenn High School in West- land to become a defensive backs coach at Eastern Michigan, taking a paycut - with three kids - from $20,000 to $10,000 a year. The Carr they knew worked under Moeller at Illinois, on a staff fired after the 1979 season. The Carr they knew had been defensive coordinator for teams that had gone 8-4 the past two years. They didn't know the Lloyd Carr who, profiled in a 1998 Detroit Free Press story, talked about learning tolerance from his father, Lloyd Sr., while growing up in a segregated Tennessee town. The Carr who moved to Michigan at 10 and went on to lead his high school football, basketball and baseball teams to state champion- ships his senior year of high school, giving pep talks so good he was nicknamed The Reverend. The Carr who got to know his players better than perhaps any coach in the country and changed more than one life with those one-on-one meetings he would hold when he believed a player was at a crossroads. "He saved my life," said Marcus Ray, who played for Carr from 1994 to 1998. "I was a young kid that needed some guidance, some tough love. I never had a father figure, and he delivered. To me, my relationship with Lloyd was deeper than football, it was about manhood, guidance body who knows there re letters in the alphabet and O. I felt Lloyd was lar sentiments floated Junge Champion Cen- sterday morning when , media, assistant coach- members of the athletic ment gathered as Carr tced his retirement, and lose to Carr shared praise 13-year coach. a little bittersweet," said andstatter, who has spent t 13 years working with n "Michigan Replay," a ow with Michigan coach- m happy for Lloyd. He's guy. He's a friend, and has the opportunity to from under the micro- scope." While working with Carr, Brandstatter recounted the late nights after games in which the two would banter - in good fun - before the camera started rolling, sometimes as late as 4 a.m. , Brandstatter added he'd have a chance to talk to Carr a little more about the decision when he filmed "Michigan Replay" with the newly retired coach laterthat night. Wide receivers coach Erik Campbell, who joined the staff when Carr took the reigns as head coach, loved every moment working under Carr. "He's one of those guys who stood up for what the Univer- sity of Michigan is all about," Campbell said. "I had the great privilege to play for him and then come back and work for him." Campbell, who first got to know Carr when he played at Michigan as an 18-year-old, said the team meeting on Sunday was one of the more moving atmo- spheres he's ever experienced. The coaches retold stories, and Campbell said both tears and laughs flowed freely. Yesterday at the press confer- ence, Carr captivated the room with his remarks concerning the situation around his retirement. TV screens along the wall dis- played Carr's different faces over his years roaming the Michigan Stadium sidelines, and those in the audience told of similar tran- sitions. Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson recalled Carr open- ing his door whenever his col- league from the rink stopped by the football office. He said Carr would always make time to talk to a hockey recruit or discuss whatever Berenson wanted. Berenson, who has guided the hockey team for 24 seasons, even jokingly suggested how Carr knew it was time to walk away. "I suppose if you start for- getting your players' names," Berenson said. "We only have 26 players, and I haven't got to that point. He has 100 and some play- ers." Carr may be walking away from the game, but he'll have classical music to serenade him on his trip home. and leadership." Carr wasn't named permanent head coach until a 5-0 win over Purdue pushed the team to 8-2 in 1995. The Wolverines lost to Penn State the following week, but ended the regular season with a 31-23 upset of an undefeated Ohio State. After the game, Laurie Carr - Lloyd's second wife - told the Flint Journal it was the second happiest day of her life. No. 1? She had married Lloyd exactly one year earlier. Continuing concerns In his 13 years as head coach, Carr has done just about all anyone could ask for. Michigan has won 121 games, five Big Ten titles and, of course, that National Championship. His players won 73 all-Big Ten awards, 23 All-America honors and a Heisman Trophy. And from his first game as head coach - when Michigan came back from a 17- point deficit to beat Virginia - to this year - like the comeback