Lloyd Carr
First of all CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Harbaugh and everyone associated. You are fine examples of how to manage life and aspire others to be better human beings. This championship run has certainly inspired me deeply. Thank You!
I've been a fan since 1969, and while reflecting on this amazing journey, I became curious about Coach Carr's whereabouts, since he was our last National Championship Football Coach. I was hoping to get some perspective on how he is doing, but I have no real connections. Haven't heard or seen him much in the media during this amazing run of Team 144. He seems to stay in the background although he means so much to this University and fanbase. I was wondering if he's made any public appearances or shared any thoughts or emotions with the media lately. He's such an important legend for the university and program. Hoping for the best. Go Blue!
January 9th, 2024 at 11:44 AM ^
He did an interview for WILX a few days back, reflecting on the 1997 championship. Seems like he's still with it, although TBH he looks a bit old for 78!
January 9th, 2024 at 12:12 PM ^
Wow! Great interview. Thanks for posting that link, LBSS. It was a pleasure listening to Lloyd's wit and wisdom as he reflected on his past. And Fred Heumann, now there's a blast from the past. I thought Lloyd looked pretty good, considering. And he struck me as pretty sharp still. Thanks again.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
I agree he looks pretty good for someone who has a grandson going to Norte Dame, can you imagine the shame?
-joking.... Mostly
January 9th, 2024 at 12:13 PM ^
Being a college football coach seems very stressful. I'm kinda surprised all these guys don't look older than their age. But Pete Carroll really makes that theory look pretty dumb.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:42 PM ^
His wife died suddenly in 2020, I imagine that alone ages you several years let alone everything with Chad and, oh, leading an elite college football team for over a decade
January 9th, 2024 at 11:44 AM ^
He left for South Carolina but came back after his wife became ill. His wife passed away and Lloyd still lives in the Ann Arbor area.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:48 AM ^
He lived here in Greenville, SC for a number of years. It was across the street from my daughter-in-law's parents house. He said he was there to be near a daughter. Always cheerful and always thrilled by our "Go Blue"s.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:15 PM ^
Sad about his wife. I did not know.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:48 PM ^
It seems like a lot of older men go downhill if their wives die. I have no idea about correlation v. causation but, anecdotally, men with long marriages whose spouses die seem to be dead themselves not terribly long afterward.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
I'll refrain from saying anything negative in light of Michigan's recent championship and the happiness I'm feeling over it. But you can check my posting history to get an idea of Lloyd since about 2009. It's no surprise CJ went to Notre Dame. Also give me Harbaugh > Carr every day of the week. That's as negative as I will get.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
In a recent interview, Lloyd didn't seem too thrilled that CJ is going there, but stressed that it was CJ's decision.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:46 PM ^
CJ was very open about wanting to blaze his own trail, too. Which like yeah if you have to run out a tunnel literally named after your grandfather that is a huge weight to live up to.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:14 PM ^
But you can check my posting history to get an idea of Lloyd since about 2009.
Lloyd Carr invited RichRod to come here and take the job. Then he saw how Rich behaved around women. John U. Bacon didn't have the courage to report that in Three and Out.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:32 PM ^
if i recall... the alternative to RR was Les Miles...... turns out he might not have treated women all that great either.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:37 PM ^
Interesting...that would explain a lot. However, any sources for this?
January 9th, 2024 at 1:47 PM ^
People in the athletic department during that time.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:45 PM ^
I'll take the actual downvotes and say given everything we know about Bo, I am glad Carr has taken a backseat and stayed quiet and not attempted to still be the public face of the football program in his retirement. If Schembechler had done the same instead of constantly stoking his own mythos, it would be much easier for the program to cut ties and move on.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
All I know is he wanted his grandson, CJ Carr to go to ND and play for a Buckeye coach.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
This isn't true. Supporting your grandkids to make their own decisions is something that good grandparents do. There is nothing wrong with playing for Notre Dame. Pretty much every kid I grew up with in Southeastern Michigan had a Notre Dame sweatshirt in addition to Michigan.
Do I root against them as an adult? Yes. I hope they go 8-4 every year and barely miss the 12 team playoff. But it's a great school, and a good program. I'd be thrilled for my son or grandson to go to school there and be an athlete, even if they chose it over Michigan. Lloyd should feel the same way: proud.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:23 PM ^
Logged in to upvote. Sadly we forget the importance of what you said. Best to Grandpa Lloyd and Grandson C.J. as well.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:43 PM ^
I grew up in SE MI in the 80s, I didn't know any kids that were M fans and ND fans. Especially considering how many times ND handed M a crushing loss on the 1st or 2nd weekend of the season in those days.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:06 PM ^
I was born in the 1980s and lived in Dearborn. The Rocket Ismail was absolutely electric. I liked both teams- because I was a kid. There were dozens of us.
