[NU Sports] FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL: Day Six ...

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

Five weeks from today, college football is back!!!

But to help pass the time while we wait, we continue with our countdown and look back at the Big Ten during the 2000s. As always, feel free to comment, debate and suggest!

FORTY DAYS OF FOOTBALL
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> DAYS 1-10: The top coaches of the decade

10) Glen Mason, Minnesota
09) Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
08) Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
07) Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin
06) Randy Walker, Northwestern

> DAYS 11-20: The top games of the decade
> DAYS 21-30: The top players of the decade
> DAYS 31-40: The top teams of the decade

TOP COACHES
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5) Lloyd Carr, Michigan

(73-27 overall, 50-14 in league play, 3 Big Ten titles in the 2000s)

Michigan’s former coach is about as close to Captain Charisma as their current coach is to Captain Class. Lloyd Carr may have been a bit bland, and he lost his last three Rose Bowls, but I think most of the Maize and Blue boosters would take him back in a heartbeat these days. Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

Coach Carr reached his pinnacle in January of 1998 when his Wolverines won the national title in Pasadena. But his most satisfying victory may have been his last one. With his departure already a done deal and after a disastrous start to the season losing to Appalachian State, the Wolverines limped into the Citrus Bowl following a spanking to rival Ohio State that ended any hopes for a storybook finish in Pasadena. To make matters worse, they were facing the defending national champion Florida Gators in their own backyard. No one expected the Wolverines to be able to stay close to the speedy, cocky, trash-talkin' Gators. But Lloyd Carr and his team showed something fans wish they had shown a little more in that final season – emotion. They showed no fear and took no flack from Florida en route to a thorough beating despite a plethora of turnovers by Big Blue and satisfying upset to close a classy career.

And class would be a good way to sum up Carr’s career. Michigan probably underachieved during his tenure, but they still won a lot of football games (including a national championship in 1997), claimed three league titles in the 2000s. His winning percentage hovered around 75% in the 1990s and 2000s in both league play and overall record (it wouldn't be September without a Lloyd Carr letdown loss) and the Wolverines finished in the top 10 final rankings four times in the 2000s. As we’ve seen since Carr left, the sustained excellence of Carr’s career may require a second look. Yeah, he was given a top-notch program and did what was expected without much flaire ... but that's not as easy as it looks.

Just ask Rich Rodriguez.

Coming Sunday: The Big Ten coach most often tied to open spots in the NFL during the past decade.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!! GEAUX SAINTS!!!
Super Bowl XLIV Champions!
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