ESPN College Football

As part of ESPN.com's Hate Week, we asked you on Tuesday to vote for the most hated coach of all time in the Big Ten.

Now to wrap up Hate Week -- and we promise it's only going to be love from now on in this space (ahem) -- here are some of your comments on that topic. Let's conclude the Haters' Ball with a bang.

Philip from Iowa writes: No question it's Jim Tressel. First, he wins a lot of Big Ten Championships so naturally everyone else hates him for that. Second, he lost twice in a row in the National Championship, embarrassing the conference on the national stage -- and it hasn't yet been rebuilt. To make matters worse, the 2 games were 1 where OSU was the overwhelming favorite (against FL) and the other was to a 2 loss team (LSU)! Finally, there is the Terrell Pryor saga that happens while Tressel puts out a book called "The Winners Manual for the Game of Life" There is no contest, every school in the Big Ten, including many OSU alums and fans, hate Jim Tressel. Not many coaches can manage that.

Bert from Portland, Ore., writes: Most hated Big Ten Coach.Bo Schembechler. I attended Northwestern during 1975-79 and the football program won five games during that time (with an infamous 0-0 tie agaisnt Illinois). Woody Hayes would bring his team to town and in the post-game conference at least say that Northwestern played hard. Schembechler would complain that Northwestern did not belong in the Big Ten and that Michigan did not make enough money when it played in Evanston. He was a jerk of the worst kind. I remember watching the Homecoming game in 1978 when, during a rout, Northwestern managed to score a touchdown on a trick play embodiment of a fake punt fairly late in the game. Schembechler started screaming at his players and looked like he was on the verge of having a heart attack. The Northwestern fans started chanting "Rose Bowl! Rose Bowl!" In fact, Schembechler was probably the only man in the world who could make me root for USC in the Rose Bowl (which beat Michigan that season). Woody could be gracious in victory and even humble in own way. Schembechler could accomplish neither.

Logan D. from Saginaw, Mich., writes: The most hated coach in the B1G, or who should be the most hated coach, is without a doubt Bret Bielema. The guy just radiates egotism. All you need to do is type his name into Google followed by "is" and you will know exactly what he's like from the suggested words. As a Michigan State fan, I'm not sure if I have ever been angrier with a coach than I was at the end of last year's Big Ten Championship game. After Wisconsin's punter made his Oscar-worthy dive to seal the game, I don't know if I've ever seen a coach as outwardly exuberant as Bret was in that moment. You would have thought his team just scored a touchdown on the most miraculous play in history. I don't know another coach that would be as excited over seeing a yellow flag in the backfield. Plus, not that the guy is in need of an ego-boost whatsoever, but what compels you to put up 70 on Austin Peay and 83 on Indiana? We get it. You can score a lot of points against bad teams.

Brad W. from Philadelphia writes: Most hated coach? Hayden Fry. Unsportsmanlike, completely ungracious, score-runner-upper, never giving the opposition any credit, moronic 3rd-grade stuff like the pink locker room ... just an unpleasant, vicious old man. Could never beat his butt often enough. Runners-up: Earle Bruce, Mike White.

Rich H. from Wayne, N.J., writes: Most hated coach ever? Woody Hayes without a doubt. Surly, unprofessional, a hick, temper tantrums and unpolished. Dial up an automatic loss in almost every bowl game he coached. Track record of more NFL busts than any program sans Nebraska. Unimaginative offense; never changed with the times either. Never scheduled a tough out of conference game regular season without a 2-1/3-1 deal. His famous bout with Ref Jerry Markbreit on the sideline circa 1971? Should have been fired right then and there. Of course 1978 vs Clemson and Mr. Baumann will live in infamy and is the most embarrassing complete breakdown of any major head-coach EVER and televised on national TV to boot. Good thing he wasn't around in today's day and age - that dooming episode would have gone virile in 20 seconds. Yet alums adore this basic jackwagon, go figure. Did I mention his graduation rate? Less than 70%. Should I continue? Nah, jury rests...

Paul from Johnstown, Pa., writes: Love the Hate! I nominate two coaches, one current and one former. First, Bret Bielema...a totally spineless, classless jerk. Runs up the score. Goes for 2 late in the 4th Qtr with games in hand. Whines, whines, whines, whines like a 5 year old. Loses to TCU with a completely loaded team. Makes tacky comments about how great it is to be a Badger fan when questioned about the situations at PSU, OSU and UM. Sprints across the field like a tool to shake hands quickly with opposing coach in total disprespectful fashion .Second, Bo Scumbechler ... yes, "Scumbechler." As a PSU fan, I have an obligation to hate this man for the lack of class he showed when PSU was brought into the B1G. His comments and efforts to exclude PSU and/or to make PSU's admission into the conference unwelcoming still boils my blood.

Danny from Davenport, Iowa, writes: Adam, as a Hawkeye fan it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep from hating Pat Fitzgerald. He may not be on the radar much outside of Iowa City and his body of work may leave some to question this hatred for PF. But, look at this from an Iowa fan standpoint. PF is a whiner and a coward. Take last year, for instance. PF hid behind one of his own players while that player took heat for admitting to the world that Pat Fitz hated Iowa with a passion. One cannot help but think that this is hostility boiling over from the injury incurred during a game when PF was still in pads. Grow up and get over it. Then, there was PFs whole twitter controversy, or should I say the "director of football operations" twitter controversy while he was "accidentally" logged into PFs account. SURE, man up.

Mark from Oklahoma City writes: John Cooper. I was born in Ohio in 1986. Growing up and watching the pain and anguish that John Cooper put on my father's face Saturday afternoons in late November during the 90s was enough to make me despise him. Interestingly, it's during the same period I grew to despise Lloyd Carr. I hated him more at one point until I went to Ohio State during the Jimmy T era which he spent a good amount of time of beating the same Lloyd Carr into "retirement" which cemented Cooper as my most hated coach. Go back to Arizona State, take Gene Smith with you. Give me a coach from Ohio.

