By Rick Morris
Any Michigan fan will tell you that the process of rationalizing losses to Jim Tressel is painful though necessary because of the repetitive nature of those results (every year since 2001 except '03). Fortunately, the Wolverines' leading coaching candidate comes ready to spin any ugly occurrence!
Les Miles actually bragged in a press conference that his team did not lose in regulation this season! Unfortunately, for Coach Les "Results Relative to Talent and Expectations" Miles, the NCAA engages in the goofy habit of counting ALL game results in the won-loss columns -- even the games that stretch into one or more overtime periods. Imagine that!
Buckeye fans probably thought that nobody could be more entertaining-in-a-surly-way in defeat than the departing Coach Lloyd Cooper. But apparently the real comedy will enter the OSU-Michigan rivalry in the coming years when the new whiny underachiever for That School Up North starts dropping his excuses for the continuing domination of The Sweatervest.
Showing posts with label Lloyd Carr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lloyd Carr. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Lllllloyd Carr drives into the sunset
By Rick Morris
Some of the Detroit Red Wings blogs I enjoy reading have a fitting nickname for Detroit Free Press columnist/author/talk show host Mitch Albom: The Delicate Genius. His writing talent and creative abilities are beyond dispute, but he doesn’t have an internal meter to keep his tendencies to become overwrought and maudlin in control. Witness his piece earlier this week bemoaning the circumstances surrounding the departure of
It is quite possible to buy into one of the larger points of Albom’s column: that Carr is a much nicer guy than his gruff public persona would indicate and that he is a rare figure in the sports world with a sense of perspective about the place of his profession. Certainly, Carr’s insight about the worth about sports vis-à-vis the rest of the world is refreshing and necessary, especially in a week when a jerk like Nick Saban wallows in self-pity and compares a football loss to 9/11 and
True, Carr’s career coincided with the period in which big money (TV deals, endorsements, sponsorships, alumni organizations, etc.) really ran amok. Point well taken. But to suggest that Carr might be “the last good guy?” What hyperbole. What garbage.
Frankly, one need look no further than
Again, I don’t have a problem with what the main thrust of Albom’s column seems to be. College football has become a lot sillier and more like a circus in the last quarter-century – although some coaches have continued to thrive in this climate without selling their souls. And Carr has probably been one of the good guys in the game and has a record better than many. But Lloyd Carr, when it was all said and done, was unable to be any better or worse than a mirror of what was happening in
Saturday, November 17, 2007
OSU/Michigan liveblogging wrapup
By Rick Morris
On the day that Lloyd Carr probably coached his last game in the OSU/Michigan series, the day had a certain old-school, Woody-and-Bo feel to it.
A year after the two teams met in the most hyped and consequential version of college football's greatest rivalry and exceeded the expectations with one of the greatest games ever, the next edition had a bit less at stake and the game had far less excitement. But the outcome remained the same as Ohio State defeated Michigan 14-3 in what might be Carr's final game at the Big House. If Carr does end up walking off into the sunset, this rivalry will be a tremendous reason why as the nearly unprecedented dominance they achieved over the Buckeyes in the John Cooper era has given way to a 1-6 record against the Scarlet and Gray since Jim Tressel took the helm.
A year ago, the #1 Buckeyes turned back #2 Michigan, 42-39, in an absolute classic to advance to the BCS Title Game and relegate the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl. Today, for two teams on the outside looking in regarding the national title picture, the Rose Bowl was the prize at stake and OSU will play there for the first time since 1997, barring a continuation of the extreme set of dominoes falling at the top of the polls in this crazy year.
Michigan's talented trio on offense of quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart and offensive tackle Jake Long passed up NFL riches a year ago to return for their senior season and to help the 2007 graduating class to avoid an indignity that Michigan had not suffered in decades: losing four in a row to Ohio State. But they were unsuccessful, owing in large part to Henne and Hart having to play through injuries.
In a game that always features so many playmakers for both teams on both sides of the ball, very few of them stepped up today. The two who did the most were both Buckeyes: Chris Wells with 220 yards and 2 touchdowns on 39 carries and Vernon Gholston serving as a constant presence in the Michigan backfield and coming away with three sacks.
Just as Tressel assumed the head coaching job in Columbus in 2001 in what looked to be a hopeless situation, so too does Carr's likely replacement face a disheartening picture in terms of moving back towards parity in the rivalry. Michigan returned a solid veteran core from 2006, the Buckeyes did not, the game was in Ann Arbor and they blew this chance. Even with some early departures to the NFL, Ohio State will still be more experienced than Michigan next year and the game will be at the Horseshoe, dealing the Wolverines a tough hand in terms of avoiding a half-decade without victory in the series.
