Lloyd Carr Game Quotations

I don't ever in my life remember going into any game feeling like I was an underdog. I certainly have never experienced that at Michigan.

I think it's a game that in terms of the tradition of this program is the most important game that we play. I think for any team playing in it, it's a big game. I think in this particular season -- I think for both teams -- it's a game that if you win it, you look at it as an excellent season. If you lose it, it's probably a disappointing season.

LaMarr Woodley played the best game since he's been at Michigan. I said they've improved.

I think we learned that he's durable. When you carry the ball, particularly in your third game as a true freshman, 25 times, I think it says a lot of things.

I think we all understand that a running game allows you to control the game. When we were able to run the football, that allows you to protect your defense and it allows you to do a lot of things that help you to win. We were very, very average running the football. And I think that always comes back to haunt you. I can guarantee you this spring that becomes an area that we must improve in, and we will.

I went into the training room after the game and Jon had tears in his eyes as I talked to him, ... I said, 'You must be in unbelievable pain.' He says, 'No, I was just thinking next Saturday is going to be the first Michigan football game I have missed in 30-some years.'

I think one of the things that's important in maintaining the tradition of college football is making sure every game of the regular season means something, and the bowl tradition is something we should never give up. But if there is a way of going to a one-game playoff after the bowls, that's something that should maybe happen as we go forward here.

I think he's throwing the ball extremely well and I think he has the confidence of being in a lot of big games, the experience that comes with being in tight ball games, being in two-minute situations, being ahead, being behind, all of the things that you need to learn to be able to learn to be able to control the game and lead your team. I think he's done a great job of that.

We just made too many mistakes in the red zone. You can't get the football down there and give it away like we did and expect to win a game like this.

There's no question it's going to be a different type of team. You don't lose two outstanding players like Navarre and Perry and immediately replace that kind of production, ... But you play to your strengths. If we can stay healthy, our defense is going to be better and I think our kicking game should be very solid. We'll just have to see how we evolve offensively.

Offensively, we just made too many mistakes in the red zone. You can't get the football down there and give it away like we did and expect to win a game like this. So we've got a lot of work to do there.

A big play in the game was when Chad got hit. It looked to me, well, it certainly was a big play there.

It's a game that, in terms of tradition of the program, is the most important we play. In this season, for both teams, it's a game that if you win it, you look at it as an excellent season. If you lose it, it's probably a disappointing season.

It's a matter of quickness, that's what this game has evolved to - quickness and toughness and ability to sustain an effort over 60 minutes and over four months. Any time you have too much weight, it has a fatigue effect on you, in an individual game and in the season.

That's as wild a game as I've ever been in just unbelievable.

I don't worry about him bouncing back, ... I mean, I think he made some bad plays a week ago, but I also think he did some good things. What I hear is that it's like he lost the game. Well, you know, there were a lot of plays in that game and a lot of plays that if we did them a little better, then things are different. It's a combination of a lot of things. It wasn't just the quarterback.

I do not expect Ryan to take part in any game competition this fall. We're disappointed that his injury is not responding as we had hoped, and he has decided to rest it and see what happens in spring practice.