After Penn State and Wisconsin beat SEC teams early today and vindicated the Big Ten a little bit, Michigan went out and got hammered by USC, possibly sealing Lloyd Carr's fate in the process.
I said a month ago that I couldn't root for Michigan today, even though I normally want them to win on New Years Day for the Big Ten. But Carr acted like a major jerk in the Ohio State game, (can you even imagine Tressel running the sidelines screaming into the ear of the official?) and Hart was classless afterwards. Screw 'em. I wanted them to go down. Humble pie. USC outplayed them from the start, and Carroll outcoached Carr. No surprise there.
There have been persistent rumors for over a year that Carr might step down after this season and cite health reasons for doing so. It's all second hand information for me, and the health issues may be totally legit, so take it for what it's worth, but who could blame the powers that be at UM for wishing to bring the Lloyd Carr era to a close? He won a share of the '97 national championship, but he's 0-6 now in Ohio State games and bowl games since 2004. The long knives will be out after today's embarrassment.
It's awkward, because nobody really expected the Wolverines to win their first 11 games, but once again they lost their last two, and Carr will be roasted for it. Most of my fellow Buckeye fans hope he never leaves. I'd be surprised to see him back in the Fall.
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When I heard Glen Mason was fired at Minnesota after his Gophers blew a 38-7 third quarter lead in their bowl game, I was stunned. He seemed as secure as anyone in the league, and it didn't seem right to fire him for one loss after what he has done for the program. Minnesota was consistently terrible before Mason, and he brought them into the first division of Big Ten teams. But the more I read from people from Minnesota, the more it's obvious that many people there couldn't stand him. And a coach who admits his "dream job" is Ohio State while he's working at your school might be hard to warm up to. This game apparently provided the administration and alumni of Minnesota a pretext for doing what they have wanted to do for some time.
Here's a (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune op-ed on the firing
Posted by dan at January 1, 2007 08:36 PM | TrackBackHow does an institution with the history and tradition of The University of Michigan allow Lloyd Carr to continue to disgrace them? Are they content with not being able to win a National Championship and not being able to beat their rivals, Notre Dame and Ohio State? Aren't they scared enough by what has happened to their basketball program? It's time for Michigan to step up, stick a fork in Carr and committ to winning a football National Championship!
Posted by: WT at January 2, 2007 03:40 PMHAHAHAH
Are you serious with yourself? "can you even imagine Tressel running the sidelines screaming into the ear of the official?"
No, but I also can't imagine Carr looking away while boosters pay his players money. Jim Tressel. Model citizen. LOL Good one.
Way to discredit yourself. idiot.
Posted by: Ronny at January 3, 2007 02:18 PMUh, yes, I was serious with myself. I was also serious with myself when I said of the Wolverines, "Screw 'em"
I realize that Lloyd Carr maintains a tight rein on all of the UM boosters by keeping them chained up in his basement, but your claim that Tressel "look(ed) away while boosters pay his players money" is not supported by any facts...and there was an exhaustive NCAA investigation into the incident.
Players reflect the behavior of their coach. The Buckeyes are cool under pressure, like the unflappable Tressel. Carr's Woverines reflect Carr's whiny conduct...did you see Hart's press conference after The Game? Point made.
You're always the target when you're the top dog. I'll write off your taunt to Tressel-envy. Or Smith-envy?
Thanks for stopping by.
Posted by: Dan at January 4, 2007 02:49 AM