Lloyd Carr...

[Crazyswordsman]

The rumor is he's going to announce his retirement after the Michigan-OSU game this Saturday. -CSM

[ShyGuy727]

God, Michigan will try and do anything for a win. Last year it was win one for Bo, now this. I hope we throttle them and send Llllloyd out like the huge loser he is. What a scumbag. Cheap tactic.

[Crazyswordsman]

Say what you will, and yes, people caught up to him a long time ago, he won an NC in his third year coaching, which is more than most coaches can say (El Sweatervest is one of the few exceptions).

I think it's serious though. Bash it all you want (and hey, you're an OSU fan, you have to), I think it's very serious.

Oh, and ShyGuy, I just lost all respect I had for you if you think Bo's death was set up by us. -CSM

[Lurch1982]

He announced his "retirement" without saying anything when his team lost to Appy State in the Big House.

[ShyGuy727]

Originally Posted by Crazyswordsman

he won an NC in his third year coaching

**half a NC

[Crazyswordsman]

Originally Posted by ShyGuy727

**half a NC

He won the WHOLE THING in our minds:
1. The refs at the Nebraska Mizzou game were being VERY unfair to Nebraska that year, and
2. Nebraska came out of NOWHERE and won the title, and the rumor is that this was a retirement present for Tom Osbourne from the media. Michigan won the BCS title (or whatever it was called in the '90s) and the AP title (which is what really mattered back then). -CSM

I hope you all notice this edit:

f Lloyd Carr's press conference yesterday was any indication, there might never be another college football coach like him. And the game will be worse because of it.

What Michigan supporters saw during his retirement announcement was a coach who truly embodied Bo Schembechler's mantra of "The Team. The Team. The Team." What jaded sports fans witnessed was a man who still put principle above a paycheck. What the sport lost was a teacher who realized the "big game" was simply a way to instill larger lessons regarding the big picture.

Unfortunately, we live in an era, especially when it comes to athletic competition, where many of us claim to care about the above but deep down - and usually less so - all that really matters is the scoreboard, baby. And to many in the Michigan family, Carr had fallen short in that column of late. So while they profess their admiration for the man, deep down - and usually less so - they were happy to see the coach step aside.

Never mind that Carr never had a losing season in 13 years at the helm. Forget that the school never once had the hint of a scandal during his tenure. Who cares that keeping any team among the nation's elite year in and year out is a much tougher assignment than its ever been (see: Nebraska, Notre Dame and Miami). It simply wasn't enough for some.

And I'm not naive, blind or an apologist. Yes, the recent bowl losses and stumbles against Ohio State stung. But college football, like life, is a game of ups and downs. To wax less poetically than Carr at his press conference yesterday: **** happens. There is an ebb and flow to everything...except the unwieldy expectations of Michigan fans.

Thus, U-M begins its search for a new coach. Forget interest or availability, I just hope the person we're looking for exists. You know, someone able to contend for a national title every year, win each bowl game and never lose to Ohio State. If not, watch out. We Michigan fans are like some long-married guy going through a perpetual mid-life crisis: the grass is always greener, the coach of "that team" is always sexier.

But to some, the coaching situation is already looking up because whoever it is, it won't be Carr. Which really is a shame. Because a special part of a Michigan just retired yesterday. Yet, sadly, too many peopled failed to realize just how good we had it.

Thank you, Coach Carr, for everything you did. Both on and off the field.