Carr expects 'winning with integrity' to carry on at Michigan

Goodness knows I've taken enough shots at Lloyd Carr over the years.

I think he has been dour in general, sour on many occasions, and wrong-headed about several recent issues -- playing a 12th game and adopting instant replay, just to name a few.

But no one can deny that the man has been an institution at Michigan and within the Big Ten.

Spending 28 consecutive years at the winningest school in college football, including the last 13 as the head coach, merits legitimate acknowledgment.

And that's even before noting his 1997 national championship, his five Big Ten titles and his .752 winning percentage -- the latter being the third-best in league history.

To honor Carr's retirement, which he decided upon before the season and made public on Sunday, I'll allow his words to carry the rest of the day.

Here are excerpted remarks from Monday's 38-minute speech/question-and-answer session, which began and concluded with a loud ovation from a packed house in Ann Arbor, Mich.:

What's next: "As we go forward, I have only one wish: That this program will continue to abide by the values established by Bo Schembechler and the men who preceded him and the men who succeeded him. And that is to win with integrity. That's what we want to do.

"Because in the big picture, the character of this institution will be defined by the way this program is run. And that, really, is what Michigan has always been about and what I hope it will always be about."

On Sunday's meeting with his players when he revealed his plans: "I don't know what it was like for them. I think they were probably cheering like (heck) when I told them.

"Yesterday was one of the most emotional days of my life. I cried more tears than I knew I had … and I've never laughed so hard in my life because there were so many memories. It was a wonderful day, I can tell you that."

On whether his successor must be a 'Michigan man': "You remember a guy named Schembechler? He wasn't a Michigan man. Fritz Crisler wasn't a Michigan man. Fielding Yost wasn't a Michigan man.

The only thing I will say is, I know this: (athletic director) Bill (Martin) wants to hire the finest coach in the country. I don't have any doubts he will do that.'

Why he's quitting now: "It's about holding on to a recruiting class (currently ranked No. 12 by Rivals.com). Because if this recruiting class falls apart, four years from now there's a hole in Michigan football. The only important thing here is this program."

A piece of advice for the next coach: "You've got to be able to take a punch and know that all those punches are worth it, because you get to go down that tunnel and you get to stand on that sideline and you get to represent the greatest university in the world and you get to recruit the finest kids that play this game.

"You get the great challenge of trying to do something that's very difficult -- and that is to be the very, very best in this country. It's hard to do. It's hard to do. But it's fun. And it's what makes life really worthwhile."

His lows and his highs: "Every time you lose, it's miserable … and certain games are more miserable than others. And it's a misery of its own quality.

"What I'll remember is being in that locker room after some spectacular performances and singing 'The Victors' with those teams. Those are the moments you don't forget. Those are the moments that make everything you do worthwhile."