Lloyd Carr reflects on 'different path' he took to College Football Hall of Fame
Lloyd Carr said Tuesday that he took "a little bit different path" to the College Football Hall of Fame.
File photo
Former Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr was honored for his exemplary body of work on Tuesday, as he was officially announced as a member of the 2011 College Football Hall of Fame class.
One of three inductees actually on hand in Times Square in New York for the announcement, Carr reflected on the circuitous path he took to get to that point.
“I came here by a little bit different path,” Carr said when he stepped to the podium at NASDAQ MarketSite, in reference to his being named interim head coach prior to the 1995 season after then-coach Gary Moeller was fired. “It was a tumultuous time for our program and our players. We hung together, we fought together.
Carr was officially given the reigns of the program later in the season, which he called an act of courage with a laugh on Tuesday.
What followed can now be called a hall of fame career as Carr compiled a 122-40 record in 13 seasons at Michigan. Or as emcee of event Charles Davis referred to it “well above that 60 percent,” in reference to the winning percentage required to be eligible for hall of fame consideration.
Carr thanked legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler -- for whom he was an assistant from 1980-‘89 -- and said the most important thing Schembechler ever taught him was “a great respect for the game.”
“You were always representing something bigger than yourself, and in that case it was the University of Michigan,” Carr said. "(Schembechler) instilled in all of us -- as players as coaches -- a great integrity for the way he conducted that program.
“So I had the great fortune to have him as a mentor and then for five years, Gary Moehler, who was an outstanding coach and mentor for me as well.”
Carr also credited the players who played for him. Under Carr, the Wolverines won five Big Ten conference titles and the 1997 national championship. He led the Wolverines to six 10-victory seasons and 13 consecutive bowl appearances.
“I had the greatest players and the greatest people that any coach could ask for,” Carr said.
Carr was among two former coaches and 14 former players to be inducted into the 2011 class, which included former Detroit Lions first-round draft pick Doug English (Texas, ‘72-74), former Michigan State wide receiver Gene Washington (’64-’66) and Ohio State running back Eddie George, (’92-95) among others.
Also on hand to give speeches were Russell Maryland (Miami, ‘86-90) and Marty Lyons (Alabama, ‘75-78), both of which were much longer than Carr’s, which was under four minutes. Both Lyons and Maryland were choked up during their speeches and had to pause. Carr, meanwhile, was his usual stoic self.
Carr wrapped up his speech by showing his love for his longtime employer.
“I am so proud to represent today the greatest university in the world, the place that I love, a place that has been everything to me,” Carr said. “I want to say thanks to all those people that loved the University of Michigan and supported it in such a great way.”
HEAD OF THE CLASS
National Football Foundation President and CEO Steven Hatchell called the 2011 College Football Hall of Fame class a “character class.” Joining Carr to be inducted into on Dec. 6 in New York will be six unanimous first-team All-Americans, six consensus first-team All-Americans, five members of national championship teams, five conference players of the year and five NFL draft picks.
Here is a complete list with brief bios as listed at www.footballfoundation.org:
COACHES
Lloyd Carr-Michigan (1995-2007): Led Wolverines to 1997 National Championship and perfect 12-0 record. Won five Big Ten championships and finished the season in the top 20 in 12-of-13 years at UM. Led Wolverines to bowls every year as head coach, including four Rose Bowl appearances. Coached 1997 Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson.
Fisher DeBerry-Air Force (1984-2006): Winningest coach in Air Force history, leading Falcons to three conference championships. Led Air Force to 12 post-season berths and three-time conference Coach of the Year. Named National Coach of the Year in 1985, coaching 16 All-Americans, 127 All-Conference players and 11 Academic All-Americans.
PLAYERS
Carlos Alvarez, Florida, wide receiver: - 1969 consensus First Team All-America and ranks as Florida's all-time career leader with 2,563 receiving yards. Two-time All-SEC, setting eight conference records in 1969. First team Academic All-American.
Doug English, Texas, defensive tackle: Member of three bowl teams, including 1973 Cotton Bowl championship team. Two-time All-SWC selection. Member of two Southwest Conference championship teams (1972, 1973). Averaged 10 tackles per game.
Bill Enyart, Oregon State, fullback: Named First Team All-America in 1968. Set school record with 1,304 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 1968; 1968 Hula Bowl MVP and two-time first-team All-Conference selection (1967-68).
