Ahhhh....got to LOVE the rollyeyes. MY point is not that you and your family, and your family's family are dumbasses. I never said that. My point is that after a dominating first half over Ohio St., if I have to hear these lame attempts at interviews, let's hear a question more reflective of what happened in the first half. Yeah, so the announcers thought Michigan should've tried to score with 40 seconds left because they had two or three timeouts left. I felt that if they had a good kickoff return, they should try to get some points back. But they didn't, so why risk it against a team that has THRIVED off of lucky ass breaks the past two years? Do you really want to risk OSU closing the game to less than 14 when you know that you will get the ball first in the next half, and that the OSU forte is turning turnovers into points? My opinion is no.... If you disagree, fine. If you think Carr was an ass, fine. I just don't see why some people seem so certain that Michigan should have tried to score there. I think Carr probably was frustrated hearing a question about the last 40 seconds of the first half when the Wolverines dominated much of the first 29:20. I'll be curious to see how the Washington St. loss affects the Rose Bowl outlook. Assuming Texas wins out, will they get to match up with UM in Pasadena? Wow, what a matchup. I'd prefer them to not play each other, but it would certainly seem like a matchup of two very historic programs that have played well down the stretch.
With the loss of WSU, it could be Michigan vs USC at Rose, and OSU vs Texas at Fiesta. Check this out. http://collegefootballnews.com/2003/Bowls/Bowl_Projections.htm
I hope USC doesn't get screwed just because LSU played a better team on the last game of the season. Would beating Ole Miss count as a Quality win or does the opponent have to be in the BCS top 10? I think USC looked better than LSU did but I didn't get to all of either game.
Todd Harris vs Loyld Carr TH:"coach, you've been second guessed all week. how come you didn't try to score again with 44 seconds to go?" LC: "now why would you ask me a dumb question like that?" TH: "well, with 3 timeouts and 44 seconds to go, why didn't you try to score and nail the coffin shut?" LC: incredulous look, walks away.
As far as the quality wins "bonus points" you have removed to help your BCS score, you have to beat a BCS top 10 team. However, playing a tougher team will atleast boost your Strength of Schedule. It sounds like, as of now, LSU's schedule was too weak overall to help them climb to #2, but I guess we'll see. They do get to play Arkansas, and if they win that game, they'll play the SEC champ game against a potentially good team. A couple of weird BCS flaws, though. First of all, if you play a BCS top 10 team, and you defeat them, knocking them out of the BCS top 10, then you don't get the bonus points. I think that's pretty counterproductive. Also, under this system, you don't get rewarded for beating the same team twice, no matter how highly they are ranked. I think if LSU were to beat a highly ranked Georgia team two teams, they should be rewarded for that. I'm still for some sort of a playoff, although I'll be interested to see how they at least tweak the system for the years to come.
Congrats to Michigan. They beat OSU where I didn't think OSU would get beat running the ball and protecting Navarre. I knew Michigan had a really good O-line but I thought our D-line was better. At least yesterday I was very wrong. You guys dominated teh 1st half. 2nd half turned around and OSU had opportunities. Not moving the ball after Gamble's int killed the momentum. Then bringing Krenzel back in really hurt. I am grateful for Krenzel but he is not the same QB this year (still has heart and guts but his throws have been much worse this year). As for the Lloyd Carr thing, well I liked it. THe sideline reporters shoudl be on the filed for one reason to get injury updates. When's the last time a coach ever said anything more than a cliche while leavingthe field (we'll go in make adjustments, we need to improve, they're agood team, etc). But congrats to Michigan go to teh Rose Bowl and make the Big 10 proud!
I completely understand that line of thinking. Still doesn't excuse what Carr did. If he doesn't like those kinds of questions from reporters, simply skip the halftime interview. No need to belittle a guy.