against Michgian State - he's coached in some unbelievable victories. But no matter what he's done, he's never sileAced the critics. Too conservative. Too outdated. And this year, too old. (Maybe, as one news- paper suggested following the team's loss to Appalachian State, the game has just passed Lloyd by.) Even when Carr did good things, people viewed it as bad. Carr's dedication to his assistants - for instance, he got them all two-year deals heading into this year, unprecedented at Michigan - has earned him the distinction of being loyal to a fault. He has dealt with rumors about his retirement, resignation or firing for years. In 2004, things got so bad, he had to call a press conference to announce the news was that there was no news. "I'll make this short," Carr said. "I'm. not sick, and I'm not retiring." On the outside Part of the problem may be Carr's ten- dency to takeblame for failures, but not praise for any of his team's success. "No one who will put more pressure on Lloyd Carr than he puts on himself," Carr told The Michigan Daily in 1995. And because of it, we only get a glimpse of the Carr his players speak so lovingly about. The coach who will bust out singing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" to lighten up his players in practice or sneak up behind them and scare them while wear- ing a mask. The one who listens to clas- sical music and reads books about more than just sports. The one much more likely to quote Kipling than Lombardi (who, as it turns out, cut Carr from the Packers in 1968, sending him off with a hand shake and some money to get home). "He has a lot of interest outside foot- ball," Laurie said. Carr can be gruff, but even his antago- LLOYD CARR TIMELINE Carr's coaching at the high school level - 1970-3: Carr was the assistant coach at Belleville High School in Belleville, Mich. - 1973-6: He was the head coach at John Glenn High school in Westland, Mich. Carr's collegiate coaching career, starting as a defensive backs coach - 1976-77: He coached at Eastern Michigan. - 1977-78: Carr followed by two seasons at Illinois (1978-79) before arriving at Michigan. Carr's start at Michigan, serving 15 years under Bo Schembechler (1980- 89) and Gary Moeller (1990-94) - 1980: Carr joined the Michigan staff as the defensive secondary coach. - 1987: Carr became defensive coordinator. - 1990: Carr moved into the position of assistant head coach/defensive coordinator. Carr's leadership at Michigan - May 16, 1995: Officially named 17th head coach at Michigan by Athletic Director Joe Roberson. - 1997: Carr's Wolverines win the National Championship in a 21-16 Rose Bowl victory over Washington State. - Michigan won five Big Ten titles under Carr: 1997, 1998 (T-first), 2000 (T-first), 2003, 2004. - Under Carr's leadership, Michigan always mon at least seven games a season and always made a bostlt game appearance. " Carr owns the second-best winning percentage of all Michigan coaches in Michigan Stadium at 74-12 (.860). - Charles Woodson (CB/WR) won the Heisman Trophy in 1997 while playing for Carr. Carr 's coaching honors " 1997: American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coach of the Year " 1997: Football News Coach of the Year " 1997: Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year " 1997: Walter Camp Coach of the Year - 1997: AFQ/Schutt Coach of the Year " 1997: Woody Hayes College Football Coach of the Year - 2006: AFCA Regional Coach of the Year - NicoCLE AUERBAcH ALL-CARR TEAM QB- Chad Henne - Although Henne hasn't won many big games, he leads Michigan in nearly all statistical passing categories. RB- Mike Hart - Hart has been the heart of the Michigan football team this year and leaves Michigan as its all-time leading rusher. FB- BJ Askew - Askew was a large factor in Michigan's rushing attack during the 2001rand 2002 seasons WR- Braylon Edwards - The Biletnikoff Award winner was the nation's top wide receiver in 2004. He leads Michigan in most statistical receiving categories including TDs, receiving yards and receptions. WR- David Terrell - Terrell was tirst player donning the Maize and Blue to have multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons. TE- Jerame Tuman - Was a large factor in the passing game during the 1997 National Championship season. T- Jon Runyan - An All-American offensive tackle during the 1995 season. G- Steve Hutchinson - Four-time Big Ten first-team selection, the fourth player in team