I Remove My Hat in Respect, Thank You Coach.

Behind the scenes: Michigan coach Lloyd Carr's final moments before retiring with win in bowl

EDITOR's Note: The Capital One Bowl marked the end of an era at Michigan as Lloyd Carr retired after a 13-season career as head coach, paving the way for Rich Rodriguez to lead college football's winningest team as the first "non-Michigan man" since Bo Schembechler in 1969. Carr granted Associated Press sports writer Larry Lage behind-the-scenes access for his final two-plus days in charge, allowing a reporter in a Michigan locker room before a game and at halftime for the first time in at least four decades.
By LARRY LAGE

"Gentlemen," he says in closing, "you have given me something to remember for the rest of my life." Lloyd Carr

Wolverine Defeats Superman

Ron English puts together a defensive scheme to stop the "Man of Steel" and the ever so DOMINANT SEC (Riiight). Against all odds, a big point spread, four turnovers, Michigan still puts up 532 yards of offense on the "invincible" Gators. And to top it all off Michigan makes the Ohio State loss to Florida a year ago, look that much worse. (GO LSU!)

Lloyd Carr goes out with a win in his final game.
122-40 as Michigan Head Coach, My hat is off to this Class Coach. Good luck to him, and Go Blue!

University of Michigan Wolverines 41 Florida Gators 35 BOX SCORE

This Courtesy of MGoBlog.com:
"Attention SEC fans, and I mean this with all the deepest sincerity I can muster: suck my balls."

And it is so

Lloyd Carr, now officially retired will drag the Michigan team to some forgettable bowl game in some forgettable city where he will inevitably coach the same way he always has and in turn lose his last bowl game.

Oh and, Michigan will make their opponent look like all-Americans in the process, i.e. Nebraska. Before Michigan played the Cornholers in the bowl game they were just another big name team that went into the crapper. Then all of the sudden they beat Big Bad Michigan and are shot into the national spotlight and every crank sports writer started yelling "The Blackshirts are Back"! While back on the this planet Nebraska was really another suck a** team that bad Michigan coaching let beat.

So all the "LLLLloyd" and "Fire Lloyd" people are surely popping little party favors now that he is retired but then when all the Keystone Light is gone and all the party poppers are spent, they are left with, Now What? Well lets see, a fairly incompetent AD that will most likely not get the ideal replacement coach and probably keep Debord the Hut (which would be tragic).

So we fans still have another "game" to endure before candidate names are leaked out to the press so in respect to Bo I will not wimper but shout a GO BLUE! regardless.

Thank God they didn't make it back to the Rose Bowl, i would have had to drag my sorry rear to Pasadena and endure another pathetic showing.

Times are changing, lets hope they are for the better.

Lloyd Carr to Retire Monday

AP Article: Michigan coach Carr to step down after 13 seasons with Wolverines

Post Game Video

Carlos Brown Streaking for his 85 yard TD Run in the 4th QT. *The future looks bright.

Carlos Brown

Coach Carr

Michigan climbing in the polls.

#15 AP Top 25

#14 USA Today

#15 Harris Interactive

#12 BCS

This Video recap from the BTN shows the 85 yard TD run by Carlos Brown.

He Lurks Around Every Corner, I mean Loss

After the devastating loss to Appy State and then the crushing by the Ducks, every Michigan blog and Internet forum were on overload with fans that wanted Lloyd Carr's head on a stake out on State Street.

There is nothing like winning to quiet the homicidal fantasies and the loud cries to the angel of death. Yet, the mob is restless. They hear the Lions off in the distance, the hurt and vengeful Lions, so thirsty for Wolverine blood. (See Video)


Penn State fans celebrate Michigan's downfall at the hands of the Appy State.

Most fans know that Michigan beat a really, REALLY bad Notre Dame team, but that isn't the point, Michigan won. It took much of the focus off of the Wolverines and has now shifted it squarely on the shoulders of the Irish and other teams that were unexpectedly crushed, (enter #11 UCLA, Louisville, etc..).

Michigan fans are resting their hopes in the knowledge that Michigan has OWNED Penn State and JoPa for the last 8 years, and cannot deny that it has been Lloyd Carr on the sideline opposite of the icon they call JoPa. Pay that no matter. If Penn State comes to the Big House and lands a vengeful blow to this Michigan team, the Maize will don black and the cries will once again begin, heating up hard drives from east coast to west, post counts will rocket in forums, YouTube confessionals will blather on and hate filled e-mails will bulge the inbox of Michigan's AD.

He awaits the next loss, just around the corner, waiting for the loud cries to beckon him once again. He holds no allegiance to any measly college football team, he belongs to a much bigger conference that never gets cheated.

Yet once again, the metallic sound of the razor sharp sickle will not be heard. The mob marching with their torches (keyboards) will be in vain. Yet another week, Lloyd will still be in the tower looking down, and he will continue to give really snide answers to questions.

"Jake Long, a Nuclear Bomb" Crowe Post Game Vid

Russell Crowe takes the podium along with Lloyd Carr for a memorable post game press conference.

*Michiwood?

Motivation, Rumor, Conjecture?

Article:
Carr has a shot to go out on top, if this is it for him at Michigan
By LARRY LAGE, AP Sports Writer

Todd / Maize and Blue Blog

13 years as head coach of the Wolverines. At times I have wanted nothing more then for Lloyd Carr to retire, get fired or just wake the heck up.

I do feel at this point the buzz around this possibly being Lloyd's last season as head coach is just that, buzz. I do not see him leaving the job. The only scenario I can see him leaving this season is if the Wolverines tank, and have a 7-6 season.

I do think it is a good motivational tool for the kids on the team, if they indeed think that Lloyd may be leaving this could give them that extra push to try to give him a championship send off.

On the chat boards most of the talk about Lloyd is unfounded and just plain rumor, just like 80% of the sports related Internet chatter.

As far as sports writers it is pure conjecture. The writers really have nothing to lose in the situation if he leaves they made a good call if he stays there is always a reason or an excuse as to why he stayed. How many years have the writers thrown around the JoPA retirement stories?

At this point, if he stays or goes I really don't care. All I ask for is a strong season with a win over Ohio State and a Bowl game win. The Michigan mystique is still strong but has suffered some tarnishing over the past few years with road failings, way too many losses to the varmint in the red sweater vest, as well as 4 straight bowl losses. Lloyd needs to bring out the polish, or hand the reigns off to a new head coach.

GO BLUE!