The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547256
30 THE WOLVERINE ❱ NOVEMBER 2026 A fter a fourth-quarter Tommy Carr touchdown run that gave the Wol- verines breathing room in an eventual 21- 18 victory against Penn State on Oct. 17, TV cameras found former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr sitting in a suite next to former U-M quarterback Brian Griese. "Wow!" the Hall of Fame coach could be seen exclaiming. "Tommy Carr!" He wasn't the only one impressed by the true freshman quarterback after his grandson scrambled for 12 yards on an option keeper to put the Wolverines ahead 21-11. A Michigan Stadium crowd that had been booing for much of a first half in which U-M failed to score under starter Bryce Underwood had come to life, and the energy was palpable. "The exact term that we're looking for is 'a spark for the offense', and he pro- vided it," head coach Kyle Whittingham said after Carr completed 5 of 7 passes for 47 yards and ran four times for 36 more after assuming control of the offense to start the second half. "He came in, and players rallied around him — and that's not to be disparaging against Bryce, be- cause that's pretty typical when you have a change in quarterback that everyone rallies and ups their level of play. "That was a big difference in our pro- duction, obviously, in the second half as opposed to the first half … he responded very well. It wasn't perfect. There are some things he obviously needs to get better at, but he had some key runs for us. That option there for that final touchdown … that was a great run." So, too, was Carr's 22-yard scamper that set up U-M's second touchdown, a carry that finished inside the 1-yard line to set up junior Jordan Marshall's short scoring plunge. All told, Michigan would total 221 yards in the second half and put up 21 points compared to only 80 yards and a goose egg in the first. Carr's longest pass was a 22-yarder to tight end Hogan Hansen, but the freshman showed great poise in going through his reads and remained com- posed in the pocket. Carr's ability to run, meanwhile, was something he has shown since spring when he went toe to toe with Underwood in practice. Though Underwood beat Carr out this fall by improving dramatically in the last few weeks of camp, the competition was close and Carr continued to prepare as if he would get his opportunity. "At halftime, they told me it was my time. I was prepared for this from Week 1," Carr said in his postgame press con- ference. "I prepared every week like I was the starter. We got the call. There was a little bit of nerves, but I knew I was pre- pared and ready for this moment … "It was awesome. Just to look at the crowd cheering, walk into the middle of the field, be out there with my O-line- men — it was a great experience. To get that first snap, complete the first pass, it got me feeling good and continued with that momentum." The big question everyone had after the game, of course — would Carr earn his first start a week later against Indi- ana? The son of former Michigan quar- terback Jason Carr and his wife, Tammi, and grandson of former U-M great safety Tom Curtis seemed to have earned it, but Whittingham remained noncommittal in the minutes after the game. "Going forward, we'll take a good hard look at the tape and see why things bogged down in the first half and why ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Tommy Carr Gives Michigan Offense Life, Hope Michigan freshman quarterback Tommy Carr, right, visits with grandfather and Hall of Fame coach Lloyd Carr, center, and father Jason Carr following the Wolverines' 21-18 victory over Penn State on Oct. 17. PHOTO COURTESY CARR FAMILY