Athletic Director Bill Martin made a special appearance at the football media luncheon to announce developments with the contracts of both coach Lloyd Carr and men”s basketball coach Tommy Amaker.
- Paul Wong
- Michigan struck deals with two major coaches with an extension for Lloyd Carr (above) and a new contract for Tommy Amaker.<br><br>DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
“I made a change in Lloyd Carr”s contract last week,” Martin said. “This was at Lloyd”s request. We”ve extended his contract two additional years, through the “07-“08 season.
“There is not one nickel of additional compensation to Lloyd. There”s no large payout at the end of the contract, there”s no escalation other than the standard escalation that all university employees get in the base compensation. What Lloyd wanted was one thing: He wanted additional discretionary income for his coaching staff.”
Martin explained that “discretionary income” is money that Carr can pay to his assistant coaches, in addition to their salaries. Until yesterday, Carr annually had a $55,000 discretionary income pool, but effective yesterday, the pool increased to $155,000 per year for the duration of Carr”s contract.
When asked about the status of Amaker”s contract unsigned as of yesterday Martin had some good news for the assembled media.
The contract “was inked this morning by me and Tommy,” a visible pleased Martin said. According to Martin, Amaker signed a five-year pact worth $550,000 this season and $600,000 for the next four years.
Badgering Wisconsin: When Heisman Trophy-winning tailback Ron Dayne hoisted the Most Valuable Player award after Wisconsin”s 17-9 win over Stanford in the 2000 Rose Bowl, it marked the culmination of the greatest back-to-back seasons in Wisconsin football history.
The Badgers won consecutive Big Ten championships in 1998 and 1999 and advanced to the Rose Bowl each time. After stunning heavily-favored UCLA in the 1999 Rose Bowl, Wisconsin returned to Pasadena the next year on Dayne”s broad shoulders.
En route to becoming the all-time leading rusher in Division I-A, Dayne elevated Wisconsin to national prominence and made the Badgers and coach Barry Alvarez in particular the toast of the Big Ten.
But amid all of the success, Wisconsin was burdened by one glaring failure an inability to beat Michigan. The Wolverines dominated the Badgers in both 1998 and 1999 and made it four wins in a row last season (Michigan also beat Wisconsin in 1997 on the way to a national title).
Now, the tables are turned. Michigan (5-1 Big Ten, 7-2 overall) is the team gunning for a Big Ten title, and the Wolverines are well-aware of how much Wisconsin would love to ruin their season.
“Wisconsin is a tremendous offensive football team,” Carr said. “They create problems for any defense, and I think we”re going to have to come up with our best game of the year.”
Bo-bblehead dolls: Just when it seemed like bobblehead-mania couldn”t get any more ridiculous, the Michigan athletic department announced an upcoming Bo Schembechler bobblehead doll giveaway.
The first 7,500 fans to enter Michigan Stadium for the season finale against Ohio State will receive tickets that can be refunded for complimentary Bo Schembechler bobblehead dolls at any of the eight M-Den locations along the stadium concourse.
Those who can”t get a free Bo bobblehead shouldn”t fret the dolls will be sold for $20 apiece at each M-Den location in the stadium during the game. In addition, following the game, the Schembechler bobbleheads will be available at any M-Den retail location, as well as at all Moe Sport Shops in Ann Arbor.
In 21 seasons at Michigan, Schembechler amassed a 194-48-5 record. He led the Wolverines to 13 Big Ten championships, 17 bowl games and 17 top 10 finishes.