Rocketman95: The following represents what a lot of M fans thinking on the matter: "A guy with a microphone, someone who may have never played a down of football in his life, asks an accusatory question in the middle of one of the biggest games of this coach's career. Yes, maybe he could have responded differently. But a different question could have been asked to a coach leading 21-7 at half and getting the ball at the beginning of the next half as well. This guy got exactly the response he deserved. He could've just as easily asked, "So Coach Carr, you have to be very satisfied with your teams effort so far. How can you possibly improve on this perfomance in the 2nd Half?" This guy flat out accused Carr of being stupid for not trying to score at the end of a half. He showed no respect and got none in return." Your thoughts?
I don't buy the didn't show respect by not asking an easy question. It was a question being asked by the announcers and I'm sure some Michigan fans as well. Sure, it was probably a much different question than normally asked during these halftime interviews, but his response was completely uncalled for. He should've said we were happy where we were in the game and didn't want to risk losing any more momentum. Then this whole discussion wouldn't have happened.
Whatever. It surely sounds accusatory if you read the quotes I posted earlier. It doesn't matter fans have this question. It doesn't matter announcers are wondering out loud. If you go ask the guy--in the middle of the game--it's dumb, it's no respect. Let's see why does he ask that question? If he thinks the decision is wrong and should be second-guessed, who is he to question? why go ask the guy? If he thinks the decision is right. Why ask? I'm quite amazed you don't see the inappropriateness the the question--at the heat of the moment!
I would love to hear someone ask this question to JVG at half time of playoff game: "So coach, Why do you take Yao Ming out for the last 3 minutes of the second quarter. You know, He was playing well, you could easily expend your lead to 30 if you keep him in the game." on the second thought. No one will.
I think it's time to agree to disagree. I found Carr, as a head coach, role model and mentor to his players, acted very inappropriately to the question. Of course, if you weren't a Michigan fan, you may have a different opinion of the situation, who knows. See you in Pasadena, hopefully.
Hopefully, there won't be any reporter at the half asking coach Brown:"Coach why do you take out Vince Young for Chance? Many thought Young played effective, but Chance couldn't do squat after he came in". Even though YOU have this question on mind.
Well, they won't because Mack's learned that you don't bring Mock in until the last drive. Me and the announcers.
BTW, Coach Carr just apologized for his halftime interview to Todd Harris on Michigan Replay on TV, just a moment ago.
Good for him. Heat of the moment reaction and probably a genuine apology since there really hasn't been much heat against him, at least nationally.
The reporter was just doing his job. He wasn't Jim Gray or Craig Sager (assholes) who deserved to get embarrassed. Keith Jackson and the other guy were wondering why with 2 TO's, Michigan was satisfied running out the clock. They thought it was a legitimate question. The guy was polite...something like I know you get second guessed all week. There were multiple ways to respond without looking like a jackass. Do you think if Lynn Swann or Jack Arute (respected sideline reporters) asked the question, Carr would have responded like a smug b*stard? Nope. I wouldn't accept the apology made on TV....Carr should have done it in private.
It was a heat of the moment thing, uncalled for by Carr--but blown out of proportion. To me it was also an understandable reaction given if he took time to talk to a reporter at the half probably wanted to talk about how well his team was playing and got a derailing question. Again, no big deal. That said, I think a dumb decison to kneel. 1) Your offense had been rolling all first half but OSU just scored to take some major momentum. 2) with OSU's kicking game, starting at your own 30 or 35 is darned good field position against them. It is fine to be conservative--but at least try a Chris Perry draw or screen to see if you can reach the 40 or 50 and are in real business. I think OSU was already low on timeouts--so you could always runt he clock out if you don't like how things were looking on the 1st or 2nd play and not a lot OSU could do if you did make a mistake at midfield or so.
And what if OSU created a turnover and ran it back for a score? Then everyone is all over Carr for forcing the issue. I would rather be wrong and safe. If they were down or if OSU appeared to be taking over the momentum I would say OK. But U-M dominated that first half. Carr had no reason to believe that it was going to be any different in the 2nd half. Sure, OSU made it close, but I think he still made the right decision.