On the day that Lloyd Carr probably coached his last game in the OSU/Michigan series, the day had a certain old-school, Woody-and-Bo feel to it.
A year after the two teams met in the most hyped and consequential version of college football's greatest rivalry and exceeded the expectations with one of the greatest games ever, the next edition had a bit less at stake and the game had far less excitement. But the outcome remained the same as Ohio State defeated Michigan 14-3 in what might be Carr's final game at the Big House. If Carr does end up walking off into the sunset, this rivalry will be a tremendous reason why as the nearly unprecedented dominance they achieved over the Buckeyes in the John Cooper era has given way to a 1-6 record against the Scarlet and Gray since Jim Tressel took the helm.
A year ago, the #1 Buckeyes turned back #2 Michigan, 42-39, in an absolute classic to advance to the BCS Title Game and relegate the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl. Today, for two teams on the outside looking in regarding the national title picture, the Rose Bowl was the prize at stake and OSU will play there for the first time since 1997, barring a continuation of the extreme set of dominoes falling at the top of the polls in this crazy year.
Michigan's talented trio on offense of quarterback Chad Henne, running back Mike Hart and offensive tackle Jake Long passed up NFL riches a year ago to return for their senior season and to help the 2007 graduating class to avoid an indignity that Michigan had not suffered in decades: losing four in a row to Ohio State. But they were unsuccessful, owing in large part to Henne and Hart having to play through injuries.
In a game that always features so many playmakers for both teams on both sides of the ball, very few of them stepped up today. The two who did the most were both Buckeyes: Chris Wells with 220 yards and 2 touchdowns on 39 carries and Vernon Gholston serving as a constant presence in the Michigan backfield and coming away with three sacks.
Just as Tressel assumed the head coaching job in Columbus in 2001 in what looked to be a hopeless situation, so too does Carr's likely replacement face a disheartening picture in terms of moving back towards parity in the rivalry. Michigan returned a solid veteran core from 2006, the Buckeyes did not, the game was in Ann Arbor and they blew this chance. Even with some early departures to the NFL, Ohio State will still be more experienced than Michigan next year and the game will be at the Horseshoe, dealing the Wolverines a tough hand in terms of avoiding a half-decade without victory in the series.
OSU/Michigan liveblogging pregame
By Rick Morris
We will have liveblogging coverage of the Big Game today in Ann Arbor. Here's the keys to the game for each team:
For Ohio State:
^ Avoid turnovers. The best hope for the underdog in this game is to replicate the damaging turnovers Illinois inflicted on Ohio State last week.
^ Work Brandon Saine into the offense. For all the talk about spicing up the game with Ted Ginn Jr. prototype Ray Small, screen passes to Saine would work even better because they would be so out of character for the Buckeyes. My FDH partner Jason Jones has been screaming for this element all year long, rightfully so.
^ Get Malcolm Jenkins back playing at the level of his potential. He's had a tough November and is facing a hot Mario Manningham, perhaps the best wide receiver in the country. If he has a "Shawn Springs circa 1996 moment" against the Wolverines, his team may not survive.
For Michigan:
^ Have "healthy quality" play from Chad Henne and Mike Hart. If these two play up to the level they did last year, Michigan could well win. Last year, both offenses achieved near-perfect balance, keeping the defenses on their heels the whole way. Ohio State is likely to play a well-balanced offensive game; Michigan must do the same.
^ Channel the emotion of what's likely to be Lloyd Carr's last OSU/Michigan game. 20 years ago, a less talented Buckeye team went into Ann Arbor and shocked their archrivals in Earle Bruce's last game at the helm. Today, a lesser team on paper (especially defense) looks to do the same.
The prediction? With a Rose Bowl berth at stake, an Ohio State team that has been better prepared and usually more talented since 2001 does what it did last year -- match a raised level of play from Michigan and prevail on ability. The Buckeyes go to Pasadena with a 26-20 win.
We will have liveblogging coverage of the Big Game today in Ann Arbor. Here's the keys to the game for each team:
For Ohio State:
^ Avoid turnovers. The best hope for the underdog in this game is to replicate the damaging turnovers Illinois inflicted on Ohio State last week.
^ Work Brandon Saine into the offense. For all the talk about spicing up the game with Ted Ginn Jr. prototype Ray Small, screen passes to Saine would work even better because they would be so out of character for the Buckeyes. My FDH partner Jason Jones has been screaming for this element all year long, rightfully so.
