Coach Carr Comments from Weekly Press Conference
11/16/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
Weekly Football Media Luncheon
On the Wisconsin game ...
"In reviewing the Wisconsin game film, I thought that we did a lot of good things in the first half, but in the second half we got sloppy and threw an interception. We made a few special teams mistakes -- mishandled a punt and had another punt blocked -- and those are some corrections that must be made before the Ohio State game. There were some very good things about the game -- our offensive line played well together and our defense played extremely well except for the long touchdown pass. The biggest series of the game was holding them to a field goal after they blocked the punt."
About Ohio State ...
"The Ohio State game is really the greatest rivalry in college football in my judgment. I think every player who comes to Michigan looks forward to being a part of this game. I believe it is particularly exciting to go into Columbus, Ohio, and that great stadium and play in front of people who love the game and show enthusiasm. We are looking forward to the Ohio State game. They are the best football team that we'll play this year.
"Offensively, when you score 35 points per game, average 500 yards of total offense and pass for 300 yards a game, you are going to be successful and will list among the national leaders, much like Ohio State does. They have great talent offensively at the specialty positions and their line is very good. The OSU offense has the ability to score from any position of the field at any time.
"Defensively, they have a group that shut us down offensively last year. They are very talented and those cornerbacks give them the opportunity to blitz with their man-to-man play. Their safeties have to ability to support the run and blitz. They are a defense that is difficult to move the ball on consistently.
"Add the fact that they have a good punter in Brent Bartholemew and a great returner in David Boston, this is a very good and well-rounded football team, probably the best Ohio State team that I have seen in my years (19) at Michigan."
About the condition of injured running back Justin Fargas ...
"We thought on the field Saturday that Justin had injured his knee but later found out that it was closer to his ankle. He broke the tibia and fibula just above the ankle. There was no damage to his knee that we know of but they are currently rechecking it. It is a real blessing that no further damage was sustained. Dr. Ed Wojtys is currently performing surgery on his leg to reset the broken bones in the leg."
About Michigan's success against Ohio State ...
"Well, I don't think we've dominated them. I think we have found a way to win some very close games. The only thing I'm concerned about is this year's game."
About OSU coach John Cooper ...
"John Cooper is the only coach to win a Rose Bowl with both a Big Ten and Pac-10 team. He has an tremendous record and is an outstanding football coach. John is highly respected among his peers. Anyone who is knowledgeable would recognize that John Cooper is an outstanding football coach."
What is the toughest thing about winning in Columbus
"Well, I think the crowd is always unbelievably vociferous. It is one of those things that you have to be prepared for as best you can, but that is always a tremendous factor. You always have in this game the seniors for Ohio State playing in their final game and that provides an added lift emotionally. I think it is always an added bonus to play your last game of the year at home and in front of the people that have supported you along the way."
About this being the best Ohio State team that Carr has seen ...
"Well, I think that they weren't ranked No. 1 in the country for all those weeks for nothing. With all the players they had returning, Ohio State had control of the Michigan State game, but it is a credit to the Michigan State team for the way they played in the second half. If you look at the game, Ohio State made a couple of mistakes that proved to be costly. They are great football team on both sides of the ball with an outstanding kicking game. You tell me a better one."
Is quarterback Joe Germaine the player who makes OSU team go
"If you don't get pressure on Germaine, with the receivers they have, he is going to kill you. He is a much improved quarterback this year and as I watch him, he has really developed over last year. He throws the ball well down the field and has great accuracy. Joe does all the things that you expect a great quarterback to do."
What is Aaron Shea giving you this year at fullback
"Aaron Shea is expected to become an outstanding football player. He played a year ago as our third tight end, playing behind Jerame Tuman and Mark Campbell. Aaron got enough playing time that he established the ability to become an outstanding blocker. He is a very good athlete and I think his move to fullback has been a real plus for our football team. Aaron runs well, can catch the ball, blocks well and has really developed into a real leader on our football team."
About the running game ...
"Obviously, we gained some confidence in the last two weeks. I think because we have run the ball with much more authority than we did early in the season. I think to have a good team in the this conference you have to be able to run the football because if you don't, your defense is going to be on the field too long. Certainly we've gained some confidence running the football but this is the best defense that we will have seen this year. We have to do a better job than we did a year ago or we have little chance to win this game."
About this game being bigger in Columbus than in Ann Arbor ...
"Not in my mind or the mind of my team."
About the play of running back Clarence Williams and his renewed confidence ...
"If you spend four years in this program, you are going to be a mentally tough individual. Clarence was disappointed in the way that he played and I'm sure that he was not happy about some lost playing time in there. I think if you combine the fact that Clarence is a confident and mentally strong person, he knew his opportunity would come again. He was ready. I think that is what college athletics is all about, persevering and being resilient. You have to be resilient in this game."
Have you cautioned your players about what they say leading up to this game
"Well, one of the things that we discuss is one of the great opportunities that a young man has in this game, and that is the experience of learning to speak before a camera, to talk into a tape recorder, to be interviewed about a lot of different things. I think it is a growing experience. In most cases, players mature and improve tremendously over a period of time when it comes to dealing with the media. The thing that I try to stress in training camp is that sportsmanship is important in college football. I firmly believe that when you talk about an opponent, you show respect for them because if you don't, it is a reflection on you and the people you represent. Our players have done a tremendous job over the years and every once in awhile you'll have a guy who makes a mistake, but otherwise I think it is something that our older players do a good job of leading our younger guys. We're all human and make mistakes and if we do, we need to learn from it."
About the aura surrounding this game ...
"In most cases, this game has had something riding on it, be it the Rose Bowl or championship. This year it is no different. Even if those weren't on the line, this is more than the Big Ten championship, more than the Rose Bowl. It has to do with two great traditions and two great schools. You have guys playing against each other who often times grew up together or played against one another in high school. There are a lot of things that come together on this one Saturday afternoon and you have a lot of people both nationally and in these two states who get into the game."
About defensive back Marcus Ray ...
"Marcus has done an good job. Marcus is a very good football player and anytime he plays, he always plays with great intensity. He has been a great part of this program for a long time and I know all the guys are happy to have him back."
About the defense in the second half of ball games ...
"I think our defense is playing with confidence yet we haven't faced a team since Syracuse that has the kind of weapons or big-play potential that Ohio State gives us. I don't think there is any question that our defense has the biggest test of the year directly in front of them."
Did you understand the magnitude of this game before coaching in it
"My first Michigan-Ohio State game was 1980. We won our first game of the season then lost our next two against Notre Dame and South Carolina, led by Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers. We came back and won all of our Big Ten games and went into Columbus to play Ohio State. The first game was special and I'll never forget it. The final score was 9-3 and the last quarter was as exciting as any game that I've been associated with. The Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl berth were at stake. But that's not to take away from any of the others because they have all been special in one way or another."
Contact: David Ablauf, Jim Schneider (734) 763-4423
