Campus Community Reacts to News of Lloyd Carr's Retirement

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Michigan Wolverines football Ann Arbor Coach Lloyd Carr retires

Michigan wide receiver Greg Mathews, center, and other football players file out of Schembechler Hall, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007, in Ann Arbor, Mich., where head coach Lloyd Carr told the team that he is retiring at the end of the season. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

By Beth Boehne

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — News of Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr's retirement came as no shock Monday to people on campus, nor were there any displays of ecstatic relief.

Instead, many were respectful of Carr's 13 years at the helm of the football program, while acknowledging, as Carr did during a morning press conference, that his decision to leave is "what's best for Michigan football."

"The last 13 years there have been a lot of good things, but it was his time," said junior Drew Gaggin. "Around here the feeling is 'What have you done for us lately?' He's got a great winning percentage, but then there are the Rose Bowl losses."

Under Carr, the Wolverines lost their last three Rose Bowls.

Freshman Tim Diamond lamented Carr's decision to leave, but also pointed to the collective dissatisfaction of other students in the wake of the team's 0-2 start. Michigan lost its opener 34-32 to Appalachian State in one of college football's most infamous upsets, then suffered its worst home loss in 39 years, 39-7 against Oregon.

"He got booed at the Oregon game, and I don't think that (the Appalachian State game) was entirely his fault," Diamond said.

Carr has a 121-40 record at Michigan since taking over before the 1995 season. His accomplishments include a co-national championship in 1997, five Big Ten Titles, four BCS bowl games and a winning record in each season as head coach.

Many, however, pointed to Michigan's recent failures, including a 1-6 record against Ohio State since coach Jim Tressel's arrival in Columbus, and losses in its past four bowls, as reasons for Carr to step down.

"I've been looking forward to his going," senior David Koren said. "He was a good coach and he's done a lot of good things for Michigan, but the team not being able to deliver against Ohio State or in any bowl game in the four years I've been here is kind of depressing.

"I think it's reflective of the leadership."

Senior Henry Elefter, an Ohio native, said Michigan's recent futility against Ohio State could outweigh Carr's other accomplishments.

"When a lot of people think about Michigan, they think about beating Ohio State and winning bowl games," Elefter said. "He's got a great record, but unfortunately that is going to be overshadowed by the fact that he has not been able to win the big games."

At the same time, many students were grappling with the fact that the coach who has guided Michigan since they were grade-schoolers will no longer pace the sidelines next season.

"A lot of my friends who disliked him are now like, 'Oh, but he was a good coach," junior Molly Storey said. "He has kept this team respectable."

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