lloyd carr

[Toledo Blade]

A couple weeks back I put a post on the MGoBoard about an upcoming series I was planning that would be revisiting great games in Michigan Football history, told by someone who had never seen the game before (me) using insight from someone who had (Craig Ross). This is the first piece in that series and it revisits the most recommended game in the thread I put up... 2004 Michigan State also known as "Braylonfest". 

 

The team: The 2004 Michigan Football season saw a changing of the guard at the two most prominent positions of the era, with the graduations of QB John Navarre and RB Chris Perry in the offseason. In stepped the true freshmen who would define the program over the next four seasons, Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Though being a true freshman starting QB is quite difficult, having returning production in the passing game helped Henne. It especially helped to have a superstar to throw to in Braylon Edwards. Coming off an 1100 yard, 1st Team All-B1G season in 2003, Edwards would be the star of the season and of this game. Fellow wideouts Jason Avant and Steve Breaston also returned, as did TE Tim Massaquoi, meaning four of the top five players in receiving yards in 2003 returned for '04 and were at Henne's disposal (Perry was the other). 

On the offensive line, starters returned at LT (Adam Stenavich), LG (David Baas), and RG (Matt Lentz). The team graduated All-B1G C Dave Pearson and RT Tony Pape, plugging Mark Bihl into the C spot and RS Fr Jake Long into the RT spot. By the time this game rolled around, Bihl had been injured, with Baas sliding to center and Rueben Riley taking over LG. Kevin Dudley returned as fullback for his senior season, while David Underwood and Jerome Jackson returned to the 2004 squad at RB, though Hart got the vast majority of the carries (Max Martin was on the depth chart as a freshman as well in '04). 

[Bentley Historical Library]

The defensive side of the ball was led by star corner Marlin Jackson, the team's lone defensive All-American (1st team). Opposite him at corner was Markus Curry to start the season, eventually supplanted by sophomore Leon Hall. The safeties were a duo of Ryan Mundy at FS and Ernest Shazor at SS, the latter a hero the week before this game. Scott McClintock manned the middle at MIKE LB, while Lawrence Reid was the starter at WILL. Neither LB earned postseason honors and this game will provide a decent window into why. 

Along the defensive line, the gargantuan (6'8") Pat Massey and Gabe Watson, a fellow junior, started for the Wolverines. Watson earned 1st/2nd Team All-B1G for his work that season and they were joined by sophomore OLB/EDGE LaMarr Woodley, who earned 2nd Team All-B1G. Rotational pieces down along the defensive line included Larry Harrison and Alex Ofili, among others. At special teams, Garrett Rivas was a sophomore at kicker (his second season of starting duty), while Adam Finley was a senior at punter, his third and final year as the starter. Steve Breaston handled returns for the Wolverines.  

[Ronan Silberman/AP]

The opponent: Michigan State was in year #2 of the John L. Smith era in 2004. They had gone 8-5 the previous season, ending the year with a loss to Nebraska in the Alamo Bowl. Multi-year starter at QB Jeff Smoker had graduated, with Drew Stanton taking over command of the offense in '04. He was given reasonable stability at the skill positions but a defense that would take a sizable step backwards in 2004 relative to the prior year. The Spartans went 1-2 in non-conference to start the season, with losses at home to Notre Dame and at Rutgers, but strung together strong results to open the B1G slate. They knocked off Indiana, lost at Kinnick to Iowa, but then defeated Illinois and ranked Minnesota at home to situate themselves at 3-1 in the conference heading into the bye week, prior to this game (4-3 overall). 

[AFTER THE JUMP: The game and my takes on it]

via the Michigan Daily archives

Previously: Krushed By Stauskas (Illinois 2014), Introducing #ChaosTeam (Indiana 2009), Revenge is Terrifying (Colorado 1996), Four Games In September I (Boston College 1991), Four Games In September II (Boston College 1994), Four Games In September III (Boston College 1995), Four Games In September IV (Boston College 1996), Pac Ten After Dark Parts One and Two (UCLA 1989), Harbaugh's Grand Return Parts One and Two (Notre Dame 1985)

This Game: Slightly abridged full gameWH highlightsbox score

Part One: Click here.

Is Joe Tiller ready for the second half?

He is now. While he chews, sideline reporter Dave Ryan relays some of his choice words from halftime: he's "very upset" about the "inexcusable" drops by Purdue's receivers.

While Michigan holds a 21-6 lead at the break, their 272-199 edge in total yardage is largely explained by Purdue's sudden inability to catch the football, and while the Boilermakers' late-half field goal may have been a disappointment given the starting field position, it gives them a chance to cut the game to one possession to open the second stanza.

Instead, the same issues that plagued Purdue in the first half remain present. After a confused Michigan defense allowed a 27-yard slant out to midfield, leading receiver Chris Daniels lets a deep shot slip through his fingertips before Todd Howard rakes it out completely—the third or fourth drop by Daniels alone today and, according to the broadcast, the team's seventh. Brees has completed 12 passes. Daniels is wearing his frustration:

Brees wings the next one high, then—for the third time in the game—gets caught not expecting the snap on third down:

That can't be a fun feeling. Brees gets a handle on the ball but can only heave it out of play. Another promising drive ends in disappointment.

[Hit THE JUMP for more of this, plus multiple savage postgame quotes.]

longtime assistant Lloyd Carr has gone from tossing warmup passes to head coach [Bentley Archive]

Previously: Krushed By Stauskas (Illinois 2014)Introducing #ChaosTeam (Indiana 2009)Revenge is Terrifying (Colorado 1996)Four Games In September I (Boston College 1991), Four Games In September II (Boston College 1994)

This game: WolverineHistorian highlights

Michigan and Boston College alternate seasons of change throughout this series. In 1995, it's the former's turn; a spring evening out in Southfield begets a sudden change at the top:

Gary Moeller resigned as Michigan football coach Thursday after a drunken incident at a suburban Detroit restaurant last week.

Defensive coordinator Lloyd Carr was appointed interim coach while the search for a successor begins for one of the nation’s top football programs.

Moeller’s resignation, announced at a news conference by Michigan Athletic Director Joe Roberson, stunned players and staff.

“This is one of the saddest days of my life,” Carr said, his voice choking. “A man I respect, have the utmost admiration for, is no longer here. I would not be honest if I say we are not wounded or feel great pain.”

Days before the game, Michigan announces they've passed a bylaw to put the athletic department under the oversight of the university administration and, if necessary, the regents. The impetus had been something unheard of in today's age—the department went rogue when negotiating Moeller's buyout (via the Michigan Daily archives):

By the time Michigan heads to Chestnut Hill for a rare 6:30 pm Saturday kickoff on September 16th, the Wolverines are 3-0 with two wins over ranked teams: #17 Virginia on Mercury Hayes's last-second touchdown catch and a much more comfortable game at #25 Illinois (remember, this is 1995). The team is ranked #11 and Carr's interim tag looks destined to disappear.

The Eagles are coming off a bye week after splitting their own two contests against ranked teams, losing at Giants Stadium to future #1 Ohio State before upsetting #20 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. They're unranked after entering the season at #22, an overreaction to Dan Henning's successful first season in 1994; they'd lost four players to the NFL Draft in the offseason, including #7 overall pick and OG combine wonder Mike Mamula, as well as thousand-yard rusher David Green. They wouldn't have four players selected in the same draft again until 2019.

ESPN is carrying this weird-ass matchup at this weird-ass time. Carr appears unconcerned by the kickoff time (via the Daily archives):

For all Lloyd's grumpiness, he's an underrated comedian.

[Hit THE JUMP for one of the meanest pregame quotes ever and much more]