Eddie George, Ohio State, running back: 1995 Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp, Maxwell and Doak Walker award winner. 1995 Big Ten Player of the Year. Led OSU to four bowl games. Set 10 conference records and finished as OSU's leader in most 200-plus rushing games (5). Marty Lyons, Alabama, defensive tackle: 1978 consensus first-team All-America who led team to 1978 National Championship at Sugar Bowl. Helped team to four consecutive bowl wins and three conference championships. 1978 SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Russell Maryland, Miami (Fla.), defensive tackle: 1990 unanimous First Team All-America selection and Outland Trophy winner. Led Miami to four consecutive bowl berths and national championships in 1987 and 1989. Registered 45-3-0 record during career.
Deion Sanders, Florida State, defensive back: Two-time unanimous First Team All-America in 1987 and 1988. 1988 Jim Thorpe Award winner. Returned four interceptions for touchdowns in career. Holds school records for most punt return yards in a season and in a career.
Jake Scott, Georgia, defensive back: Named consensus First Team All-America in 1968. 1968 SEC Most Valuable Player. Twice led the SEC in interceptions and still holds the SEC record with two interceptions returned for a touchdown in a single game.
Will Shields, Nebraska, offensive guard: 1992 unanimous First Team All-America and 1992 Outland Trophy winner. Key to three Huskers' NCAA rushing titles (1989, '91, '92). Led team to four bowl berths and back-to-back Big Eight titles in 1991 and 1992.
Sandy Stephens, Minnesota, quarterback: 1961 consensus First Team All-America who led team to 1960 National Championship and back-to-back Rose Bowl berths. Nation's first African-American All-America QB and 1961 Big Ten MVP. Fourth in 1961 Heisman voting.
Darryl Talley, West Virginia, linebacker: Named unanimous First Team All-America in 1982. Considered the most prolific tackler in school history holding the school's record for career tackles (484). Member of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame.
Clendon Thomas, Oklahoma, running back: Was on back-to-back national championship teams in 1955 and 1956. An all-conference selection as a junior and senior years and a consensus All-American his senior year.
Rob Waldrop, Arizona, defensive lineman: Two-time First Team All-America, garnering consensus honors in '92 and unanimous laurels in '93. Winner of Bednarik, Nagurski and Outland awards and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (1993). Led Cats to three bowl berths.
Gene Washington, Michigan State, wide receiver: Two-time first team All-America who led Michigan State to back-to-back national championship seasons (1965-66) and undefeated season in '66. Led MSU to consecutive Big Ten titles. Led team in receptions for three straight seasons.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com he can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Blu n Tpa
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
LS Did you really need to go there? To make a statement where you judge, for yourself with no personal knowledge, who is a UM grad and supporter, and who isn't. Where does that level of righteousness and power come from or is it self ordained? Frankly I find it scary that you think (is that the right word here?) you are that god-like to decide who is worthy to represent Michigan and who is not. The old saying that when you have dug yourself into a hole, stop digging, would apply here. You have taken a questonable position of pro WCiMFH and anti Most Successful Living Michigan Football Coach, MSLMFC, and seemingly can't let go. One guy is in the College Football Hall of Fame based on his coaching the UM football program and the other was fired from the same job. No sane person can objectively look at their results, at Michigan, and say Coach Carr was a lesser coach. Or person. TiM Go Blue!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Fri, May 20, 2011 : 3:54 p.m.
"I don't have the time for that garbage....its' not that important." Guess that mean that Lorraine's just makin' it up. But then someone who "knows" that I'm not a UM fan and who "knows" that I'm not an alumni clearly has a penchant for makin' it up. Sweet dreams, sweetheart. Good Night and Good Luck
Lorain Steelmen
Fri, May 20, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.
Ghast...I don't keep a log of news articles. I don't have the time for that garbage....its' not that important. So if, you want to see it...you go look it up. Meanwhile, my comments will stand, and my obsertvations of 'Bo's guys', who were 'big enough' to stand behind the previous coach, while he was here. It is no accident, that most of the detractors, where 'Carr guys', and non-UM people, such as yourself. In fact, you have never really looked at any of this as a UM fan, but rather just a personal obsession with a former coach. And, sadly, you have done more harm to the program, than good. As an alum, I also find it unfortunate that this school and program, draws people like you, who seek only to degrade it.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, May 19, 2011 : 9:54 p.m.
