Henne, Hart, and Long: The Recruiting Class that Cost Lloyd Carr His Job...and His Dignity

When Lloyd Carr brought in his "prized" Top-10 recruiting class in 2003, he was King of Michigan.  An AP national championship in 1997, a few Big Ten titles, and the all-important 6-3 record vs Ohio State.

Chad Henne was supposedly a can’t-miss QB, destined for Tom Brady-like NFL success.  Lloyd committed to starting him as a freshman—and for some unfathomable reason, has stuck with him all the way until The End. 

Henne, a 6'5" white right-hander (like the past 78 Michigan quarterbacks) came in hoping to continue the program’s success.  Unfortunately, it didn’t work out so well. 

As it stands today, Henne, Mike Hart, and Jake Long have gone winless against Ohio State and in all three of their bowl games.  Their last chance?  Against another spread offense: the Florida Gators. 

I think it’s a pretty safe bet that the Wolverines will get smoked like a Black ‘n’ Mild by Percy Harvin and the Gators.  If and when that happens, this senior class will be an embarrassing, awful, disgraceful 0-8 in Big Games. 

This is the same senior class who opted not to enter the NFL Draft to come back to school to beat the Buckeyes and win it all. 

(By the way, someone please tell me which NFL team would be insane enough, drunk enough, and gone enough on every drug ever invented to draft Chad Henne)

Henne, Hart, and Long were ready to come out swingin’ this season.  They were on a mission.  Unfortunately, they must have forgotten to watch film on I-AA Appalachian State.  The Mountaineers, led by pimp quarterback Armanti Edwards, controlled the entire ballgame as they cruised to an easy, just-another-day-at-the-park 34-32 victory in Ann Arbor against—cough—fifth-ranked Michigan. 

To make matters worse, Dennis Dixon and the Oregon Ducks came to town the following week and absolutely tricked out the Wolverines, 39-7.  A side note: The Ducks left about 20 points on the field in the second half by running the ball instead of scoring more. 

Then, Mike Hart opened his mouth for the 400th time and guaranteed a victory over stellar Notre Dame.  Michigan won the game.  Go Wolverines! 

As the regular season came to a close, Henne, Hart, and Long finally had their chance to silence the critics.  At home, in inclement weather, against the Buckeyes. 

I realize Henne and Hart weren’t completely healthy, but neither was Beanie Wells (bad ankle, broken bone in hand).

Hart was ready to back up all the ridiculous things he said after last year’s Big Game.  He was bouncing around, crapping out of his mouth at midfield before the game. 

But Ohio State’s defensive line, led by lightning-quick tank Vernon Gholston, said "Your mouth done got you in trouble now, buddy."  Hart was held to a career-low 44 yards rushing. 

(Oh and Beanie Wells-- only 39 carries for a measly 222 yards and two TDs by the way)

Henne?  He had an entire 68 yards passing as the Buckeyes completely dominated the game, 14-3. 

The senior class that ended Carr's career mustered a pathetic 91 yards of total offense in The Game. 

"Thanks a lot, guys," Lloyd muttered.  "I guess I’ll go now."