history to accomplish this feat. C- David Baas - Co-winner of the Rimington Trophy in 2004, given to the nation's top center. G- Matt Lentz - Two-time Big Ten first-team selection and three- year starter from 2002-2005. T- Jake Long - Leader of the offensive line over the past two seasons and an All-American during the 2006 season. DE- LaMarr Woodley - Won the Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman and was a leader of the 2006 defense. DT- Gabe Watson - 92 career tackles and two-time first-team Big Ten player. DT- Alan Branch - 2006 All-American had nine sacks and 61 tackles during his career. DE- Glen Steele - Was named an All- American during Michigan's National Championship season. ILB- Larry Foote - Foote amassed 145 career tackles and 11 sacks and was named a 2001 All-American. MLB- Jarrett Irons - Irons led Michigan with 296 career tackles from 1993 to 1996. OLB- Sam Sword - Sword is third all time with 265 tackles for Michigan. Also won a National Championship. CB- Charles Woodson - Woodson won the Heisman trophy in 1997. Enough said. CB- Marlin Jackson - Two-time first- team All-American in 2002 and 2004. FS- Cato June - Had 102 career tackles and three interceptions playing free safety. SS- Ernest Shazor - 2004 All-American, a two-year starter in 2003 and 2004. K- Garret Rivas - Although inconsistent, Rivas leads Michigan in all-time field goals. P- Adam Finley - A four-year starter who leads Michigan in number of punts attempted. CHRIS MESZAROS PETER SCHOTTENFELS/Dail Michigan coach Lloyd Carr may not have wanted thenjob initially, but he shined as Michigan's head coach since taking over in 1995. nistic relationship with the media can be synonymous with the school. Everyone exaggerated. Everyone remembers the time knows Bo came from Miami (Ohio). But a Carr chastised a sideline reporter during number of people don't know Carr gradu- halftime of that Ohio State game, but most ated from Northern Michigan, not Michi- people don't get a chance to see the side gan, in 1968. (Actually, Carr turned down that comes out during press conferences. a scholarship offer from Michigan to go to He can be testy at times (doesn't anyone Missouri, before transferring. According have any other questions), but also funny, to the 1997 Detroit Free Press profile, he charming and profound. One could listen headed to Missouri to play football and to Carr tell the story of the Little Brown baseball, major in journalism and be with Jug over and over again, and, judging by some friends.) his enthusiasm, he could tell it over and Since joining Michigan 28 years ago, over again, too. And his message to his Carr has done nothing butuphold Bo's granddaughter's classmate, Peter, earlier values. Scandal has never touched the this yearthat no loss could get him down program, and Carr has been a model for was downright surreal. his players on and, most important, off the Sure, reporters might have liked more field. access, more answers and perhaps fewer Last year, Carr spoke at Schembechler' of those legendary stares (or maybe not), memorial service a few days after the but contrary to popular belief, it seems legendary coach passed away. He talked like the press actually enjoy working with about the time Lou Holtz offered him as a the coach. job as Notre Dame's defensive coordinato: "It is difficult to reconstruct all that has It lookedbetter and paid better, and Carr happened in 13 years of covering Michigan thought he should take it. football under Carr," Detroit News writer Bo's response said it all. Angelique S. Chengelis wrote Sunday. "It "No, you're not going to Notre Dame," has been interesting, to say the least. I can Carr said, quoting Schembechler. "You ar honestly say I have enjoyed the journey Michigan, so forgetthat. I don't want to and the development of a respectful rela- hear any more about it." tionship between coach and reporter." Carr's critics mightwish he skipped t :o 1 ie 's a }r. re Following a legend Roberson believes Carr is unfairly criti- cized because people tend to measure him compared to a legend. Even if that's the case, what more could Carr do to honor Schembechler's name? Outsiders before joining the Michigan coaching staff, both men have become town then and there. Butthe rest of us realize Bo's foresight was more than a little prophetic. "Nobody," Roberson said, "has done more for Michigan than Lloyd has, in my view." - Herman can be reached at jaherman@umich.edu. s