"Carr was contemplating retirement for SEVERAL years, and that it was WELL KNOWN, within the athletic administration. In fact, Bruce Madej commented on it publicly, as he addressed an alumni function in Toledo in the early 2000's. So all of us at that meeting knew, for several years." Dearest Lorraine, If it was so well known, you can, of course, provide links. Right? Of course you can, sweetheart. Good Night and Good Luck
Lorain Steelmen
Thu, May 19, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
Ghast...I went back to 12/22 and re-read the posts you referred to. In fact, there is actually the 'fourth' alternative that you never have addressed. The truth. And that is, that Carr was contemplating retirement for SEVERAL years, and that it was WELL KNOWN, within the athletic administration. In fact, Bruce Madej commented on it publicly, as he addressed an alumni function in Toledo in the early 2000's. So all of us at that meeting knew, for several years...The only REAL question WAS, how long would Carr hang on? It's a very small coaching 'brotherhood', and Bo's links to Nehlen are also well known...so when I later read the AA News report, at the time RR was being considered, that before Carr had finally stepped away, Bo and Nehlen had already discussed RR as an eventual candidate, and Bo was very high on RR, as a coach. Didn't surprize me, as he had such strong ties to Nehland, and both RR and Bo, were 'blue collar', 'no nonsense' guys......and the rest, as they say, is history. Interestingly enough, I was sitting with Jerry Hanlon at the RR introductory meeting (again in Toledo), and Hanlon, was also very high on RR, and cautioned all of the alums, at our table to be 'patient' with the new hire, as the talent level was not nearly as strong, as he and Bo had, in 1969. I have a lot of respect for Hanlon...so I decided to cut the new guy (RR) some slack. Too bad the 'fringe blues', never did the same. I think your problem is, that you still have this obsessive 'hatred' for RR and you dislike my calling you on it. And anything that would suggest that Bo himself would disagree with your agenda, upsets you. Tough... the truth is, Bo would have supported RR when he got the job, (as Hanlon did) because Bo (and Hanlon) were and are 'true blue'...unlike yourself..
Tru2Blu76
Thu, May 19, 2011 : 8:17 p.m.
There are men and women who's mere presence in a town benefits all: Lloyd Carr is such a person. He gave (and still gives) credit to his players, to his staff and to the University of Michigan for his successes. He talked the talk and walked the walk throughout his career. Lloyd Carr was and is a leader, he was and is the best in terms of character and the contributions he makes. We are lucky indeed to have the Leaders and Best - making that phrase a reality instead of a brag takes one heck of a lot of effort. Congratulations, Lloyd Carr!
truebluefan
Thu, May 19, 2011 : 2:55 p.m.
I don't doubt Carr's blind devotion to Michigan and he obviously did well enough on the field to make it to the HOF, but on a PR level I never liked the guy. He seemed like a curmudgeon. Cold and distant. Yes you CAN be the HC of Michigan AND treat sideline reporters nicely and with respect. Perhaps if I met him in person my opinions would change. I'd love to have the opportunity. But the unfortunate truth is the vast majority of the college football loving population won't have the opportunity. And so opinions are formed by what is experienced through the media. Did Lloyd Carr win enough to overlook his personality flaws? Most years, yes. Do I miss the Lloyd Carr days? Not at all.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 9:47 p.m.
Dearest Lorraine, They're your words, sweetheart. Not making it up nor taking anything out of context. Anyone who goes to the link provided will see that. Coach Carr went 1-6 against OSU in his last seven years. No, I was not happy with that. But I was not apoplectic about it, unlike the clowns who sat behind me at the games, the morons on talk radio, and as you certainly were. I saw on a daily basis the young men he mentored. I saw his commitment to the community. I saw the citizen he was. And I also understood we remained one of the premier programs in the country. And then there's the WCiMFH. The negative statistics are staggering. But since you bring up the OSU rivalry, let's deal only with that. In the tenure of the WCiMFH, the UofM went 0-3, lost those three games by a total of 76 points, and smallest point differential was 11 points (the others were 35 and 30). Thus, during the tenure of the WCiMFH, the UM was AT LEAST two possessions away from beating OSU, meaning that NONE of the losses was close. In the 1-6 run under Carr, the total point differential in the six games UM lost was 45 points—barely more than the differential in the worst loss under the WCiMFH. Four of those six losses were by less than 7 points, the other two were by 14 and 16. In other words, in Carr's 2 worst losses, he was 2 possessions away from winning. So, let's compare: LC's differential in 6 losses was 45 points; the WCiMFH's differential in 3 games was 76 points LC was within one touchdown of OSU in four games and within two touchdowns in the other two; the WCiMFH got spanked by more than 4 touchdowns in two games and would have needed two more possessions in the third Yes, losing to OSU 6 of 7 years was not a lot of fun, but were never embarrassed and never blown out, something that cannot be said about the WCiMFH And yet, dearest Lorraine, you continue to justify your anger at Coach Carr and his love of the WCiMFH in terms of the OSU rivalry. Good Night and Good Luck
Lorain Steelmen
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 5:39 p.m.
