Lloyd Carr Retires

[Marklar MM]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...RTS06/71118024

Lloyd Carr retires as Michigan coach

November 18, 2007

By MARK SNYDER

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Lloyd Carr made it official Sunday: He will retire after the season.

Carr told his team at a meeting that he would retire after 13 seasons as Michigan's football coach. He will coach the Wolverines in their bowl.

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Carr will make an official announcement at 10 a.m. Monday at a news conference.

Key players on the team described Carr's announcement itself as matter-of-fact and not emotional.

When Carr first entered the team meeting, players said the room was silent. But then Carr stepped out for a minute and returned to thunderous applause.

Carr, 62, has been the head coach since 1995, when he took over on an interim basis after Gary Moeller's drunken confrontation with police. Carr has a 121-40 record (.752) with five Big Ten les and a co-national championship in 1997. The only U-M coaches with more victories are Bo Schembechler and Fielding H. Yost.

The Wolverines - 8-4 after two straight losses - met at Schembechler Hall late in the afternoon. The team traditionally meets Sunday afternoons during the season.
Carr did not talk with the media after meeting with his team.

The Wolverines figure to play Jan. 1 in Orlando or Tampa or Dec. 29 in San Antonio.
Carr's decision to retire isn't that unexpected. He seemed to be putting the pieces in place in recent times. After last season, for instance, he obtained two-year contracts for his staff.

Who will be his successor? That isn't known. The name of LSU coach Les Miles has been thrown about for years as a potential successor. His team is No..1 in the country, he played under Schembechler and he coached at U-M.

After Saturday's 14-3 loss to Ohio State, athletic director Bill Martin said of a new coach if Carr retired: “I make the final decision.” He also said he would seek Carr's counsel.

[Brutalis]

Michigan fans rejoice while Nebraska and Arkansas fans wonder if he has a dollar amount.

[j-6]

Les Miles has to pay LSU $1.25M to leave for Michigan - or half a mil for any other school.

[Thunder Dan]

Farewell Lloyd. Thanks for the memories

[JamStone]

Thanks Lloyd. Despite some ungrateful Michigan fans and some obnoxious fans of other schools, overall you were great for the school and the program. Your teams were always compe ive and always played hard. And, your teams always had winning records and went to bowl games. Some may think the last several years against Ohio State and some of the bowl games will tarnish your legacy. But, that's for those people who are narrow minded and don't look at the big picture. You kept the program strong and you leave it strong. Thanks.

[samikeyp]

Les Miles has to pay LSU $1.25M to leave for Michigan - or half a mil for any other school.

UM will pay that, and more.

[tlongII]

Thanks Lloyd. Despite some ungrateful Michigan fans and some obnoxious fans of other schools, overall you were great for the school and the program. Your teams were always compe ive and always played hard. And, your teams always had winning records and went to bowl games. Some may think the last several years against Ohio State and some of the bowl games will tarnish your legacy. But, that's for those people who are narrow minded and don't look at the big picture. You kept the program strong and you leave it strong. Thanks.

I have to disagree with this post. The football program is much weaker than it should be.

[FromWayDowntown]

I think it's a pretty ridiculous standard to impose a man if his legacy is somehow subject to question despite winning 75% of his games AND bringing a school a national championship.

It is true that Michigan should win 75% or more of its games over any 10-15 year period, but winning a national championship should more than offset any belief that Carr was just mediocre or even bad for Michigan.

[DarkReign]

Goodbye Loyd. Youre outdated, thank you for realizing that.

[Vizzini]

Thanks Lloyd. Despite some ungrateful Michigan fans and some obnoxious fans of other schools, overall you were great for the school and the program. Your teams were always compe ive and always played hard. And, your teams always had winning records and went to bowl games. Some may think the last several years against Ohio State and some of the bowl games will tarnish your legacy. But, that's for those people who are narrow minded and don't look at the big picture. You kept the program strong and you leave it strong. Thanks.

I couldn't have said it better myself... well put.

[MajorMike]

UM will pay that, and more.

Unfortunately, everything I understand is that Carr is still very powerful inside the program (as Bo was after he left) and he will be heavily consulted when finding a replacement. Carr and Miles do not get along.

That being said, no matter how much Leslie says he isn't talking to UM, don't listen. Dude would lie to his grandma for a buck.

This year's highest paid coachs were Saban and Weis both at 3.5 mil.

Leslie is 14th at 1.85 mil.

Carr is 29th still at 1,454,619. His contract is so old, it has no escalators.

Leslie's contract is actually 6th in the SEC (Saban, Meyer - 3.25, Tuberville - 2.6, Fulmer - 2.05, Richt - 2, Leslie).