Shawn from Minneapolis writes: You gotta admire talent, so I'm not picking on anyone who won, not even those [REDACTED] coaches from Michigan. Most hated B1G coach: Tim Brewster, with a pathetic record of (*googles* ... cripes it didn't feel like that many wins) 15-30 in FOUR LONG YEARS. Long live Coach Kill!

Zach from Lincoln, Neb., writes: In regards to your most hated coach ever...Can the worst coach not have ever coached in the B1G? I think universally, Bill Callahan (excuse my french) is the dirtiest word that can be spoken in 'sker country.

Joe P. from Chicago writes: My most hated Big Ten coach ever is John L. Smith. As a Spartan fan, it was bad enough getting regularly slaughtered by our rivals (and inferior programs like Indiana), but he made our program into a punchline. God Bless Dantonio.

Chris from Wisconsin writes: As soon as Urban Meyer entered the B1G he instantly became the most hated coach of all time. As a Badger fan, I didn't even really hate any coaches in the Big Ten over the years but wow do I hate Urban Meyer and I can't even figure out what it is. I can't stand the guy and he has yet to coach a game at OSU hoping Bielema runs up the score on him for many years to come "and for Urban many is about 3 which is how long I expect him to stay at OSU.

Robert V. from West Bloomfield, Meechigan, writes: Most Hated Big Ten Coach:Wayne Woodrow Hayes.

Travis form Midland, Mich., writes: As a Michigan fan, I would have to say I hate Jim Tressel the most. I was not alive during the 10-year war between Woody and Bo, so I don't hate Woody as much as some other Michigan fans. The biggest reason I hate Tressel the most would be the violations. Before "tattoogate" broke, I hated him, but I respected him for running an honest program. After the NCAA violations, I hated him and I lost most of my respect for him. Personally (and this might be my Michigan fan bias), I believe Ohio State went beyond just the tattoos. I believe that there were rule infractions as early as Maurice Clarett. To sum it up, I hate Jim Tressel because, 1. He coached at Ohio State, 2. He was extremely successful against Michigan, 3. He turned his back to NCAA violations and is labeled a cheater in my mind because of this. My second least favorite coach might just be Jerry Sandusky, for obvious reasons.

John from New Hampshire writes: Easy question: Lloyd Carr hands down without a doubt. His sideline ranting made it even easier to just despise Meeechigan. His BS screaming for more time on the clock won him a miracle game about five years ago when Penn State was in the Big House and winning till Lloyd's crying got the refs to make a historically insipient call, giving undue time on the clock and giving those hideously clad (...that bright yellow....) chumps the game - and costing my beloved Nittany Lions perhaps a perfect season.

Folks like rankings, which is why a lot of you had opinions on both Athlon Sports and our rankings of Pac-12 coaches this week.

There are very few naysayers to the idea that Oregon's Chip Kelly is an obvious No. 1. In fact, I'm not even sure how you gainsay that.

But who's No. 2?

That's the question before your faithful Pac-12 bloggers.

Kevin Gemmell: Since you went first last week, and I used it as an opportunity to take a shot at you about Darron/De'Anthony Thomas Top 25 incident, I'll take the lead this week and suffer whatever ribbing comes from it.

To be honest, I was pretty torn when trying to figure out who I would put at No. 2 in the conference. I think you can easily make an argument for three or four different guys. But I've also seen what Kyle Whittingham has done at Utah from the very beginning when I used to cover the Mountain West Conference.

His résumé is stellar, and his credentials are without question. He has an undefeated season to his credit and two BCS bowl game victories (I believe the NCAA credits him and Urban Meyer both for the Fiesta Bowl win). If I'm wrong on that, he still has a BCS bowl victory at a then mid-major program.

He's 7-1 all-time in bowl games. That means he's a closer. The only bowl loss was in 2010 to Boise State -- the Broncos' second football game following the Nevada field goal debacle. There weren't many that thought Boise would lose that one.

What I think is the most impressive thing about Whittingham, though, is that he's proven to be his own man. He easily could have fallen into the trap that David Shaw now finds himself in at Stanford. Critics will constantly question Shaw about if he can do it outside of Jim Harbaugh's shadow and without Andrew Luck on the roster. Whittingham faced similar charges in the face of Meyer's departure.

In that time, he's gone 66-25 and stewarded the program into the Pac-12, where the Utes went 8-5 last season, including a come-from-behind win over Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl. Sustained success means several things. He can recruit. He can reinvent himself and the team with each new generation of players. And he makes good hires.

We all know one bad recruiting class can set a program back several years. Bad hires can have an even longer impact. Whittingham is not afraid to take gambles -- and the latest one is naming former quarterback-turned quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson his offensive coordinator. At least some see it as a gamble. But Whittingham has given us no reason over his career to think it's not going to be a great hire.

The fact is, Whittingham wins year after year. Can't ask for much more out of your coach.

Ted Miller: I deserved the snark over the twin No. 12s. That was a moment of clumsy compensation for a boneheaded oversight on my part. Of course, you did steal my No. 2 coach, which I will write off to your savvy and your foreknowledge you got to go first this week.

And it gives me a chance to tout a guy who might shortly challenge for the top-spot on this list: Arizona's Rich Rodriguez. In fact, if we could make Rodriguez's ill-fated, three-year tenure at Michigan magically disappear, and then view Rodriguez as arriving in Tucson after a brilliant run at West Virginia, you would be able to make a case for him against even Kelly.

Before the disaster in Ann Arbor, Rodriguez was widely viewed as among the nation's best coaches. He'd been successful everywhere he went, and was considered one of the nation's truly great offensive minds -- not unlike Kelly. He went 60-26 at West Virginia and, after going 3-8 his first year, never won fewer than eight games. He also won a Sugar Bowl over Georgia, and his team won the Fiesta Bowl over Oklahoma after he bolted for Michigan. The Mountaineers won 33 games his final three seasons. According to this high-powered calculator, that's an average of 11 wins per season.