At the end of the day, we should consider that a Ghost is an illusion...nothing, but smoke and mirrors. And in this case, our Ghost continues in the creation of stawmen, and false suppositions, as fact. At the first stiff breeze, all that smoke disappears. And we are left with NOTHING! One fact remains abundantly clear.....LLLLLLLLlloyd was 1-6 over his last seven years...and all the cheap shots and false statements will NOT change that fact, one iota.
discgolfgeek
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 1:47 p.m.
I have no issue with Lloyd getting in. If nothing else, he was a man for whom you would like to see your son go play football. He cared about his players. As for coaching, I think he lost a little fire towards the end -- losing to App State with a loaded team being the most egregious example. It was hard to take all those losses to the Cheating Sweater Vest. Every year, Lloyd (and staff) would come up with an awesome coaching plan (his final game against Florida being a shining example) and I always wondered why it didn't happen more often. As for Mallet, it appears to me that he was asked his opinion and he gave an honest answer: Mallet was a bad fit for RR's offense. Congrats to Lloyd Carr for his achievements!
mun
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:57 a.m.
For all the noise from the Rich Rod slappies, the fact remains that Lloyd Carr was 122-40, while Rich Rod was 15-22. <a href="http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=25" rel='nofollow'>http://cfreference.net/cfr/school.s?id=25</a>
wolfman
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:44 a.m.
Was a Great Coach and he joins many other Great Coachs we have had here at Michigan
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:23 a.m.
Lorraine wrote: "Heres' Ghast again, saying things that I never said . . " Let's go to the tape, shall we? On December 22, 2010 Lorraine wrote: "Or are the rumors true that Bo himself, and Don Nehlen both supported Rodriguez for the new HC job, when LC left? " Source: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/dave-brandon-michigan-football-team-must-return-to-business-as-usual/?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:962a0a68-205e-4eda-aabb-31376b1cf74c">http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/dave-brandon-michigan-football-team-must-return-to-business-as-usual/?plckFindCommentKey=CommentKey:962a0a68-205e-4eda-aabb-31376b1cf74c</a> As written, Lorraine is suggesting that Bo supported the hiring of the man who would become the WCiMFH "when LC left." That would have been a neat trick as Bo had been dead for more than a year. Of course, Lorraine might claim that Bo supported the hiring of the WCiMFH before he died. That would be interesting as it would mean that Bo had expressed support for the hiring of the WCiMFH as a replacement for Coach Carr more than a year before Carr had announced his retirement, and that he had done so publicly (else how would Lorraine know about it?). Or there's a third alternative: Lorraine's just making it up. Given her many outrageous statements about Coach Carr's tenure (e.g., Carr ran a country club), the third alternative seems most likely. Good Night and Good Luck
GettingBluer
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 1:12 a.m.
Of course Lloyd belongs in...congrats! I do have a question...one of the other articles stated that Michigan coaches for 102 of the last 107 seasons are in the Hall of Fame. Well, we know who coached 3 of those "not in" seasons...does anyone know who coached the other 2?
heartbreakM
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
Not true. Oosterban is not in as a coach (he was coach for 10 or 11 years in the 40s to 50s and IMO, he should be in as a coach, because he led one of the greatest M teams in 1948). Moeller is not in. Bump Elliott is not in. Those are 3 covering many years.
Lorain Steelmen
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 11:59 p.m.
