By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
University of Michigan coach Lloyd Carr challenged Dowagiac's students-athletes in three areas Thursday night at the 56th annual Athletic Booster Club All-Sports Banquet.
Carr, who is the fourth winningest active coach in Division I-A football, told a large crowd in the Union High School gymnasium that they must work hard, they must stay humble and they must "do their damnedest."
In a gym filled with maize and blue apparel, Carr spoke of taking ones talents and making the most of them by working hard.
Carr said it was not enough just to have talent, either athletically or academically.
He told the athletes, the coaches, the parents and those who attended the banquet just to hear him speak about former Michigan quarterback Tom Brady, who had won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
Carr said that Brady as a sophomore wanted to transfer from Michigan because he felt that he would not get a chance to play quarterback for the Wolverines.
Carr told Brady to call and talk to his father and then decide if he really wanted to leave Michigan.
Carr told him not to worry about who might be playing quarterback the following season at Michigan, but to "be the best you can be."
Brady returned the next day and told Carr he was going to stay because he loved Michigan and because he wanted to prove that he could be a good quarterback.
Brady went on to star for Michigan and then stepped in to the quarterback position in New England after an injury to Drew Bledsoe, leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl title.