But what about Michigan? Well, as we've said before and surely will say again, his failure at Michigan was more about Michigan than Rich Rodriguez. It was a bad fit from the get-go in terms of his personality versus the "Michigan way"; Rodriguez wasn't able to hire his defensive coordinator, as he has done at Arizona with Jeff Casteel; he was shamefully betrayed and undermined by a Machiavellian Lloyd Carr; and it's not unreasonable to question the agendas of some of the media coverage he received.

Some Michigan fans take issue with that perspective on Rodriguez's Michigan tenure, much of which is detailed in John Bacon's book "Three and Out." But only because they love the Wolverines more than the truth, at least in this instance.

Rodriguez repeatedly has said he's not a quick-fix guy -- he, by the way, told the folks hiring him at Michigan exactly that -- and that it will take three years for his systems and recruiting to truly take hold. I doubt Wildcats fans are exciting about waiting that long, but the smart money is on Rodriguez finding a way to get it done in Tucson.

And, yeah, that means it's legitimate to dream about a first Rose Bowl within five years.

Wouldn't it be fun if it were against the Wolverines?

As expected, more Big Ten figures -- past and present -- have weighed in on the passing of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno on Sunday morning at 85.

Here are some additional statements:

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz

"It is certainly a very, very sad day. The passing of Coach Paterno is a huge loss; there will never be another Joe Paterno. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Paterno family."

Iowa athletic director Gary Barta

"Joe Paterno has meant so much to college athletics over such a long period of time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his immediate family first and foremost, and then, certainly, to the extended Penn State family."

Former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Paterno. I will remember him with respect and admiration. I will remember his competitive spirit, his incredible generosity, his honesty, his integrity and his humanity."

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini

"My condolences go out to Coach Paterno’s family and the Penn State community. I have so much respect for what Coach Paterno accomplished at Penn State both on and off the field. He wasn’t just a legendary coach, but a class individual and his record speaks for itself. I had the honor of getting a few chances to spend time with him since we joined the Big Ten, and those were special opportunities for me as a relatively young head coach in this profession."

In addition, National Football Foundation chairman Archie Manning and NFF President & CEO Steven Hatchell issued a joint statement on Paterno's passing. Paterno is a 2007 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame.

It reads:

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Coach Paterno. He stands at the very top of the mountain in terms of his coaching accomplishments, and his dedication to the education of his players set the standard for entire college football world. On multiple occasions, the National Football Foundation saluted his never-ending passion and commitment to the game. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sue, his family, and the entire Penn State community."

Lloyd Carr, Marty Lyons and Russell Maryland talk about being elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Let's take a quick look at the former Big Ten coach selected Tuesday to the College Football Hall of Fame ...

Lloyd Carr, head coach, Michigan, 1995-2007

Carr is one of those coaches who wasn't truly appreciated until he retired from his premier job. Think about these accomplishments: a 122-40 record, a national title in 1997 and five Big Ten championships (won or shared) in 13 seasons at Michigan.

Doesn't sound too shabby, especially when you look at what has happened to Michigan football after Carr stepped down.

Named Michigan's interim coach in May 1995 after Gary Moeller's surprise resignation, Carr didn't seem like a strong candidate for the permanent position. But after winning eight of his first 10 games on the job, Carr earned the permanent tag. Two years later, he guided the Wolverines to wins against Ohio State and Washington State in the Rose Bowl, which resulted in Michigan being named AP national champions.

Carr's Michigan teams won or shared the Big Ten title in three out of four seasons and claimed back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004. Although his struggles against Ohio State and coach Jim Tressel are well documented, Carr led Michigan to nine or more victories in 10 seasons. The Wolverines were ranked in the AP Top 25 for all but nine games during Carr's tenure.

Carr also represented the program in ways that resonated with Michigan fans. His charity work and presence in the community is well documented. He won numerous awards both during and after his coaching career, and he's the sixth man who coached Michigan to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

When Greg Mattison first met with his new Michigan players, he talked about the old days.

Mattison didn't dig up Wolverines game film from the mid-1990s, when he served as the team's defensive line coach and defensive coordinator. He didn't bring back Jarrett Irons, Jason Horn or Ty Law to talk to the group.

If the players needed a link to the past, they only had to look at the man in the center of the room. A man who spent five years as a Michigan assistant and says of former Wolverines coaches Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr: "They’re the ones who really taught me defense."

Mattison was the perfect person to provide a little history lesson.

"That’s the way I started the meeting out," Mattison recently told ESPN.com. "I told them, ‘Fifteen years ago, I was in this meeting room. And the pride and the passion that was played on defense from the guys in this room was second to none. Forever, they’ve done that. If you’re going to be a defensive player who sits in this room, you have to embrace that.

"'You have to now understand that’s what Michigan football is all about.'"

But a Michigan defense with a strong track record veered off track the past three seasons.

Mattison takes over a unit that ranked 110th, 82nd and 67th nationally in yards allowed during the previous coaching regime. The Wolverines ranked 108th, 77th and 84th nationally in points allowed. The unit wasn't old enough, deep enough or good enough to stop teams in Big Ten play.

Given the gory results, you couldn't blame Mattison for not wanting to look back at the recent performance. That was his plan, at first.

"I made a concerted effort when I came in here to say, 'I’m not going to watch it,'" he said. "What I wanted to do is give these players the benefit of the doubt and not to even talk about what’s happened in the past. Those were good coaches here. I’m never going to second-guess guys who were here before."

But after watching the players go through winter conditioning, Mattison changed his mind. As he got to know who the players were, he decided to check out how they played.

"I saw a lot of guys that had great effort," he said. "I saw a lot of guys that might have been a little young. I saw a lot of guys that might have been not as strong as they should be. And you see technique things. People who watch the [Baltimore] Ravens could see the same things about my defenses."

Mattison will shape Michigan's defense like so many others he has overseen.

The Wolverines will use a four-man front. Mattison's top three priorities are stopping the run, limiting big plays and "being great" in the red zone. He'll stress effort, emotion and technique.

The system will be simple yet effective.