^ Get Malcolm Jenkins back playing at the level of his potential. He's had a tough November and is facing a hot Mario Manningham, perhaps the best wide receiver in the country. If he has a "Shawn Springs circa 1996 moment" against the Wolverines, his team may not survive.
For Michigan:
^ Have "healthy quality" play from Chad Henne and Mike Hart. If these two play up to the level they did last year, Michigan could well win. Last year, both offenses achieved near-perfect balance, keeping the defenses on their heels the whole way. Ohio State is likely to play a well-balanced offensive game; Michigan must do the same.
^ Channel the emotion of what's likely to be Lloyd Carr's last OSU/Michigan game. 20 years ago, a less talented Buckeye team went into Ann Arbor and shocked their archrivals in Earle Bruce's last game at the helm. Today, a lesser team on paper (especially defense) looks to do the same.
The prediction? With a Rose Bowl berth at stake, an Ohio State team that has been better prepared and usually more talented since 2001 does what it did last year -- match a raised level of play from Michigan and prevail on ability. The Buckeyes go to Pasadena with a 26-20 win.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Only Llllloyd left the Big House laughing
By Rick Morris
Check out this outstanding Top Ten list about the Michigan-Notre Dame game. The poster depicting two happy coaches would only be half-right, as Charlie Weis reached his lowest point thus far in his South Bend tenure.
In particular, I like the reference in that list to Jimmy Clausen as "third person Jimmy" from Seinfeld: "Jimmy doesn't like getting hit from the blind side. Don't. Touch. Jimmy!"
The list also made me laugh merely by reminding me that Ron Powlus is the QB coach at Notre Dame. Those who can't, teach, huh? That put me in mind of my mirth when I found out Rob Deer is now a minor league hitting instructor.
On a more serious note ...
notwithstanding the coaching controversies of the last decade at Notre Dame, the administration is going to have its biggest conundrum of that entire time if the Irish struggle through the upcoming games as it looks like they might and limp into the Navy game in November winless. The immense contract extension Weis received in Year One makes a buyout seem unlikely, and he still appears somewhat likely to get the ship turned around eventually, but will he get the time? Expecting to be viewed in a rational light when the team is degenerating to depths unseen may be asking a bit much. The reaction from the very powerful ND fanbase will be one of the biggest stories of the college football season.
Check out this outstanding Top Ten list about the Michigan-Notre Dame game. The poster depicting two happy coaches would only be half-right, as Charlie Weis reached his lowest point thus far in his South Bend tenure.
In particular, I like the reference in that list to Jimmy Clausen as "third person Jimmy" from Seinfeld: "Jimmy doesn't like getting hit from the blind side. Don't. Touch. Jimmy!"
The list also made me laugh merely by reminding me that Ron Powlus is the QB coach at Notre Dame. Those who can't, teach, huh? That put me in mind of my mirth when I found out Rob Deer is now a minor league hitting instructor.
On a more serious note ...
notwithstanding the coaching controversies of the last decade at Notre Dame, the administration is going to have its biggest conundrum of that entire time if the Irish struggle through the upcoming games as it looks like they might and limp into the Navy game in November winless. The immense contract extension Weis received in Year One makes a buyout seem unlikely, and he still appears somewhat likely to get the ship turned around eventually, but will he get the time? Expecting to be viewed in a rational light when the team is degenerating to depths unseen may be asking a bit much. The reaction from the very powerful ND fanbase will be one of the biggest stories of the college football season.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
"LLLLLoyd" Carr strikes again
By Rick Morris
In the biggest choke job in college football history, #5 Michigan got rolled by Appalachian State in "The Big House" yesterday, 34-32. To my fellow Ohio State fans rejoicing in the ultimate humiliation of a hated foe, I caution you thusly: Carr is Michigan's John Cooper and this game will be the tipping point in his firing (or "retirement") at the end of the season. The devil you don't know on the Wolverine sidelines could be their version of Jim Tressel, so beware the hubris of Michigan's downfall -- because in it could lie the seeds of their revival.
In the biggest choke job in college football history, #5 Michigan got rolled by Appalachian State in "The Big House" yesterday, 34-32. To my fellow Ohio State fans rejoicing in the ultimate humiliation of a hated foe, I caution you thusly: Carr is Michigan's John Cooper and this game will be the tipping point in his firing (or "retirement") at the end of the season. The devil you don't know on the Wolverine sidelines could be their version of Jim Tressel, so beware the hubris of Michigan's downfall -- because in it could lie the seeds of their revival.
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