Carr Drives Away.........

In less then an hour, Lloyd Carr will retire from coaching after 25+ years on staff at Michigan. He coached for Bo and Gary Moeller before being rushed into the job after Gary's restaurant troubles (aka Kordell Stewart throw).

At the time, I didn't believe Lloyd was ready for the job and I'm sure he wasn't expecting it either. He grew into the role and took Michigan to an undefeated season and a National Championship in 1997. Lloyd believed in tradition, academics, and doing things the right way. There was never even a hint of probation during his 12 years as head coach.

Lloyd will be remembered as a good person and a players coach. To be fair, the strategy part of the job at times seemed to escape him. I think he recruited well and brought top talent to Ann Arbor, I think his teams practiced well but didn't always preform to their highest level.

This year was a good example of that in many ways. Lloyd was always "way" to loyal to his coaches and coordinators when they weren't preforming. I can't remember Lloyd making any half time adjustments to win a game that showed coaching "genius". He many times played "not to lose" instead of playing to "win", which cost him many games. He also couldn't compete with the Pete Carroll's, Mack Browns, or the Jim Tressell's the last 5 years. Pete made him look silly every January 1 in the Rose Bowl.

So yes, it was time for Lloyd to move on. He is a man with great character, a man his players loved and a man that brought Michigan a National Championship, but the Michigan program is in need of a fresh start and a new leader.

I have been waiting for this day for 5 years but the imagines of what Notre Dame, Miami, and Nebraska have gone through the last few years make me feel a little unsettled. Bill Martin as of Sunday has the toughest job in the State. He will have to find a man who feels that coaching Michigan is his dream job. We don't need a Nick Sabin that jumps for the highest dollar, we need a new leader that will bring new ideas and strategies and plans to stay for a career/legacy as the Michigan Football Head coach.

Today we toast the coach and thank him. Tomorrow the air at Michigan Stadium will be a little fresher and the possibilities endless..............