"What happens sometimes when you overload your defense because maybe you don’t have enough players or maybe they’re light or undersized, people in the Big Ten will get you sooner or later," Mattison said. "There are great coaches in this league, so if you think you’re going to come in and totally out-coach them with scheme, you’re totally wrong. They’re going to get you."

Watching tape from 2010 didn't discourage Mattison -- just the opposite.

"It helped me because in a lot of ways, I felt even stronger about what our mission is here," he said. "I felt like, ‘Listen, we can get these guys to get back to that.’ I felt good about it. It probably drove me more the next day in running to make these guys step up to that level. Because they have it. It’s our job to get it out of them.”

Brady Hoke will face a different set of challenges at Michigan than his predecessor did.

Unlike Rich Rodriguez, Hoke won't have to worry about showing everyone how much he loves Michigan and all of its history and tradition. He won't constantly be asked about the importance of the Ohio State game. He won't have to defend how he runs a program because Michigan fans know him and have seen his methods before.

Brady Hoke will have to show everyone that he can win big on the big stage. He'll get the chance at Michigan, which hired him as its 19th head coach Tuesday afternoon.

"We are pleased to announce the hiring of Brady," athletic director Dave Brandon said in a statement. "He is a terrific coach and will be a great ambassador and leader for our football program. We look forward to having him build a championship program on the field and in the classroom."

Hoke isn't a big-time name. He doesn't have a big-time record (47-50). He hasn't held a big-time head-coaching job (Ball State and San Diego State). Unlike Rodriguez, he hasn't won a BCS bowl or a conference championship.

Most coaches only land a job like Michigan after building an impressive legacy elsewhere. Hoke must build his legacy in Ann Arbor.

He needs to prove himself to Michigan and its large and passionate fan base, a good portion of whom aren't doing cartwheels about this hire. Brandon might have wanted Hoke all along and former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr certainly is in his corner, but the hire lacks the hype that many fans want, even if hype doesn't matter in the end.

Hoke could very well end up being the right man to restore Michigan among college football's elite. Not many candidates seemed jazzed about that challenge, but Hoke has made it clear that this is his dream job after serving as a Michigan assistant for eight seasons.

It took him a while to get things going at Ball State, but his work both there and at San Diego State is impressive. Hoke produced some dynamic teams and players at programs that longed for success. Michigan has a similar longing, but the challenge in Ann Arbor will be much greater.

The best-case scenario is Hoke rebuilds Michigan into a Big Ten power. The Wolverines upgrade their defense and continue to improve on offense. They end the losing streaks to Ohio State and Michigan State and get back to BCS bowls.

He also could turn out to be a flop on the big stage, a guy better suited to jobs like San Diego State and Ball State. Michigan can't afford too many more years like the last three, especially in an improving Big Ten Conference.

If Hoke fails, Brandon will justifiably take the blame. He wanted a Michigan Man. So did Carr and some of the other power brokers behind the scenes. Well, they got one. Is Hoke the best coach available? Judging by his credentials, nope. But he still could be the right coach for Michigan.

Michigan didn't release contract details Tuesday, but you can bet Hoke will be given some time to get things on track. This isn't the type of school that likes rapid change and it just fired a coach after only three seasons.

Hoke's big moment has arrived. Can he capitalize?

Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-4) vs. Michigan Wolverines (7-5)

Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Mississippi State take by SEC blogger Chris Low: There was a little drama at the end about where, but Mississippi State is going back to a bowl game for the first time since the 2007 season. At one point, it looked like the Bulldogs (8-4) might fall to the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, but the Gator Bowl scooped the Bulldogs up to face Michigan in what will be their first Jan. 1 bowl appearance since the 1999 Cotton Bowl.

Dan Mullen, in his second season at Mississippi State, has rejuvenated the program. The Bulldogs won six straight games during the middle portion of their schedule before losing back-to-back games to Alabama and Arkansas following the death of defensive end Nick Bell, who died of cancer.

Mississippi State recovered to beat Ole Miss for a second straight season, really endearing Mullen to the Bulldogs’ fans. Perhaps the best news for Mississippi State entering this game is Mullen said Sunday night he’s staying put. School officials are working on a new deal to keep him in Starkville amid reports that he was one of the top targets at Miami.

The Bulldogs have leaned on their running game all season. They're ranked 16th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 215.8 yards per game.

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Michigan take by Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg: Michigan is bowl bound for the first time in three seasons, and once again the spotlight will be on the Wolverines head coach.

The Wolverines sent Lloyd Carr out as a winner by knocking off defending national champion Florida in the 2008 Capital One Bowl. They’ll try to deliver a similar performance Jan. 1 against Mississippi State for embattled coach Rich Rodriguez, who still doesn’t know whether he’ll return for a fourth season.

The Gator Bowl features two spread offense teams and two of the system’s proven practitioners in Rodriguez and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen. Michigan has had the more dynamic offense this season, ranking sixth nationally in yards per game (500.9) and 11th in rushing (251.1 ypg). The Wolverines also boast the most dynamic player on the field in quarterback Denard Robinson, who ranks fourth nationally in rushing average (136.9 ypg).

Mississippi State, however, looks like the better team. The Bulldogs don’t have an obvious flaw like Michigan (defense, special teams), and all four of their losses came against top 20 opponents (Auburn, Arkansas, LSU, Alabama). Michigan’s defense will have its hands full with Bulldogs dual-threat quarterback Chris Relf.

Perhaps the best news for Michigan is that Mississippi State doesn’t play in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are 8-0 in nonconference games the last two seasons but just 6-18 in the Big Ten under Rodriguez.

The Lloyd Carr era at Michigan ends Sept. 1, as the former Wolverines football coach will officially retire from his post as associate athletic director.

Few men have been a bigger part of Michigan football for as long as Carr, who came to the school as defensive backs coach in 1980. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1987 and took the top job in 1995, following Gary Moeller's resignation. After winning a national championship and five Big Ten titles in 13 seasons as Wolverines head coach, Carr retired following Michigan's win in the 2008 Capital One Bowl and moved into his post in the administration.

He'll turn 65 about a month before his official retirement.