Heres' Ghast again, saying things that I never said, and distorting the posts of others, to create 'strawmen', which are then easier to destroy..and thereby creating the illusions, that 1.)you know what you are talking about, and 2.) that you are a UM fan...nether of which is true! The program really was 'subpar' in '95 & '96, when Woodson et al, made a big deal of 'let's stop allthe losing'. Carr made it respectible from '97 to about '00, probably primarily to the asst coaches ( Hoke, et al) and several of the players. And yes, before he died, Bo was following the career of Rodriguez, as reported in the AA News. He did NOT obviously campaign for RR, since Bo died before LC finally, retired. This has been mistated by you repeatedly, even though it originated with you...not me. Your problem is, that you were not here in the Bo/Mo days, which have no comparison to the later Carr years. The two are not the same. If you think losing 6 of 7 to osu, is somehow 'better', than the years before '01, then you obviously are NOT a Michigan fan.
Theo212
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 11:46 p.m.
The MCC will be represented at the HoF induction dinner by myself, tater, lorain, portage, and zeeba. (Likely the most intelligent quartet assembled this side of Sixth City, don't ya think?) Just like at the football bust, we'll be sitting at table 11. Please learn your lines as we'll recite: Our King, Our King; Newness he did bring. In year or two, we'd wear Crystal Ring. But DB caved, nothing was saved. Bye-bye to Crystal we all have waved...
mun
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:59 a.m.
And you'll be holding hands and swaying to Josh Groban music.
15crown00
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 11:13 p.m.
A well deserved honor for a very honorable man. Haters you need to put a lid on it.
Blu n Tpa
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
MCC please look at the picture above carefully. The players joy is for their coach. Someone who showed by his actions he cared more for them than himself. Now think back to how the last Michigan bowl game ended. Worst bowl defeat ever! What I've never heard from those who support the unsupportable and defend the indefensible is how do you go the whole year and not improve special teams and not get better on defense? Coaching. One coach made his players believe and the other could not. That's all there was to it. TiM Go Blue!
riverraisin
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 3:36 a.m.
I was thinking the same thing as I looked at that picture. I have a feeling we will see the current coach in that very position real soon.
riverraisin
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 9:03 p.m.
Great coaches represent their University with integrity, while being great mentors to the students athletes. Poor coaches represent themselves and think of student athletes as a tool to further their careers. Lloyd Carr is a great coach.
heartbreakM
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 12:29 a.m.
Best comment I have read yet. Thanks for that.
Blu n Tpa
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
Nicely done. Pretty sure Coach Carr would appreciated the difference. TiM Go Blue!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 8:57 p.m.
Lorraine wrote: "Carr would have been MUCH more respected had he retired in 2000 . . . " And the MCC's Secretary of Fiction makes her appearance. Fact: Carr had a better record after 2000 than he had before. So much for the "program went into decline" fiction. But to understand Lorraine's fiction, one must understand that she thinks that in the Fall of 2007 Bo expressed to Bill Martin his opinion that hiring the guy from UVW, the guy who became the WCiMFH, would be a good idea. Of course, Bo died in 2006. Must have been an interesting conversation, eh, Lorraine? Good Night and Good Luck
nank
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
Congratulations to Coach Carr! True Blue fans love and admire the man for all he did and continues to do for the U of M!
Lorain Steelmen
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 7:54 p.m.
Carr would have been MUCH more respected had he retired in 2000. Instead he stayed on, and allowed the program to deteriorate. Even in 2006, he could have stepped way, and left Henne, Hart, Long, Arrington, Manningham, et al, to his successor...but nope, he couldn't do that. Instead he left the cupboard bare, and then even talked Mallert into leaving (and giving up a UM degree) , so the 'new hire' would have to start Threet and Sheridan, et al....and, of course, your 'practice QC' proceedures.....So, on behalf of the greatest university in the world, we say 'Thanks Lloyd!'
heartbreakM
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
One more thing LS: WHen Carr retired, Manningham and Arrington still had another year left, Mallett was QB, and Sam McGuffie --the highly touted RB from TX--was coming in. Plus, the OL had returning talent, the entire defensive line was back, as were most of the defenders.
mun
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:41 a.m.
" Instead he left the cupboard bare" WRONG! Lloyd left Rich Rod with 8 returning starters on defense. As for Ryan Mallet, exactly how would he have fit into Rich Rod's schemes? Which would I rather have? 122Ws-40Ls or 15-22? Hmmmmmmmmm.
heartbreakM
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 12:28 a.m.
