He was a man that didn't want the job. And were it not for a drunken night by his own boss and good fried at Excalibur Restaurant in Southfield, we may have never come to know Lloyd Carr. And everything he stands for and everything that he has done for the University.
Gary Moeller, in what can only be described as a day that he will regret every time he wakes up for the rest of his life, was out at the University of Michigan. Joe Roberson, then AD, tapped Lloyd on the shoulder and told him he would be the interim head coach. Lloyd told him he was crazy, that he needed to find someone else for the job. Roberson said, "No, you're the man for the job." LLoyd lost that argument and has lived with the loss for the last 13 years.
It would have been interesting to see where Moeller, longtime Bo assistant, Head Coach at Illinois, an OSU team captain, could have taken the program. That is always an interesting question. Would he have maintained the program in the same manner as Lloyd? Could he have motivated the team the way Lloyd did in 1997? Would there have been a National Title? Would there have been More? Or None? We'll never know...
But what is nice is that, as much as he would let us, we got to know this Jimmy Stewart of a head coach who was never too loud, almost continuously mellow, and only got excited or emotional when someone challenged or made a comment about one of his guys. Bash Lloyd all you want, but don't say Navarre can't throw over a 5'11" nose tackle without hitting him in the helmet. Never state that the Michigan DB had a brain freeze in a critical loss. Nope, you couldn't go after his guys because he was going to come after you. And I like that.
Top things I liked most about LLoyd
1. Until this year, you were going to get an honest effort. Effort that was filled with intensity and desire. Effort reminiscent of the days of Bo and a work ethic that made blue collar look easy.
2. When most coaches don't know when to quit - Bowden, JoPa - Lloyd knows that to be the best, you need to do everything you can do and so much more. He knew those days and that effort was behind him. So, why not make way for the new era? Make way for someone that can give it 110% and more when it's required.
3. The smile and laugh of the victory coach on Michigan Replay.
4. His professionalism, class, and outright love for the University of Michigan.
Top things I won't miss about Lloyd.
1. Off left tackle, Off Left Tackle, 3rd down pass, and punt the ball.
So, whether we like it or not, Michigan must find a new Ambassador. Someone to fill the shoes of the most photographed, quoted, and spotlighted employee of any major Division 1 School. That's no true you say? All right - who is the President of the University of Florida? Thought so.....
Yes, this is one of the most prestigious jobs in all of college football, and the title head coach carries with it amazing responsibility. Responsibility to young athletes, Alumni, student bodies...Name one alumni freind from a major university that doesn't identify with it's athletic team...even a little. It's tough, but everyone out there is proud of it's football or basketball tradition. That's just the way it is.
MMQ
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