Tuesday, 1 January 2008

Lloyd Carr Goes Out a Winner. Plus NHL, Outdoors Style


In what many people must think is a big upset, the Michigan Wolverines defeated Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators in the Capital One Bowl. Chad Henne had a career day, throwing for 373 yards and 3 TDs, while Adrian Arrington caught 2 of them.

The Michigan defense pressured the Heisman winner all day, knocking him down repeatedly. While Tebow did throw for three scores, the last drive was representative of what was happening all day for the Florida offense. Scrambling around, Tebow was forced to heave up a pass that landed incomplete and ended the game and the season for the Gators.

Granted I'm a Michigan fan, but speaking as a college football fan in general, I'm very happy to see Coach Carr go out with a win. While he didn't have his best year this year, hopefully he will be remembered as a class act and a coach who truly cared about his players not just in football terms, but as people also.

In the other big story of the day, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres tangled in Ralph Wilson Stadium. The second outdoor game in NHL history was hockey at its finest, a chilly snowy day that I'm sure reminded many players and fans alike of when they used to play on the pond. Watching NHL players play even when snow was covering the ice and affecting the puck made me realize just how skilled these players were. The face of the NHL, Sidney Crosby, had an assist on a Colby Armstrong goal just 21 seconds into the game, and also scored the game winning goal in the shootout.

The NHL is planning a game to take place indoors at Ford Field along with a college hockey game to prep for the Frozen Four which will be in Detroit in 2010.