Comments from Coach Lloyd Carr and Michigan Players
12/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Michigan Head Coach Lloyd Carr
On practicing in Orlando... "It's great to get out and work in the sun. Our preparation here will get us acclimated to the weather conditions that we will see on game day."
About the offensive line situation... "We are working it both ways. What I would like to do is move Adam (Kraus) back to left guard and play Justin (Boren) at center, but we will have to see."
Do you have a feeling about whether or not Ryan Mallett will stick around for the fall... "I have had some conversations with Ryan and his family and it's really a decision -- it's a career decision for him. I will support whatever he decides. Sometimes a guy gets caught in a coaching change that really changes things significantly. What I advised Ryan to do when Coach (Rich) Rodriguez was named was to sit down and talk with him and don't read all that's out there. You have a conversation with him and then you'll know exactly what your feelings are. Those decisions are based on what he (Rodriguez) has to say, and that way you can make a good decision. That's really been my advice to him and that's exactly what Ryan has done."
On players potentially transferring... "At this time of year, players look at where they are and what their situation is, how happy they are and decide whether or not they want to transfer. Really it's the best time of year or at least it's the most frequent time of year for it to occur. Normally what I encourage them to do is stay through spring and see how spring practice goes since the transfer rules are such that you need to sit out for a year anyway. There are some of those things but again it's about change and some people handle change -- they keep going -- and others they worry and they have anxieties. I think the best way to deal with that is talk with the people that are going to be there and get a feel for it and give it a chance. When I recruited down through the years, the number one selling point that I've always made was the main reason to come to Michigan is the education that you can get, the academics and the opportunities that are there to go to a great university. Certainly football is a part of that issue, but I always encourage them when they think about leaving to look at where they are academically and what their goals are, and for most of them the college football game is the end of their football playing days. A few of them will play pro football, but that's really what I try to explain to them."
Senior Quarterback Chad Henne
On being in Orlando for the Capital One Bowl... "It's going be a great opportunity to play a great team in Florida and we're excited to be here. We can't wait to get back out on the field and practice. ... It means a lot to us for everyone to come out and finish strong and win our first bowl game."
On the head coaching situation being a distraction... "It has been a distraction, but we're down here, we're away from everything, and we can finally get our minds back on the game."
On being with the kids today at the Bowl-a-Palooza kickoff... "It's a great opportunity to come out and share this with the community and represent Michigan the right way and try to give them the experience of what we had."
On coming to Orlando a week early... "Especially coming down here in a different climate it gives us an opportunity to get adjusted to the weather right away, and try to get back and fit the game plan in and get on the same page.
On practicing inside in Michigan vs. outside in Florida... "It's pretty hot in our indoor (practice building), they turn up the heat for us. It's not too bad down here, it's about 70 degrees. We'll enjoy it and we'll get adjusted pretty fast."
Sophomore Wide Receiver Greg Mathews
On being at the bowl week kickoff today... "Coach Carr told us we'd get a chance to meet the players from different teams, and we may know some. So I got a chance to see some other guys who went to school here in Orlando. I got a chance to talk to them, see how they're doing."
On being back in his hometown... "It feels good. You never get an opportunity to go away for school and come back and play against the hometown team so it's a good feeling. It's a big opportunity."
On what it will be like before kickoff on game day... "Really emotional I guess, being back home in the Citrus Bowl. I played in there in high school so it'll be an emotional game."
U-M's Capital One Bowl Page