Nice to meet you.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:27 PM ^
25% of the population in SE Michigan in the 80s were Catholic.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:43 PM ^
I grew up in SE MI in the 80s, I didn't know any kids that were M fans and ND fans. Especially considering how many times ND handed M a crushing loss on the 1st or 2nd weekend of the season in those days.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:49 PM ^
I do not believe there are actually Michigan fans who hate Notre Dame in the same way they hate Ohio State and MSU. Like to me that rivalry is built around the uncanny similarities between the programs, not like sincere unbridled hatred. ND is a small school whose students come from all over the country and disperse all back over it again, I've only ever met one person who went there. We've also only regularly played them for a couple of stretches, they aren't a consistent opponent.
January 9th, 2024 at 9:57 PM ^
As a kid growing up in SW Michigan during the 90s, ND was the most important rival. Fandom was about 40% UM / 30% ND / 30% MSU. I knew that OSU was supposed to be the biggest rival, but a loss to them didn't bring any heckling at school the next Monday!
MSU was more of a sibling rivalry. I wanted them to win as long as they weren't playing UM. We were united in hating ND.
ND rivalry no longer matters much though, since they don't schedule in anymore.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:34 PM ^
You know. He wanted. This is slack AF.
January 9th, 2024 at 5:13 PM ^
How do you know that that is what he wanted? He has publicly stated that this is not true, so you obviously have some pretty compelling evidence that forces you to conclude that he lied. What is that evidence, and what is its provenance?
January 9th, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
I have heard that Lloyd is not in good health.
Someone will have to gut check me on the exact condition. I don't want to spread rumors so I'm not going to say what I remember it to be - because I'm not 100% sure.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:22 PM ^
You don't want to spread rumors but you just did.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:51 PM ^
The rhetorical term for this sort of thing is "apophasis."
January 9th, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
I don’t think Coach Carr really relates much to what college football is now. He was a person and coach who truly cared more about process than outcome. And the man surely would not tolerate confetti for any reason.
I am sure he preferred Michigan win the game last night over losing it, but unless I am seriously misjudging him I doubt he has watched a full college football game all year.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:27 PM ^
Look...you don't make it to the top of your profession by not truly caring about outcome. Lloyd believed you went about winning with class and integrity. So the man had some principles. What a novel idea in todays world.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:54 PM ^
I think Carr was a pretty singular guy in the sport... he is one of the few people who defended older systems who I think genuinely believed they were better for everyone involved. I don't think he would believe ends justify means and I think he would be bothered by the way some of our former players are lionizing a guy like Stallions. But this is just my own speculation based on vibes.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
He was at the Michigan OSU game on November 25, 2023. He was honored- along with the 2003 team.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:51 PM ^
Yes, Lloyd and team were honored there. Tried embed a pic but cant get to work!
January 9th, 2024 at 11:53 AM ^
Thread title suggestion: What's up with Lloyd Carr these days?
Also, weird that some commentors shitting on him per his grandson. You know, it's ok for someone's relative not to play for UM.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:00 PM ^
Some people hate Carr because of “something, something, Rich Rod, something, something.”
Rich Rod failed because he was a failure, not because Lloyd Carr did not hold his hand tight enough.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:12 PM ^
I never got why there was so much whining about how "Lloyd didnt support Rich Rod more while he was here" crap when he recommended him for the damn job in the first place, I do now, it's because everyone needs something or someone else to blame other than what's actually the problem, kinda like OSU fans are doing now.
But I sure as hell get it now, he probably didnt realize what a fucking asshole the guy is behind the scenes until he got here.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:57 PM ^
There was a conspiracy theory at the time that Lloyd and Jim Stapleton were conspiring together in order to oust RR in favor of Ron English. Stapleton definitely was doing that, but the idea that Carr was in on it or part of it has been disproven.
People got pissy at him over stuff like Braylon Edwards saying "Lloyd Carr's University of Michigan" in an NFL intro as though he was pulling the strings.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:19 PM ^
Ok. Thanks.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:19 PM ^
Ok. Thanks.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:21 PM ^
Don't worry, I don't think anything is going to stay on the front page very long today!
January 9th, 2024 at 12:25 PM ^
And that's fine. I'm more informed now.
January 9th, 2024 at 11:55 AM ^
He was at the game! He was on the flight from DTW to IAH on game day - we saw him and his family. While frail he was in good spirits - Go Blue!
January 9th, 2024 at 11:57 AM ^
That surprises me and is really cool.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:06 PM ^
He was scheduled to speak at the Alumni Association Tailgate last night but had some kind of trouble (traffic, I think though the sound system was really bad so I didn’t hear the details) and was a last minute scratch. I was really looking forward to at least trying to hear what he had to say, so was disappointed.
Sounds like he’s staying at least somewhat engaged though, so I think that’s great.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:22 PM ^
In the interview linked above, he mentioned he didn't travel so well these days. Sounds like his physical health is struggling a bit. Said he was running out of gas when he retired in 2007.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:28 PM ^
He tried to retire after the 2006 season, but Bill Martin and Mary Sue Coleman basically guilted him into staying on another year. It kind of puts 2007 into perspective a bit.
January 9th, 2024 at 12:25 PM ^
Lloyd Carr will always be a giant in the lore of Michigan Football. He accomplished something no other Michigan coach has accomplished: he won the B1G championship, won the Rose Bowl, won the national championship, completed a perfect season, and coached a Heisman Trophy winner, all in the same season. That should never be forgotten.