I think it was time for Carr to retire when he did, probably a year earlier as others have mentioned. I think injuries hurt him a lot in 2007 (Henne, Hart) but also, he knew in that summer that he was done and he lost his edge. But in his defense, it had been speculated for years that he wanted to be there for all 4 years of Henne's play and that is indeed what happened. I think the bigger problem with it all is his lack of bringing in a good successor, a la what Bellotti did with Kelly at Oregon. He stayed loyal (a good trait) to his staff, like English, Moeller, Debord who were clearly not ready to be the next head coach. And his timing was not ideal given that most good coaches were not on the market during bowl season. But Martin also gets big blame here as he did nothing to get the search ready (reportedly he knew in July 2007 that Carr was in his last year). Overall, I think Carr is a classy guy, a great representative of UM, a good coach and deserving of his hall of fame election. Just look at him compared to former coach, who was the anti-Bo and anti-Carr. Carr stands very high in my eyes.
Glenn Galler
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 11:02 p.m.
I think there is a lot to what you say here. I have often thought that had Lloyd Carr left one year earlier, it would have left the Michigan program a lot stronger and while I didn't think about this at the time, a coach with Lloyds experience must have known what was going to happen and it was selfish to have stayed and ultimately left the cupboard bare for his predecessor. It was not the "Michigan" thing to do.
missionbrazil
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 7:37 p.m.
"even leaving the program in far worse shape than he found it" Bo .796 winning pct. / .850 BT Mo .758 / .775 BT LC .753 / .779 BT (1 Natl. Championship, 5 BT titles) zeeba, it seems the facts disagree with your obviously flawed comments. But don't let that stop you from trying to show that you know better than most UM fans, and better than the people who run college football and elect only the best for the Hall Of Fame. But part of your comment is true ... someone DID leave our program in FAR worse shape than he found it ... someone who had a .405 losing percentage and a .250 BT losing percentage, plus NCAA violations. That is not even mediocrity.
mun
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:43 a.m.
" Like I said, third year is Mo's juniors and seniors." Well Lloyd did what Gary didn't do with his players, win a national championship.
zeeba
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.
Wrong. Like I said, third year is Mo's juniors and seniors, given that he took over in May prior to the season. And the fact that the HofF has other so-so coaches who are only in because they coached at big-name schools doesn't mean they deserve to be there either. Also, if you want facts and data, just look at my posts here and following the first post - I've put in quite a few from the record. How about you provide some data of your own?
missionbrazil
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 12:23 a.m.
um zeeba, you obviously think your opinions are facts. How about showing some facts that back up your obviously expert opinions. For example, you said that LC won the NC with Mo's players ... sorry, but LC won it in his 3rd year as HC ... he gets FULL credit for it, but nice try.
zeeba
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
The program was already falling into disrepair when he left - you can't pin all that on Rich Rod. And he won his half a national championship - to which Nebraska clearly had the stronger claim - with what was basically Moeller's team - the juniors and seniors. And you just can't ignore that 6-7 bowl game record. And don't give me that hooey about electing only the best. The HofF is full of so-so coaches who are only there because they coached at a popular school with influential boosters - Carr is only the latest example.
zeeba
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.
Yes, mediocrity is not the usual path one takes to the Hall of Fame. I don't have anything against Carr personally, he's a decent coach but he's not a great one - and the HofF should be for the Greats only. If Carr wasn't at Michigan, no one would have thought twice about him for the Hall - as it was, he was the benefactor of a tradition built by others and which he did little or nothing to enhance, even leaving the program in far worse shape than he found it.
mun
Wed, May 18, 2011 : 2:50 a.m.
"even leaving the program in far worse shape than he found it." Uh Lloyd was 9-4 in 2007 including a win over 2006 BCS Champ Florida in the Citrus Bowl. Then in 2008, Rich Rod took that team and went 15-22 over the next 3 years. Now who really left the program in far worse shape than he found it.
zeeba
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
Sorry Blu - you don't get HofF credit for time spent as an assistant. And half a national championship in a short tenure doesn't cut it either - particularly when you won it with an inherited team of juniors and seniors who signed up to play for your boss. And Tessell started beating him soundly as soon as he came on the scene - you think that's a fluke?
Blu n Tpa
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.
zeeba, Coach Carr was there for a long time, over a decade with Bo and Mo, so he was a part of that building crew. Saying he didn't enhance the standing of Michigan is only countered by the fact he won at least a share of the National Championship, and if not for a coach who voted the undefeated Michigan team third, Michigan would have won it outright. You don't have to put Coach Carr in your HoF, but the College Football Hall of Fame, they got it right. TiM Go Blue!
zeeba
Tue, May 17, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
correction - I meant beneficiary, not benefactor.