The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Thursday, September 6, 2007 - 9A

Team stands
by coach
By SCOTT BELL Loss defines Carr's legacy as
Daily Sports Editor much as '97 title does.
Lloyd Carr Rolls Snake Eyes.
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr Already feeling the heat, Carr
isn't going anywhere. But if you will never live down loss toAppa-
flip on ESPN, pick up a national lachian State.
newspaper or Those are just some of the
ask around stories and columns calling
campus, you Carr out for subpar coaching.
might not The players Carr deals with
know that. every day disagree with the
Since Sat- criticism, though, and have
urday's loss been very vocal in his defense
to Appala- since Saturday.
chian State, "He is a great coach, no doubt
the only CA about it," defensive lineman
coach to win Will Johnson said. "He has a
a National great history here. He's doing
Championship in the last 60 the same thing he has done the
years at Michigan has been past years he's been here. I'm
under intense scrutiny from not worried about it at all."
both fans and the media about The Detroit News reported
his future. yesterday that Michigan athlet-
Earlier this week, a quartet ic director Bill Martin is stand-
of seniors defended Carr at the ing firmly behind Carr as the
team's weekly press conference football team's head coach. That
on Monday. comes as no surprise consider-
"That's just insane," offen- ing Carr has sent Michigan to a
sive lineman and captain Jake BCS bowl game in three of the
Long said in response to a ques- past four seasons - something
tion speculating that Carr may few coaches can claim over that
be fired. "Coach Carr is not timespan.
going anywhere. He is a great No matter how much support
coach. It seems like every year Carr gets from the administra-
the media is saying that. I'm not tion, the questions won't die.
listening to that. That is just Carr and the players will have
insane. We don't listen to that." to answer the same questions
Long's partner on the left side week after week throughout
of the line, guard Adam Kraus, the season.
agreed with the assessment And with a speedy Oregon
that the national media doesn't squadcomingintothe Big House
understand the situation. on Saturday, Michigan's focus
"Ijustblockthemoutbecause needs to be squarely on stop-
they're coming from the wrong ping another potent offense.
people - people who obviously Will the Carr talk be a dis-
don't know what Michigan is," traction? Count linebacker
Kraus said. "Coach Carr is going Chris Graham doesn't think so.
to be my coach for as long as he "Coach is here to stay," Gra-
wants to be. That's my coach." ham said. "We're not worried
Despite players coming to aboutthat.He'sheretomotivate
Carr's aid, headlines around the us, and that is what we need.
nation have still had an anti- We need a coach to be here and
Carr sentiment as the week has motivate us. We're not looking
progressed. for anymore distractions."

Things looking up for Blue
By ALEX PROSPERI For a squad that wasn't even in
On Volleyball the Top 25 prior to its first game,
cracking the top 15 is quite an
After spending one year on the accomplishment.
seventh grade volleyball team, see- An upset win over then-No. 10
ing my vertical decrease and suc- Hawaii began the Wolverines'
cessfully glancing over the net one unbeaten streak at the ASICS
measly time, I can honestly say I Rainbow Wahine Invitational.
don't know how to play good vol- After moving up to No. 20, the
leyball. Maize and Blue took three straight
Luckily, Michigan does. matches to win the Miami Univer-
What I lacked in talent, experi- sity Invitational a week later, in
ence and drive for the game, this which the team won six of the nine
group of Wolverines shows off on games by seven points or more.
a daily basis. Last year's team made it to the EMMA NOLAN-ABRAHAMIAN/Daily
This could end up being the best opening round of the NCAA Tour- Senior Lyndsay Miller and the Wolverines are on their way to a great season.
women'svolleyballteamourschool nament but fell short to Cal Poly.
has ever seen. On Monday, after But of the 10 participants in last
winning two non-conference tour- season's final game, nine returned
naments, Michigan (6-0) jumped this season. With seniors Katie
six spots in the CSTV/AVCA Top Bruzdzinski, Lyndsay Miller,
25 poll, landing at a program-high Sarah Draves and Stesha Selsky
No. 14. See VOLLEYBALL, Page 12A

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