Carr begins, ends singing career

It's a good thing Lloyd Carr knows what he's doing on the football field, because he probably doesn't have much of a future on the stage.

In a voice that was a little flat, a little off-key and even a little bit funny - yet entertaining and maybe even a touch inspirational - the Michigan football coach yesterday made his professional singing debut.

Carr sung of the virtues of sportsmanship and of the Golden Rule in the First Congregational Church's Sunday morning service with the Junior Choir in a one-time-only presentation of "Beyond Price and Prize," a play he inspired.

"It was my debut and my finale," Carr said after the service, as parishioners walked by, reminding him not to quit his day job.

Carr's performance, both his voice and his lines, drew laughter from the entire congregation of about 225 people. Even Michigan linebacker Dhani Jones, who also had a part in the play, had a hard time keeping a straight face.

Carr

Jody Tull Tyler, one of the play's two writers, first approached Carr about singing with the Junior Choir in September.

"I cornered him at church," Tyler said. "Then I persisted with phone call after phone call."

Finally, Carr told her they could discuss it on a weekday afternoon - for just 15 minutes. But Carr allowed those 15 minutes to become an hour and a half, and Tyler had the inspiration for her play - Carr's views on sportsmanship.

"He just talked and talked, and I wrote it all down," Tyler said.

Then Tyler and co-writer Sharon Jaqua sat down and put Carr's words to music.

After the play was written Tyler and Jaqua realized they needed an athlete. They turned to Carr, who recruited Jones.

Sharing top billing with Carr, Jones played Mr. Poor Sport in the short musical, which was performed with about 20 children ages seven to 12. His voice was only slightly better than Carr's.

The play centered around Mr. Poor Sport, a sore loser who believes in crying after losses, beating up on opponents and cheering when enemies suffer injuries.

Jones' lines included, "Leave me alone, kid", "Mind your own business" and "I've been cut from 100 schools, I always lose."

"He was very well prepared," Tyler said. "He'd probably never admit that he practiced and rehearsed, but he was 100 percent prepared."

Jones looked at ease on the stage with the children, like an older brother, drawing praise from parishioners and Tyler.

"He takes an interest in the kids," Tyler said. "And it's not superficial. He's very sincere."

In the play, the children wanted to teach Mr. Poor Sport to be a good sport. Who better to do that than a coach? Enter Carr.

Despite being at just one practice and a private rehearsal with Tyler - the choir has been practicing the play for about a month - Carr performed his lines with ease and fluidity. Like any good coach, preparation wasn't a problem. He even ad-libbed what Tyler called the best line of the performance - as he left the stage, he said, "I have to leave, I've got voice lessons to take."

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