Just lay off LLoyd Carr, okay?

Sept. 19, 2007

Life is barely worth living in Wolverines Land these days. Michigan fans are not used to losing much - let alone two games in a row in Ann Arbor before a packed house of maize and blue crybabies.
When tiny Appalachian State shocked Michigan’s football team in their opening game this year, U of M fans thought it couldn’t get worse. Then underdog Oregon stomped the Wolverines, proving it could. Much worse. With team injuries mounting and continuing uninspired play, Michigan’s fans are humiliated and need to take it out on someone. They have selected coach Lloyd Carr.
All Carr has done is coach Michigan with dignity for 27 years. As head coach the last 12 years, he has won 5 Big Ten titles, one national championship, and led the team to a bowl game each year. Yet, Michigan fans have quickly turned on Carr with venom usually reserved for the hated Ohio State Buckeyes.
We Spartans have always known U of M football fans were arrogant, but, until now, didn’t realize their stupidity. Have you all gone nuts? Now, Michigan fans, repeat after me, “We can’t win every game. “We can’t win every game. “We can’t...”
Michigan supporters should all take their hats off to Lloyd Carr, not crucify him for two lousy losses. Even under incredible pressure lately from alumni, fans, and the media over his team’s horrendous start, the Wolverines coach continues to be a class act who is a sterling example to the young men he leads.
I can’t say the same for Carr’s mentor, the legendary Bo Schembeckler. Bo’s sideline tirades and intimidation of referees and players alike, sent the message that bullying your way to victory was acceptable. Schembeckler, Woody Hayes, Bob Knight, and their ilk should spend their time in anger management therapy, not coaching.
Of course MSU supporters live to celebrate whenever adversity strikes Michigan’s football program. Spartan football fans have had little success of our own in the last 40 years, so we pathetically spend our energy piling on the Wolverines occasional failures. One of my greatest memories in life is jumping up and down amidst a sea of 100,000 U of M fans during the 1978 Spartan victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor. I still remember gloating at the traumatized faces of the throng of Wolverines fans who expect to always win. We Spartans can’t help ourselves. Victories over Michigan are more satisfying than winning championships.
Yet, I admit to having nothing but admiration for Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr. When Michigan State fired their two most recent head coaches, Bobby Williams and John L. Smith, Carr came to the defense of each with a sincere show of support. In an era of cheating coaches who even videotape opponents’ sideline signals, Coach Carr is one of the most successful, straightest shooters in his profession. I can’t believe it takes an MSU guy to point this out to Michigan fans, but you all need to rally around someone of his character, not call for his head when the team is in a temporary losing skid.
Despite Michigan’s reputation for top-notch academics, one more basics course is obviously needed to complete the curriculum: Recent History 101. In that class you would learn quickly that Michigan’s football team was undefeated, ranked number two in the nation, going into its final regular season game only last November. Also covered would be the1998 Michigan team that lost their first two football games and went on to win the Big Ten championship... and oh yeah, all under a coach by the name of Lloyd Carr.