“I am thankful for the wonderful opportunity to assist two great coaches here in Bo Schembechler and Gary Moeller and I will always appreciate Joe Roberson’s decision to name me the head coach in 1995," Carr said in a statement. "I am also appreciative for those I worked with and for all the great friendships I have developed. Most of all, I am thankful for the young men I coached and for all the memories I have from my time at Michigan.”

Carr will be remembered for many things, including his commitment to Michigan and his charitable work outside the program. He had great success as a head coach early in his tenure and maintained stability, though his struggles against archrival Ohio State can't be forgotten. Still, given the current state of Michigan's program, it's interesting to think how things might be different if Carr still roamed the sidelines.

Here's a quick rundown of Carr's time at Michigan:

• 30 years of service (15 years as assistant coach, 13 years as head coach, two plus years as administrator)
• Overall record 122–40 (81-23 Big Ten)
• National championship in 1997
• Big Ten championships in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2004
• AFCA Coach of the Year, Walter Camp Coach of the Year, Bear Bryant Award in 1997
• One of only three Michigan coaches to win more than 100 games (Schembechler and Fielding Yost are the others)
• Seventh coach in NCAA history to have reached 29 wins in just three seasons
• Ninth in Big Ten history in most overall wins (122), sixth in Big Ten wins (81) and ninth in league titles (5)

Statement from Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman: "Lloyd Carr's legacy is an impressive and important part of Michigan's rich history and tradition of excellence in football. He has served the University as well through his advocacy and passion for a number of philanthropic causes. We are grateful for his long and successful service and wish him well in retirement."

Statement from Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon: "I have known Lloyd since he came to Michigan as an assistant coach. Coach Carr is a man of integrity. I admire and appreciate his love for all of our student-athletes and his many contributions to not only our University, but his work on behalf of numerous charitable causes throughout the State of Michigan."

Demar Dorsey's surprise decision to sign with Michigan has once again put head coach Rich Rodriguez and the "character issue" in the spotlight at Schembechler Hall.

Dorsey is the highest-rated recruit in the Big Ten this year, according to ESPN's Scouts Inc. The safety from Florida fills a vital need for Michigan, which struggled mightily in the secondary last year and loses its top defensive back (Donovan Warren) to the NFL. If the Wolverines turn things around in 2010, many may point to Dorsey's signing as a big reason why.

But it's not Dorsey's talent, but his checkered legal past, that has generated a ton of attention since Wednesday afternoon. Dorsey's legal issues are chronicled here, but basically he confessed to two burglaries and had a connection to a third burglary. He has never been convicted and instead went through a diversion program for juvenile offenders.

Dorsey, in an interview with the Detroit Free Press, acknowledged his past problems and said he plans to "show everybody I'm not that person who I was a couple years back then, hanging with the wrong crowd and stuff like that." He said he picked Michigan in part because it allows him to get away from home and start fresh.

Dorsey deserves a chance to start fresh and play college football. And he had several good options on signing day.

The real question here is: Should Michigan be the team to provide him that chance?

Some say no, citing the risks of Dorsey falling into trouble again. Michigan has had players fall into legal trouble, including former quarterback Justin Feagin, who was dismissed from the team in June. Then again, almost every team in the country has had similar cases, if not worse. Just look around the Big Ten and you'll find several examples. Better yet, look around the SEC. Yikes.

Rodriguez and Michigan are assuming a risk with Dorsey, a larger risk than with most players because of his history. If he gets in trouble in Ann Arbor, the head coach and the university will take heat for it. Heat they'll deserve.

But is that risk large enough to push the Wolverines away when other programs wouldn't think twice about adding Dorsey to their roster? Does Michigan have to hold itself to a perceived higher standard, a standard that might not even exist in college football, much less at U-M? Some will say yes, but these folks need to open their eyes and realize this is big-time college football.

Lloyd Carr gave players second chances, too. He assumed the risk of them messing up again. Every college football coach does. Like it or not, it's part of this sport.

Michigan shouldn't have to stay away from every promising recruit with a checkered past because it's Michigan. Rodriguez has given second chances before, and some have blown up in his face. But he shouldn't stop doing it entirely.

If Rodriguez and his staff are satisfied that Dorsey's troubles are behind him, they have the right to bring him on board. They also have the right to be criticized if he messes up again.

It seems like a pretty fair deal.

The decade recap rankings conclude with a look at Big Ten programs from 2000 to 2009. Ohio State dominated the Big Ten for most of the decade, so the Buckeyes are the clear No. 1. Iowa and Michigan are extremely close for No. 2, while Penn State's second-half surge improved its standings. Factors such as Big Ten titles, BCS bowl appearances, bowl record and number of losing seasons played a role in the rankings.

1. Ohio State: There should be no argument here, as the Buckeyes are the team of the decade in the Big Ten. They won six conference titles (outright or shared), including each of the last five, and made three trips to the national title game (1-2). Ohio State also won four BCS bowls this decade, while the rest of the league only won two.

2. Iowa: A very tough call here between Iowa and Michigan for the No. 2 spot. Michigan won more Big Ten titles this decade (3 vs. 2), but Iowa endured only one losing regular season while Michigan had two. The Hawkeyes also went 5-3 in bowls with an Orange Bowl championship, while Michigan went 3-5 in the postseason and 0-3 in the Rose Bowl. Kirk Ferentz has made Iowa a consistent winner in the Big Ten.

3. Michigan: If this list was made following the 2007 season, Michigan would be one spot higher. The last two bowl-less years really hurt the Wolverines, but their accomplishments under Lloyd Carr should be appreciated. Michigan won three league titles and finished first or second in the league in seven of eight years under Carr this decade.

4. Penn State: The Nittany Lions' mid-decade turnaround restored their place among the Big Ten's elite, as Joe Paterno's squad has averaged 10.2 wins since 2005. Four losing seasons in the first half of the decade hurt, but Penn State has won as many Big Ten titles as Iowa and owns four bowl victories (three in January games).

