While not much of a surprise, it's still a sad day for Michigan football. Say what you want, Lloyd Carr was one of the classiest guys in the sport. He helped to continue one of the most revered football programs in the NCAA with nary a hint of scandal, or investigation, or any pretense of wrongdoing. How many successful programs can do that? Even when the University was riddled with scandals in the basketball program, with paid student athletes, revoked titles, stiff penalties, and limited post-season participation for years to come, no one looked twice at the football program.
I actually met the man, back when he was defensive coordinator. In college, I paid the bills by driving a transit bus for the University, and every once in a while we would drive various teams to the airport. On one occasion, myself and four others took the team to their chartered plane at the Ypsilanti airport. (It's good to be in Div 1-A football) While I was very familiar with taking teams to their regular domestic flights at Detroit Metro, the little Ypsi airport proved to be challenge to find for the uninitiated like myself. Trying to keep cool, I radioed my colleagues for instructions, but it eventually became obvious that I was lost. Carr looked at me quizically and asked, "Do you know where you're going?" I had to be honest, and said, "Not exactly, but someone is talking me in." Rather than rip my head off, he just shrugged and said,"Ok, I don't think they'll leave without us." Thus he endeared himself forever to a class of '96 Alum.
I'm very curious to see who will replace him. I hope whoever they are can build upon what he's left and bring the program back to it's glory days.