The End Zone - Michigan

Michigan beat writer Ryan Autullo

Lloyd Carr's two-year bout with laryngitis has cleared up. Carr was interviewed Saturday and the former UM coach was pressed about his lack of outward support for the program he once headed and cared so deeply for. That's a fair discussion. But why stop there?

Yo Lloyd, can you honestly say from 2005-07 you and your staff gave maximum effort in recruiting? Or did you settle for whatever came your way, knowing in a year or two you'd be retiring to the first hole at Stonebridge?

Rich Rodriguez inherited a roster stocked with players who were young, small, or soft. In some cases they were young, small, and soft. I wonder if Rodriguez was in such a hurry to bolt Morgantown that he never thoroughly evaluated the situation he was entering. He wasn't getting many Steve Breastons or Larry Footes. Those who disagree, believing UM would be winning 10 games with a different coach, probably have a Les Miles screensaver or Greg Schiano PJs. Athletes win games, and UM's talent level is somewhere in the middle of the Big Ten. That was certainly evident in Saturday's loss to Penn State.

UM might finish with six or seven wins — not a great year, but passable. When Rodriguez has a moment — when he's not recruiting, of course — he should consider contacting the Better Business Bureau. A used Carr salesman handed him a faulty product.