5. Wisconsin: An inability to win a Big Ten title is the only reason the Badgers aren't higher in the rankings. Wisconsin averaged 8.6 wins per season during the decade, winning 12 games in 2006 and winning nine or more six times. The Badgers had four top-20 finishes and won five bowl games. Their Big Ten record is good (44-36), though soft nonconference schedules hurt their cause a bit.

6. Purdue: The Boilers opened the decade with a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl appearance and reached bowls in seven of the first eight years in the aughts. Several tough losses prevented Purdue from getting over the hump, but Joe Tiller made the Boilers a consistent mid-tier team in the conference.

7. Northwestern: The Wildcats reached three fewer bowl games than Minnesota, but they won a Big Ten co-championship in 2000 and fared better against the Big Ten's upper half. Northwestern went 38-42 in conference play this decade and finished .500 or better in six of the 10 years. Pat Fitzgerald needs to keep making bowl games and start winning some.

8. Minnesota: Eight bowl games in the decade certainly counts for something, as Minnesota had only one terrible season (2007) and averaged 6.2 wins. The Gophers lose points because of a very poor Big Ten record (30-50), the inability to beat rivals (Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa) and because they scheduled their way into bowls with September cupcakes.

9. Michigan State: The future certainly looks brighter after three consecutive bowl appearances, but Michigan State might want to forget about this decade. The Spartans struggled to meet expectations and wasted strong starts in 2000, 2005, 2006 and, to a certain extent, 2003. They reached five bowl games, going 1-4, and made a push for the Big Ten title in 2008.

10. Illinois: What a strange decade for the Fighting Illini. Most teams that won a league championship (2001) and reached two BCS bowls (2001, 2007) could expect to be ranked higher than this. But Illinois' inability to build on success really hurts its cause. The Illini finished with losing records in every season they didn't reach a BCS bowl, enduring two 3-win seasons, two 2-win seasons and a 1-11 clunker in 2003.

11. Indiana: The Hoosiers had fewer disastrous seasons than Illinois -- Indiana won three or more games in nine of 10 years -- but they reached only one bowl game (2007) and went 18-62 in Big Ten play. The Gerry DiNardo years were rough in Bloomington, and Indiana couldn't capitalize when Antwaan Randle El was in town. Still, the program showed flashes of progress in 2006, 2007 and 2009.

It's time to look back at the best Big Ten coaches of the decade. The top choice was a no brainer. After that, it gets interesting.

Here's a looksie:

1. Jim Tressel, Ohio State: Other than USC's Pete Carroll, no coach dominated a major conference this decade like Tressel dominated the Big Ten. Since 2001, Tressel has won a national title, six Big Ten titles (outright or shared), five bowls and four BCS bowls. He owns a 94-21 record at Ohio State, and, perhaps more impressive, a 59-13 mark in Big Ten play. This was unquestionably the decade of The Vest.

2. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Ferentz revived a struggling Iowa program this decade and restored the Hawkeyes among the Big Ten's elite. Since 2002, he has guided Iowa to two Big Ten championships, four seasons of 10 or more victories and eight bowl games, winning five of them. Iowa owns four top-10 finishes this decade under Ferentz, who gets a slight edge over Lloyd Carr.

3. Lloyd Carr, Michigan: It seems like a while since Michigan last won a Big Ten title, but Carr's teams claimed three of them (two shared, one outright) in the first half of the decade. Michigan finished first or second in the league in seven of the eight years Carr coached this decade. He struggled against Tressel and in the Rose Bowl, but Carr's accomplishments shouldn't be overlooked.

4. Joe Paterno, Penn State: Paterno is right up there with Tressel in the second half of the decade, winning two Big Ten championships and averaging 10.2 wins per season between 2005-09. Four losing seasons in the first half of the decade sting a bit, but JoePa is getting better with age!

5. Joe Tiller, Purdue: Tiller won his only Big Ten title in 2000, and Purdue reached bowl games in the first seven years of the decade. Purdue's all-time coaching victories leader made the Boilers into a consistent upper-half Big Ten team in the aughts.

6. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin: Bielema probably hates being listed ahead of his boss and predecessor, but his record in the past four years speaks for itself. He owns a 38-14 record at Wisconsin (20-12 Big Ten) and has taken the Badgers to bowl games each year. Bielema coached Wisconsin's best team of the decade in 2006, a squad that went 12-1 and finished seventh in the final AP Poll.

7. Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin: Alvarez was arguably the Big Ten's Coach of the 1990s, and he kept the program among the league's elite until he stepped down following the 2005 season. He had three seasons of eight or more victories and won three bowls during the decade. Alvarez's best season this decade came in his last, as Wisconsin went 10-3 and beat Auburn in the Capital One Bowl.

8. Glen Mason, Minnesota: Mason coached Minnesota to six bowls in seven years until his dismissal after the 2006 Insight Bowl. He oversaw one of the nation's top rushing attacks this decade as backs Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III piled up yardage. Mason had a 10-win season in 2003, but his inability to get Minnesota to the next level led to his firing. He went just 24-32 in Big Ten play this decade.

9. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State: Dantonio has stabilized a Michigan State program that really underachieved for most of the decade. The Spartans have reached bowls in each of Dantonio's three seasons as head coach. Dantonio owns a 13-11 mark in Big Ten play, which is much better than his predecessors.

10. Pat Fitzgerald and Randy Walker, Northwestern: The two Wildcats coaches share this spot after bringing consistency to a program that reached historic lows before 1995. Walker won a Big Ten championship in 2000 and took NU to three bowls in six years this decade. Fitzgerald, who took over after Walker's sudden death in 2006, owns 17-9 record (10-6 Big Ten) in the last two seasons. Expect him to be much higher on this list in the next decade recap.

Jim Tressel may go on to win another national championship at Ohio State.

He'll likely win more BCS bowl games and more Big Ten titles. When he's finished coaching, he might enter politics or open his own sweater vest manufacturing company.

But when we look back on Tressel's place in college football history, he will always be remembered for this week. Michigan week.

No one does it better.

