TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Behind The Scenes: Carr's Last Ride

ADVERTISEMENT

By LARRY LAGE, The Associated Press

Published: January 3, 2008

The Capital One Bowl marked the end of an era at Michigan as Lloyd Carr retired after a 13-season career as 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 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.

---

Final Practice, Sunday
Lloyd Carr conducts his final practice at Michigan barking instructions with a whistle around his blue collar and a folded, white piece of paper flapping from the front of his waistband.

Carr tries to treat his last practice, team meetings and related pregame rituals as if it's just another game.

But it's not.

Florida's fight song blares from two speakers, attached to a golf cart trailing the first-string offense, as Carr attempts to simulate the Gators' homefield atmosphere at the Capital One Bowl - just a 2-hour drive from their campus.

"Focus!" Carr screams into the Chad Henne-led huddle.

Toward the end of the workout at Freedom High School, a play Carr has always wanted to run is practiced. All-American tackle Jake Long catches a screen pass on the left side of the field and sprints toward the end zone.

After Carr huddles the players and dismisses them, team spokesman Dave Ablauf asks Henne if he wants to introduce his teammates on tape for ESPN's broadcast on ABC.

"Let Mike do it," Henne says, referring to teammate Mike Hart, whose gift of gab is unparalleled.

---

Lunch At Team Hotel

Defensive back Brandon Harrison walks past defensive coordinator Ron English with flip-flops, a white T-shirt and blue shorts - violating Carr's dress code twice.

"What are you wearing?" English asks.

"I've got to let my toes breathe," Harrison says.

"Where is your collared shirt?" English replies. "You better not let coach see you."

Harrison borrows a jacket from teammate Greg Mathews and heads into a ballroom for a buffet lunch.

Relaxing after his meal, Carr chats about his plans after the game.

"When I get home, I'm going to watch movies all weekend," Carr says. "I can't remember the last time I was at a movie theater."

---

TV Production Meeting

Carr walks into a conference room, where ESPN/ABC broadcasters Mike Patrick, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe, a producer and news editor sit around an oval table.

"We've never seen you in shorts," Rowe says with a grin.

"Excuse my attire," Carr responds. "I haven't had a chance to go upstairs to my room."

Carr answers a series of questions about his final game and the Gators, recalling Schembechler's last game at the 1990 Rose Bowl, where the famed coach refused to use his retirement as a motivating factor for his team.

"He wanted it to be about the team," Carr says. "I made up my mind that I'm not going to get into the nostalgia, either, because we're trying to win a game and there will be time for all those things later."

Carr adds he is proud of the way his players practiced in Florida after acknowledging the coaching search and firing of the assistants distracted them in Ann Arbor, Mich.

"It's a challenge, especially for the coaches because they're going to have to uproot their families after the game," Carr says. "Change is never easy."

---

Team Meeting

In a ballroom in The Peabody hotel basement, Carr assembles the team for a meeting and reminds them that limiting penalties and turnovers will be keys to win.

Carr speaks in a clear and controlled tone.

"This game will not be about who has a Heisman," he says, referring to Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. "It will be about playing with great heart, intensity and poise.

"And like all Michigan teams, it will be about playing as a team."

---

Defensive Meeting

"Eyes up!" English shouts to Michigan's defensive players.

After giving brief instructions, the defensive staff leaves the room as the lights are turned down.

Captain Shawn Crable points to the door, signaling for a visitor to leave, too, so that the defensive players can be alone for a ritual they've done for more than a decade under the well-read Carr.

"I've never been in there, but I know they recite one of Rudyard Kipling's poems," English says while waiting for an elevator.

"Do you still know it?" English asks graduate assistant coach Glen Steele, who helped Michigan win the 1997 national championship as a defensive end.

"The strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack," Steele says, ending the passage without hesitating in an elevator.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT