Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508250095
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ANN ARBOR, MICH. LENGTH: Medium
Although he may not be employed by the University of Michigan after this season, Lloyd Carr seems comfortable as the custodian of the Wolverines' football tradition.
It is a role for which he is not ill-qualified after 17 years as an assistant coach under Bo Schembechler and, more recently, Gary Moeller.
Spring practice had ended and preparations for the 1994 season were well under way when Moeller was fired May 4 - six days after his arrest following a drunken tirade at a suburban Detroit restaurant.
Carr was named head coach May 16, but with less job security than he had as Moeller's defensive coordinator. Michigan has said it will conduct a national search after the season, with no suggestion that Carr is the leading candidate.
While Carr, 50, may be an interim coach, he refuses to act like it. Already, Schembechler and former All-America tight end Jim Mandich have addressed the team, with lineman-turned-analyst Dan Dierdorf also on the invitation last.
``A lot of people talk about tradition; Michigan has tradition,'' said Carr, whose Wolverines entertain Virginia on Saturday in the Pigskin Classic. ``One of the things I've attempted to do is bring that tradition to life.
``I want the players to understand there are many people who built this program and tradition who care about what happens. Sometimes, the only feedback the players get is the negative things.
``I've tried to educate them as to what this Michigan tradition is all about.''
The handling of the Moeller situation provides some insight into the way Michigan views its football program. Some schools might have been more tolerant of a coach who had gone 44-14-3 and demonstrated no previous signs of uncontrollable behavior.
``The Michigan tradition is not tarnished,'' said Carr, whose son, Jason, is a back-up quarterback for the Wolverines. ``The tradition will always be outstanding.
``You have to play the game on the field, but tradition does play a vital role in this program and that's why the standards are so high.''
It was clear that Carr was referring not just to standards of conduct, but standards of performance. Michigan is one of a handful of Division I-A programs that could be considered perennial national contenders.
Michigan has won more games (746) than any other college football team and its winning percentage (.760) is second only to Notre Dame's. What's more, the Wolverines have led the country in attendance for 22 straight years.
As a result, it was viewed as a disappointment by many last year when the Wolverines finished 8-4 for the second straight season and finished third in the Big Ten Conference after being ranked as high as No.4.
Virginia coach George Welsh speculated earlier this week that the Wolverines never recovered from a 27-26 loss to Colorado in the third week, when the Buffaloes scored on a desperation 64-yard pass as time expired.
``That game took the momentum out of us,'' Michigan linebacker Jarrett Irons said. ``When you get up for big games like that and play hard all afternoon and then lose like that, it's hard to deal with.''
Three players off that Michigan team were first-round draft picks, including a pair of underclassmen in cornerback Ty Law and offensive tackle Trezelle Jenkins. Quarterback Todd Collins was a second-round pick.
Nevertheless, there is plenty of talent remaining. Amani Toomer, who had more than 1,000 yards in receptions last year, is being mentioned in the same breath as 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard. Tailback Tim Biakabutuka had a higher per-carry average than last year's Heisman hopeful, Tyrone Wheatley.
Carr will not need to perform any miracles against a schedule that, for the first time since 1984, does not include Notre Dame. Moreover, he seems to have the support of the players.
Irons, nominated for the Butkus Award that goes to the nation's top linebacker, described Carr this week as a ``player's coach'' who has not changed with the promotion from coordinator to head coach.
``I have every expectation that Lloyd can do the job,'' Joe Roberson, Michigan's director of athletics, said. ``He's been here. He understands the tradition. He's helped make it what it is.''
Roberson, who presided over Moeller's dismissal only months after moving into his job, conceded that the Wolverines could make his job easy by winning for Carr, who does not have a contract past this season."
by CNB