Head coaches of national powerhouses are judged primarily on their ability to win games in early January, and Tressel is no exception. But their records against archrivals aren't taken lightly, either. Tennessee's Phil Fulmer got the axe last year largely because of his struggles against rivals Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Florida's Urban Meyer wins national titles, but he also pleases fans by beating rivals Georgia, Tennessee, Miami and Florida State.

You can knock Tressel for his three-game losing streak in BCS bowls, his consecutive double-digit losses in the national title game, his management of quarterback Terrelle Pryor or his conservative play-calling. On those topics, swing away.

But when it comes to the Ohio State-Michigan game, Tressel is king. He boasts a 7-1 mark against Michigan, including wins in each of the last five games. He has beaten Michigan when Ohio State is the better team (2008, 2007, 2005, 2002) and even when Michigan might be the superior squad (2001, 2004). He beat Michigan in the most hyped regular-season game in recent years, the No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in 2006 at Ohio Stadium.

Tressel is one of the reasons Lloyd Carr no longer coaches the Wolverines. Carr went 1-6 against The Vest. In Rich Rodriguez's first game against Tressel, Ohio State spanked Michigan 42-7.

And it's not just the record. Tressel plays up this rivalry the right way. He makes it a big deal without inciting the opponent. He doesn't need unique circumstances -- like Justin Boren's transfer from Michigan or Pryor's flirtation with Rodriguez -- to get his players motivated.

"It's an exciting week," Tressel said last year at the start of Michigan week. "Our guys can feel the excitement on the campus and in the community. It's the reason many of them chose to go to Ohio State or to go to Michigan was so they could be a part of this game for four or five years and it's just a little bit different feeling. It's a hard one to explain unless you've been there."

You can feel it at Ohio State.

Seven months before The Game, you walk into the office of co-defensive coordinator Jim Heacock. On the wall, Heacock has a sign that reads, "No Ohio State team has defeated Michigan 5 times in a row."

The 5 is crossed out and replaced with a 6.

Tressel puts this game on a pedestal, and it trickles down throughout the rest of the program. Ohio State already has a Rose Bowl berth essentially locked up, but if you think the Buckeyes will come out with any less fire Saturday at Michigan Stadium (ABC, noon ET), remember who coaches them.

After Saturday's overtime win against Iowa, Tressel said his players could enjoy the win until midnight.

"When the clock strikes 12, we know what week it is," he said, "and that's exciting."

	US PRESSWIRE
	Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez are facing similar problems within their programs.

Notre Dame and Michigan treated us to one of the season's most entertaining games back on Sept. 12 at the Big House. Both teams seemed destined for solid seasons back then, but the Fighting Irish and Wolverines have since fallen on hard times. Michigan hasn't beaten an FBS team since Sept. 26 and needs to upset No. 20 Wisconsin or No. 11 Ohio State to avoid missing a bowl for the second straight season. Notre Dame likely fell out of the BCS bowl mix by losing to Navy for the second consecutive time in South Bend. Not surprisingly, head coaches Rich Rodriguez and Charlie Weis are in the crosshairs.

Which coach's problems are worse? How did these two programs get here? Brian Bennett and Adam Rittenberg take a closer look.

Adam Rittenberg: Let's talk about Charlie Weis and the Irish. They lose to Navy at home again. Nose tackle Ian Williams says they're getting outschemed. What's going on with Weis and the Domers?

Brian Bennett: There's very little excuse for Notre Dame to be only 6-3 at this point. The Irish have legitimate stars in quarterback Jimmy Clausen and receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd, an experienced offensive line and seasoned upperclassmen all over the roster. But this program continues to lose to every ranked team it plays and throws in at least one head-scratcher each year (this time, Navy. Again.).

Something just isn't working here, and you have to blame Weis. He remains a brilliant offensive mind, but I think sometimes he outthinks himself in an effort to prove his intelligence. He doesn't appear to be able to properly motivate his teams, likely because of his NFL coordinator background. And years of suspect recruiting or talent evaluation on the defensive side has again led to a team that can't stop anybody.

Notre Dame, simply put, should be better than this in Year 5 under Weis. It's only Year 2 under Rodriguez in Ann Arbor, but people expected a lot more than this. What's wrong with the Maize and Blue?

	Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
	There were high expectations for both Michigan and Notre Dame this season.

Rittenberg: Those expectations certainly increased after Michigan's 4-0 start, highlighted by the win over the Fighting Irish. I remember thinking then that Notre Dame was the better team in that matchup, but Michigan found a way to win and had the potential to make major progress. Instead, the mistakes Michigan overcame in its first four victories began to cost the Wolverines in October.

Quarterback Tate Forcier has battled injuries and some inconsistent play. He still creates a lot of plays with his feet, but he's still too much of a freelancer and struggles with his throws in the pocket. Brandon Minor might be the Big Ten's most dominant running back, but he just can't stay healthy. But for the most part, the offense hasn't been the problem. Like Notre Dame, Michigan's major issues are on the defensive side. There's a lot of youth and not much depth there, as evidenced by several walk-ons in the two-deep, but the number of major breakdowns is shocking. It's one thing to allow big plays to Notre Dame on Sept. 12. But to give up the same plays to Iowa, Illinois and Purdue later in the season is unacceptable.

Rodriguez isn't to blame for all the problems, but like Weis, I think he fights himself a lot. He has won a certain way for years, and he can be stubborn. Rich has talked a lot about the need to have patience but admits he doesn't have much himself. And he still talks too much about the program he inherited from Lloyd Carr. Last I checked, he coaches Michigan, not Eastern Michigan, and while there were problems in 2007, a program like Michigan should never miss bowls in consecutive years (a strong possibility), especially in an average Big Ten.

Both of these coaches are known for offense, and yet both have major problems on defense. Has Weis put enough focus on the other side of the ball?

Bennett: Well, as you know, Weis is the offensive coordinator again this year and fully admits that he leaves most of the responsibility for the defense in the hands of veteran coordinator Jon Tenuta. The blitzing schemes favored by Tenuta haven't really worked, but that's mostly because of the personnel. Though Weis has brought in some highly rated recruiting classes, there still aren't enough big-time playmakers on defense, especially up front. When you look at, say USC, or even this week's opponent, Pittsburgh, the Irish simply don't stack up athlete for athlete on the defensive line.

