Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr's Retirement: The Right Move

The Michigan Wolverines season started on a sour note, the then fifth ranked Wolverines were upset by Division 2 Appalachian State. The next week the Wolverines were blown out by Oregon. The season was at a dire point for the Michigan Wolverines. Many thought Michigan's season was done. Then Coach Lloyd Carr and his team woke up to win eight straight games.

A team not as well coached may have folded up the season, but not Lloyd's team. The Wolverines won 8 straight games. They were still in the running for the Rose Bowl until the final game. The Wolverines lost to Wisconsin, but were still in the hunt for the Big Ten Championship when they lost to Ohio State. 8-4 is a disappointment for a team many expected to do more, however credit is due for getting this team to pull back a season gone wrong.

After a disappointing season, retirement is the right decision for Lloyd Carr. Going out on his terms is much better than being fired. Winning 5 Big Ten Conference Championship, winning a National Championship, and winning Coach of The Year honors in 12 years is a very respectful career. "Carr's .752 winning percentage is better than all but six active coaches" should indicate where he ranks among his peers. He "spent 28 seasons on the Michigan coaching staff" so the timing could be right.

However, Lloyd Carr's team was expected to do so much more this season. Carr's team was on the wrong side of a shocking upset, among the biggest in College Football History, to start the season. Then the season ending two game losing streak, punctuated by a loss to rival Ohio State, a team Carr has not experienced much success against, all led to Carr's demise. A coach with lesser credentials than Coach Carr, would probably be fired if they delivered the same results with such demanding expectations.