Even with an old contract, Carr is the 4th highest paid in the B10/1. Ferentz at Iowa has a ridiculous salary of 2.84 and Tressel is 2.012070. Joe Pa gets 1.5 per, then Carr.

I'd say if Michigan would give him 3 per, make him the highest paid B10/1 coach at his alma mater and he would be so gone. He might ask for 3.5+, however, to make more than Saban, whom he doesn't like at all. If he wins the BCS he can certainly ask for it.

Also of note about contracts and buyouts as stated here earlier. Leslie has a contract buyout of 500k, UNLESS he goes to Michigan. It specifically states in his contract that if he accepts a job at Michigan, his buyout is 1.25 mil. I believe that money must come from the coach and not the gaining school, aloth you can imagine where that could be done under the table, as well.

One thing is for certain, Leslie is in for a big payday simply because the UM job has opened up. Either he will get 3-3.5 from UM or he will tell LSU to give him a raise up to that mark. More cash for hats and sweater vests.

[RonMexico]

Unfortunately, everything I understand is that Carr is still very powerful inside the program (as Bo was after he left) and he will be heavily consulted when finding a replacement. Carr and Miles do not get along.

That being said, no matter how much Leslie says he isn't talking to UM, don't listen. Dude would lie to his grandma for a buck.

This year's highest paid coachs were Saban and Weis both at 3.5 mil.

Leslie is 14th at 1.85 mil.

Carr is 29th still at 1,454,619. His contract is so old, it has no escalators.

Leslie's contract is actually 6th in the SEC (Saban, Meyer - 3.25, Tuberville - 2.6, Fulmer - 2.05, Richt - 2, Leslie).

Even with an old contract, Carr is the 4th highest paid in the B10/1. Ferentz at Iowa has a ridiculous salary of 2.84 and Tressel is 2.012070. Joe Pa gets 1.5 per, then Carr.

I'd say if Michigan would give him 3 per, make him the highest paid B10/1 coach at his alma mater and he would be so gone. He might ask for 3.5+, however, to make more than Saban, whom he doesn't like at all. If he wins the BCS he can certainly ask for it.

Also of note about contracts and buyouts as stated here earlier. Leslie has a contract buyout of 500k, UNLESS he goes to Michigan. It specifically states in his contract that if he accepts a job at Michigan, his buyout is 1.25 mil. I believe that money must come from the coach and not the gaining school, aloth you can imagine where that could be done under the table, as well.

One thing is for certain, Leslie is in for a big payday simply because the UM job has opened up. Either he will get 3-3.5 from UM or he will tell LSU to give him a raise up to that mark. More cash for hats and sweater vests.

His team becomes bowl eligible, and Nuts returns.

[tlongII]

I think it's a pretty ridiculous standard to impose a man if his legacy is somehow subject to question despite winning 75% of his games AND bringing a school a national championship.

It is true that Michigan should win 75% or more of its games over any 10-15 year period, but winning a national championship should more than offset any belief that Carr was just mediocre or even bad for Michigan.

If you're the coach at Michigan, and you lose 6 of your last 7 to Ohio State...then your legacy is going to be tarnished. That's just the way it is.

[JamStone]

13 years, had a winning record all 13 years, only had one year with fewer than 8 wins (2005, 7-5), went to a bowl game all 13 years, won 5 Big Ten championships, 4 BCS bowl game appearances in the 9 years of its existence, won a split National Championship, 75.2% winning percentage (121-40), ended 6 seasons in the top 10 in the nation, ended 11 seasons in the top 20 in the nation.

He has a 6-7 record against Ohio State. He clearly struggled against Tressell. But, to look at that rivalry alone and to say his legacy is tarnished is pure, unadulterated hate. You've already stated you hate Michigan. There aren't many coaches that have a better resume than Lloyd Carr.

But, that's fine you just want to try to dump on him because you clearly hate Michigan.

Thanks, Lloyd.

[JamStone]

Michigan won't pay $3 million to a head coach, even for Miles. I don't see them going much over $2 million a year, but may also pay the buyout.

[JamStone]

I have to disagree with this post. The football program is much weaker than it should be.

13 straight winning seasons, 12 of those with at least 8 wins, never a losing conference record. Programs generally have ups and downs, but Michigan never had a really down year. His team this year should have been better, but the program is still very strong. To say its "much weaker" than it should be is a just a blindly hating statement. How many programs have had the consistent success over that long of a period? You won't find many. Carr leaves the program very strong.

[SanAntonioBuckeye]

Sorry, to see you go! VIoyd Carr