Michigan’s 28-21 win against Rutgers wasn’t, for lack of a better word, the “strongest” showing. There were moments in the game when it appeared there was a slight chance, or BIG chance, that Rutgers could pull out the victory. But Tommy Carr’s second career start helped lead the Wolverines to a 5-3 record and the most points they have scored in a Big Ten game this season, with 28.
Since Carr’s insertion in the second half of the Penn State game, something about the perspective of this team has changed. Rather, it is the simple fact that the offense looks slightly more viable, or the fact that things quickly went stale when Underwood was under center; whatever the case, the Wolverines ' aura feels different.
What if Tommy Carr had started this season instead of Underwood? There is a possibility with more games under his belt, Carr and the offense would have a little more traction. And just possibly, some of those losses would have gone another way for the Wolverines.
Something was off since the beginning. A near miss against Western Michigan could have been the prelude to what Michigan’s season would be. Vying for anything in the Big Ten does not come with narrowly beating Western Michigan by the grace of the football gods with one second.
Something was off since the beginning. Kyle Whittingham barely committed to Bryce Underwood each week. Never once did Whittingham look like he was convinced Underwood could take them to the promise land and often, more than not, he said so without saying so.
Michigan’s abysmal start against Penn State, in Ann Arbor, was the right place at the right time to make the change. The fanbase’s tension was growing in that game, and it seemed they were beginning to turn the tide towards dissent. Kyle Whittingham’s first season as the head coach has been anything but extraordinary or easy, for that matter. While taking over a program that seems to be in an identity crisis was never going to be easy, this season may have proved more challenging than Whittingham could have imagined.
Michigan’s remaining schedule includes games against maybe their most bitter rival in Michigan State, UCLA, Oregon, and the game that reeks of historical reverence against Ohio State. At the end of it all, the pulse of the fanbase will be clearer. Whittingham’s and Underwood’s future will come into focus. And Tommy Carr’s as well.
But one thing is for certain, Tommy Carr changed the trajectory of the Wolverines season.
Otherwise, this season was projecting towards a complete disaster.
Add us as a preferred source on Google