What I don't understand is how Michigan can have talent problems, even in the coaching transition. Shouldn't the Wolverines have enough blue-chippers to field a good defense even as they adjust to a new offensive system?

Rittenberg: You would think, Brian, but Michigan has had an abnormal amount of attrition on that side of the ball, coupled with some bad recruiting classes for defense toward the end of Carr's tenure. The Wolverines also have had veteran players regress this season, and there aren't enough young guys ready to fill the gaps. Rodriguez needs his defensive recruits to blossom immediately, especially since Michigan will be losing its best defensive player (DE Brandon Graham) and possibly its No. 2 defender (junior CB Donovan Warren). It will be interesting to see what happens with first-year coordinator Greg Robinson, who hasn't had the desired effect on this unit.

OK, you're on the spot. What's your prediction for the rest of Notre Dame's season? Can Weis turn things around? Will next year's Fighting Irish head coach be Weis or your man-crush, Brian Kelly?

Bennett: The rest of the season brings a trip to No. 12 Pitt this week, followed by a visit from dangerous UConn next week and the season finale at Stanford. I have a hard time seeing Notre Dame winning more than two of those, so 8-4 or 7-5 looks like the final tally.

Jack Swarbrick isn't going to call me for advice, but I wouldn't think that record would be enough to keep Weis, especially since the Irish could once again lack any real quality wins. They don't hang banners for Gator Bowls in South Bend.

If there is a change, I would imagine Notre Dame would first try and land a big-time name, such as Urban Meyer or Jon Gruden. Once those guys say no -- and I don't think either would take the job -- the Irish would be crazy not to go after Kelly. He's Catholic, a great program salesman, he's built strong recruiting ties in the Midwest and he just wins big everywhere he goes.

He'd be a perfect fit at Notre Dame -- unless Michigan came calling first. Any chance Rodriguez doesn't survive, especially if the NCAA finds something in that whole practice time investigation?

Rittenberg: The NCAA investigation is the wild card, especially if major violations are found for the first time in Michigan football history. But this isn't boosters paying players or academic fraud, so I can't see the penalties being too terrible. Michigan AD Bill Martin said earlier this week that Rodriguez is safe, and though Martin will be retiring soon, they're not going to make a change in football after only two years, especially during an athletic director transition.

A 5-7 season combined with NCAA violations would really sting, but Rodriguez should be back in 2010. He'll definitely be on the hot seat entering next fall, needing at least eight or nine wins to keep his job at a tradition-rich program.

Sound familiar?

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Rich Rodriguez did it again Monday, referring to the state of the program he inherited when he arrived at Michigan in December 2007.

When asked at his weekly news conference if he expected the team to be further along by this point, 21 games into his tenure, Rodriguez said, "Not after I got here."

Rodriguez didn't dwell on the topic, telling local reporters that he would sit down with them after the season and elaborate. But he doesn't need to. He has already addressed this issue multiple times.

	Andrew Weber/US Presswire
	After starting the season 4-0, Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines are 5-4.

Here are two quotes from our conversation in November 2008:

• "We've had good players, but some of the problems that we, that Michigan has had in the past several years, whether it's offense or defense, came up to bite us a little bit more this year. We've got to get those solved."
• "There have been games where if a guy or two was hurt, it really affected the performance from an athletic standpoint. We probably have not been as athletic the last couple of years as maybe we were in the past here."

And here's an item from our conversation in August:

Did you expect it to be more ready-made here?

Rodriguez: I didn't look at the depth chart. I didn't see that there were eight or nine starters leaving on offense and the recruits, what was coming in, what was committed or what was on defense. Or looked at game film to see what the struggles were in the games that they won. I saw the [Capital One Bowl] where they played great against Florida, but the Appalachian State game, the Oregon game, I didn't see those games. It didn't really matter. I figured, 'Once we get there, we'll figure out what we have and go from there.' Were there more issues than I thought? Sure. But I think every new coach coming in would tell you the same thing, at any program.

Coaching change is very difficult; I get that. The transition it brings tests any program, even ones filled with tradition and resources like Michigan. And Michigan's transition from Lloyd Carr to Rodriguez certainly was more significant than most.

But the way Rodriguez describes the program he took over, you'd think he made a wrong turn and ended up in Ypsilanti rather than Ann Arbor.

Other coaches have inherited a lot worse than what Rodriguez did at Michigan, which always recruits at a high level.

I like what Rodriguez has said about eliminating a sense of entitlement for the Maize and Blue. The winged helmet no longer equals 14 points on the scoreboard before kickoff, and players shouldn't think it does.

But by this point, Michigan should be playing better. The 4-0 start was a lot of smoke and mirrors -- quarterback Tate Forcier freelancing to make plays, the defense doing just enough to cover up for major flaws, the breaks falling Michigan's way.

The issues with youth and depth were still there, but the Wolverines were winning and, more importantly, giving themselves a chance to get better as the season went along. Instead, they've regressed in every area.

Michigan on Saturday lost by 25 points to an Illinois team that hadn't managed to stay within 10 points of any of its six previous FBS opponents. The Wolverines surrendered 500 total yards and 377 on the ground. They committed three turnovers and failed to notch a takeaway for the third straight game. Rodriguez admitted Monday that his players are playing tight and too conscious of their mistakes.

"Some of our issues did not occur overnight and will not be solved overnight," he said. "Sometimes it takes a little longer than I would like or any of you like. I am less patient than any of you or any fans that we have. And we have great fans. I promise you. Progress is being made. How fast and to what degree, I wish it was faster. It's not going as fast as I would like, trust me."

Patience is wearing thin as Michigan enters November needing at least one more win to reach a bowl game. These players and these coaches have to make progress this month.

If they don't, Rodriguez will sit down with reporters and explain all the issues he inherited.

And no one will want to hear it.