Michigan (current) coach Lloyd Carr: Complete attention on Capital One Bowl
Michigan coach Lloyd Carr smiled and shrugged.
He looked like a man grateful he did not have to answer questions about the future of the Wolverines' football program.
Carr, in Orlando on Tuesday for the ceremonial signing of the Capital One Bowl contract, deftly deferred all questions about the high-profile search for his replacement.
"Bill Martin, our athletic director, is heading up the search," Carr said, "and I really would leave any comments regarding that search to him."
Martin typically would have joined Carr at the luncheon to promote the bowl, but Martin did not make the trip. U-M sent associate athletic directors Bruce Madej and Scott Draper.
Carr, who will retire after the bowl, insisted the hoopla surrounding the coaching search would not distract his players, who play ninth-ranked Florida on Jan. 1.
"As a staff, I think we're dedicated to doing the best job we can do as coaches to prepare this team in a way that will help them be successful," he said.
Carr said he hoped his players would not feel extra pressure to make sure he won his final game after 13 seasons as head coach.
"I tried to tell them this is not about me, this is not about any one player," Carr said. "This is about trying to close this season in a way that we can remember in a positive way. I'm confident that we'll be able to handle this team.
"All of the guys that have been to Michigan five years, they've all been to a bowl game every year, so they know what that entails. We do have a mature group of leaders, and I'm confident that they'll lead the way (in) dealing with distractions you get at any bowl site."
Carr listed running back Mike Hart and quarterback Chad Henne among those leaders. He said he expected Mike Hart (ankle) and Henne (shoulder) to be at full strength for the bowl.
Carr said Michigan would need all the firepower it could muster to counter Florida's offense led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow.
"I think in using the quarterback the way they do, I think it's very fair to say they're probably the most difficult offensive football team we've faced," Carr said.
Florida coach Urban Meyer was just as quick to praise U-M. He dismissed the suggestion that the Big Ten lacked the athleticism of the SEC.
"There's no question Michigan would be a very competitive team in the SEC and an upper-level SEC team," Meyer said.
Meyer said he wasn't worried about Tim Tebow's fractured right hand, an injury suffered in Florida's regular-season finale. A cast is expected to be removed Friday.
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