Michigan football 2008: A season to forget

November 25, 10:27 AMMichigan Wolverines ExaminerFrank Benson

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Last year at this time, many members of the Go Blue Nation couldn’t wait to say goodbye to Lloyd Carr.

Yes, yes, he won a national title for Michigan’s football team back in 1997 and never won less than seven games in a season in 13 years on the job as Michigan football coach.

But last year, remember, he lost to Appalachian State!!!!

A team from what used to be called NCAA Division-1AA came into the Big House and defeated the Wolverines. Sports Illustrated called it perhaps the biggest upset in college football industry.

The following week Oregon came to Michigan and ran wild, showing all the world that the Wolverines couldn’t play defense against the newest rage, the spread offense.

Carr was a caveman when it came to coaching. His kind had the building when smashmouth football was declared dead. Vince Lombardi, Woody Hayes, and yes even the sainted Bo Schembechler had long ago hung up their whistles.

But while nobody was looking, after that 0-2 start, Michigan won eight straight games and then defeated Florida, with Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, 41-35 in the Citrus Bowl.

After that big embarrassment loss to Appalachian State, the Wolverines ended the season ranked No. 18, at 9-4 and Carr’s record before he rode off into the sunset was set at 122-40.

Sure, Carr could be crusty and his offensive play calls were often uncreative and predictable. But he was an icon who did his job well every year. His teams were ranked among the top 20 12 times in 13 years.

After flirting with a couple of other coaches, Michigan hired Rich Rodriguez away from West Virginia, and he came aboard after a messy buyout clause issue was settled in Morgantown.

Carr disappeared into the Michigan athletic department structure, mostly unseen and unheard from. It would be interesting to hear what his thoughts are about his successor.

Rodriguez was handed a team that lost a number of key players: defensive tackle Jake Long, the No. 1 overall draft pick; four-year backfield starters quarterback Chad Henne and Mike Hart, both now playing in the NFL, and receivers Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington.

The team’s No. 2 quarterback, Ryan Mallett, decided he didn’t want to play in the spread offense system Rodriguez liked, so he transferred to Arkansas before the season began.

That was the biggest sticking point for Rodriguez. The only quarterbacks on the roster were Steve Threat, a transfer from Georgia Tech, walk-on Nick Sheridan and freshman Justin Feagin. None were suited for major college and they continued to make mistakes all season long.

After Michigan lost the opener to Utah, many were surprised by the lack of doom and gloom in the Michigan locker room. Under Carr, losses were more painful than death. No one is ever allowed to smile after a defeat and a hard, laser-eyed stare would be the only answer a reporter would get if Carr didn’t like your question after a loss.

Rodriguez gave Utah its due and was confident the wins would start coming soon.

But they never did. In addition to poor quarterback play by the offense, the defense -- more experienced than the offense -- simply forgot how to tackle anyone. The Wolverines spent most of the season watching simple draws or short passes turn into long plays because they couldn’t make tackles.

The season turned out worse than anyone could imagine, At 3-9 Michigan never had back-to-back wins and recorded the worst season in the 129-year history of the program. The team ended a 33-year consecutive bowl game streak and lost to a Mid-American Conference team (Toledo) for the first time in 29 games.

Rodriguez is signed to a long-term contract and he’s not going anywhere. Looking back at his record, in 2001 he guided West Virginia to a 3-8 record and then reeled off six straight winning seasons and never won less than eight games. The year before he came to Michigan his Mountaineers were a game away from going to the BCS national championship game and finished at 10-2.

Rodriguez pledges to hit the ground running for 2009. He has already signed two freshman quarterbacks, Tate Forrier and Shavodrick Beaver, and both are expected to enroll at Michigan in January and be ready for spring practice.

Rodriguez also said in a Monday news conference that he expects defensive lineman standout Brandon Graham to hold off going to the NFL and return to Michigan for another year. The coach said Zion Babb, Jason Kates and Artis Chambers will not return to the team in 2009 but running back Sam McGuffie will be back.

“I only want those coming back who can give me 100 percent effort,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez has pleaded for patience from the vast Big Blue Nation all year and because of his past record, many are willing to overlook the dreadful 2008 season.

But 2009 had better be a turnaround season. Lloyd Carr might have been a grouch, but he was a winning grouch. And Big Blue Nation loves its winners.