Quote:
Originally Posted by donniccolo
this is very reasonable. i'm guessing you do not like Rich Rod? personally, I thought it was stupid to fire Llyod Carr...
I was very excited when Michigan hired Rich Rod given his success at West Virginia, Clemson, and Tulane. I'll always think Bill Martin made an excellent hire getting him, even if the Rich Rod project crashes and burns (A possibility that has obviously increased in probability over the last 2 years).
As far as my current feelings about RichRod, I don't really think "like" or "dislike" enters the equation. I don't hold Michigan's record the last two years against him, but he has made a few decisions and said a few moronic things that have upset me. I'm also not impressed with RichRod's recruiting. My official position right now is "worried".
I was never satisfied with Lloyd Carr in the sense that I wanted a few more 10-2/11-2 type seasons. I'm not sure if that is a rational beef or not. Regardless, it was time for LC to step down because it was clear he no longer had the desire to coach. He wanted to retire after the 2006 loss to USC, but he was talked out of it. So he finished out the Henne/Hart class and retired in 2007. He wasn't fired. He simply didn't want to do it anymore. Bill Martin would've kept LC forever. LC did a decent job, and he and his staff were underpaid compared to the market.
I think Bo dying played a large role in LC stepping down. Bo had a permanent office at Schembechler hall, and Lloyd loved him. With Bo gone, Lloyd had no incentive to stay. LC never loved the game like Bo or Woody did. He had coached a long time and had enough. Bo and Woody were a different breed. If it wasn't for Bo's bad heart, and Woody probably not taking his meds when he should've, those two legends would've have coached til they died.